Midrand estate closes gym, clubhouse after resident ‘tests positive’ for coronavirus

A residential estate in Waterfall, Gauteng, closed the complex’s gym and clubhouse as a precautionary measure after one of its residents allegedly tested positive for Covid-19.

In a statement on Tuesday, Grant Poole, estate manager of the Waterfall Country Estate, said it had come to his attention that a resident living on the estate had tested positive for the coronavirus.

“This resident recently returned to South Africa from Europe, following an overseas trip. The resident is currently in self-isolation and his family members have undergone testing for the virus,” Poole said.

“While the family awaits the results, they remain in self-isolation.”

In a second statement issued on Tuesday, Poole clarified that the resident had alerted the relevant authorities, as required, and has been assured that a tracing team will contact all individuals this resident has been in contact with, as per the authority processes.

“This individual has also personally contacted people he was in contact with, to alert them directly.”

The family of this resident, including wife and children, are in the process of being tested for the virus. “We have been told that the results take between 36 to 72 hours to come through and therefore we do not have an update, at this time, on whether there are any further infections within the family. However, this family is in self isolation.”

According to Poole, the school that the children attend, Reddam House Waterfall, has been notified accordingly and given a full update and parents at the school have been notified.

Revised statement

Poole also clarified that the resident’s wife – who had been tested, although the result was not yet confirmed – did not visit the clubhouse and gym and did not have a training session with a personal trainer, as earlier stated.

“We would like to clarify, following our initial statement, that neither the infected resident, nor his spouse has had any contact with any personal trainer at the gym in the clubhouse.

“However, the spouse of this resident did have contact with the spouse of one of the personal trainers of the clubhouse gym, where they recently met up at Taste restaurant.

“However, it is important to note that the infected resident has not visited the gym in the clubhouse, or any other facilities within the clubhouse following his return from overseas, neither has any family member of the infected resident accessed the gym or kiddies’ play area,” Poole said.

Clubhouse closed 

“As a further safety measure, a decision has been taken to close the gym and clubhouse with immediate effect and indefinitely. Management will arrange for a full clean and disinfection of the gym and clubhouse in this regard, which will take place soonest.

“We feel that the precautionary measures already set out, and implemented, remain necessary and will continue as communicated,” Poole said in the revised statement.

Poole encouraged everyone to follow the strict self-hygiene habits as shared by the government and the Department of Health.

Dr Lwazi Manzi, the health ministry spokesperson, told News24 they could not comment on individual cases.

Sinenhlanhla Jimoh, spokesperson for the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, also declined to comment on specific cases.

In South Africa, 62 people have officially tested positive for Covid-19, according to the health department.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.