Coronavirus: The health department is tracking 8 people who travelled from Italy to SA with the patient who tested positive for the virus
Johannesburg - Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said his department was working on tracking the eight individuals that had travelled back to South Africa from Italy with the 38-year-old man who has contracted the coronavirus, becoming SA's first confirmed case.
The patient is a 38-year-old man from KwaZulu-Natal who had travelled to Italy with his wife. Mkhize said the man and his family will be quarantined. He is a South African citizen. The minister said there was no need for the government to call for schools to be closed because this was the first case. He said the news was announced as soon as it was confirmed.
"The patient has been self-isolating since March 3. The couple also has two children. The Emergency Operating Centre has identified the contacts by interviewing the patient and doctor," Mkhize said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
13 public hospitals identified to treat coronavirus in SA, health committee toldHealth Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize provided an update to the committee and assured MPs that the department was prepared to deal with the virus.
Read more »
Kenya suspends flights from Italy over coronavirus outbreakThe Kenyan government has announced the suspension of direct flights from northern Italy over the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Read more »
LIVESTREAM: Health Minister briefing on coronavirusHealth Minister Zweli Mkhize is briefing the Portfolio Committee on Health on the coronavirus.
Read more »
Iraq confirms first coronavirus death: health officialIraq on Wednesday confirmed the first death from the novel coronavirus in the country where a total of 31 cases have been reported.
Read more »
Coronavirus will go global, health minister Zweli Mkhize tells MPsMkhize assures that the public sector is ready to deal with a Covid-19 outbreak, saying 13 public hospitals have been designated for isolating and treating confirmed cases
Read more »
Health minister Zweli Mkhize under fire as SA's readiness for coronavirus questionedMPs have called on health minister Zweli Mkhize to be frank with the nation about the country's readiness to deal with the deadly Covid-19 virus which has spread rapidly across the globe and has now reached South Africa
Read more »