First case of COVID-19 coronavirus confirmed in South Africa
The patient has been self-isolating since March 3
This morning, 5 March, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases confirmed that a suspected case of COVID-19 has tested positive, this according to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize .
The patient is a 38-year-old male who travelled to Italy with his wife. They were part of a group of 10 people and they arrived back in South Africa on 1 March 2020. The patient consulted a private general practitioner on March 3, with symptoms of fever, headache, malaise, a sore throat and a cough. The practise nurse took swabs and delivered it to the lab.
FIRST CASE OF COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS REPORTED IN SA
Fellow South Africans
This morning, Thursday March 5, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases confirmed that a suspected case of COVID-19 has tested positive.#COVID19
— Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) March 5, 2020
It is further reported that the patient has been self-isolating since March 3. The couple also has two children. The Emergency Operating Centre (EOC) has identified the contacts by interviewing the patient and doctor.
A tracer team has been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal with epidemiologists and clinicians from NICD and the doctor has been self-isolated as well.
A press briefing will be held later after the parliamentary debate this evening, to shed more light on this issue.
