The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says it has tested a total of 160 persons for Coronavirus, 109 of which have been placed under medical investigation.
So far, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases has tested 160 people for coronavirus, but all have been negative. File photo.The National Institute for Communicable Diseases said that by Monday it had tested 160 people for coronavirus, orOf those, 109 people had met the case definition for persons under investigation but to date all results had been negative.
“The NICD is the only laboratory performing testing for SARS-CoV-2 and can confirm South Africa has not had a laboratory-confirmed case of Covid-19," said NICD spokesperson Sinenhlahla Jimoh. “Despite this, we have noted with concern the disturbing stigmatisation against people from affected areas, which now includes countries in Asia, Europe and the Middle East,” Jimoh said.
She said stigma around the illness had the potential to make people hide their illness to avoid discrimination. This would further prevent people from seeking treatment. “This can lead to difficulties in identifying and controlling the spread of Covid-19 should it reach our shores,” Jimoh said.
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