62 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 2 cases of local transmissions presented to the NICD

Health Minister Dr Zwelini Mkhize confirmed that as of this morning, South Africa has 62 confirmed and verified cases of COVID-19, there are more cases but these are yet to be verified.

The details of the cases are as follows:

GAUTENG: 7
– A 33-year-old male who had travelled to Spain
– A 68-year-old female who had travelled to Austria
– A 30-year-old male who had travelled to India
– A 39-year-old male who had travelled to the US
– A 43-year-old female who had travelled to the US
– A 50-year-old male who had travelled to France and the UK
– A 37-year-old male who had travelled to the US, Dubai and Mexico

WESTERN CAPE: 2
– A 39-year-old male who had travelled to Canada
– A 15-year-old male who had travel travelled to France

LIMPOPO: 1
⁃A 29-year-old male who had travelled to France and Netherlands

MPUMALANGA:
⁃A 55-year-old male who had travelled to France

The Department also wishes to mention that there are two cases of local transmission which have been presented to the NICD. These are under investigation, they are in the process of conducting confirmation tests and establish their direct contacts and those whom they have subsequently come into contact with.

All the patients have been advised and contact tracing is underway.

South Africans repatriated from Wuhan:

As announced by the President, 114 South Africans were repatriated from Wuhan. The SAA flight landed on Saturday and they have settled in well at the Ranch Hotel in Limpopo.
As the Department had undertaken to ensure that they will take all the precautionary measures in this repatriation processes, between yesterday and this morning, all these citizens have been swabbed for testing for COVID-19. They now await the outcome of their results. Their medical team has assured us that they found them to be medically fit when they conducted their examinations on them.

Only two citizens had a slight cough but did not show an elevated temperature or any other symptoms. The medical team, however, took a decision to isolate these two citizens for close and constant monitoring. We also wish to advise South Africans that when our citizens were boarding in Wuhan, medical screening was conduct on each and everyone of them. This was done by both the South African and Chinese authorities. Of the citizens that had presented themselves for repatriation, 4 had to remain behind. This is because they displayed some symptoms. It must be highlighted that this does not mean that they have been infected but this was done to mitigate the risk of having an infected person on the same flight with more than 100 others and thus exposing them.

A brief clinical analysis for this outbreak:

Individuals with other existing medical conditions such as chronic lung disease and immune suppression are more vulnerable and may experience severe symptoms if infected with COVID-19.

Secondly, the overall fatality rate of COVID-19 is estimated to be 1-3%. Approximately 15% of those who develop disease require hospitalisation. Most cases, that is about 85% can self quarantine at home. In this regard, the clinicians observing the patient will make this determination and advise if they view the patient as high risk and therefore requiring hospital admission or can recover from home.

Epidemiological evidence from affected countries shows that:
• Containment is only possible at very early stages, and even then, is difficult
• Mitigation of risks is eventually the most pragmatic response and should start early
• Delayed early action could overwhelm the health system.
• While early action may be unpalatable to others and may even negatively affect other areas such as the economy, it is necessary.

The Department further announced that it will now also restrict visits in hospitals and prisons.

Way forward:

The President announced that a National Command Council has been formed. The Ministers team of Ministers present here form part of that Council. Each Minister will identify areas that fall within their department that requires focus so that all sectors of our society are well attended to.

All South Africans are informed that the internal transmission risk is now setting in. Once this infection starts spreading in taxis and buses, it will create a new dynamic. The reality is this, for now, individuals that have been infected thus far are people who can afford to go on holiday abroad or they travel for business. Those individuals also have accommodation to self-quarantine. However, when this outbreak starts affecting our poor communities where families do not have enough rooms or spaces to quarantine those infected, we will experience a crisis. Therefore, it is important for us to start preparing accommodation for such an eventuality. This means that patients who do not necessarily require to be admitted to hospital will be placed in those quarantine facilities identified by the government.

“We are appealing to provinces to start preparing possible quarantine sites. I have communicated this to all Health MECs at our meeting,” Mkhize stated.

“As a government, we will continue to assess the progression of this outbreak. The next few weeks are critical. It will be on the basis of that situational analysis that government will decide if the measures that have been put in place are sufficient or we may be required to take further steps, being guided by the country’s legislation.”

Mkhize stated that it is now time for us to turn ourselves into soldiers. In military terms there are three steps that are put in operation in times of war:

1. Preparations – This includes:
– Training of health workers on coronavirus
– Preparing health facilities
– Setting up Teams for testing in laboratories
– Setting up Effective Tracing Teams
– Reviewing protocols for treatment

2. Reconnaissance – This includes:
– Collecting data on coronavirus globally and in South Africa
– Assess the conduct of the virus, clinical manifestation, mortality
– Look at the trend of the infection, ie. Imported and local transmission

3. Hard Combat – This includes:
– Increased testing capability
– Management of infected people
– Quarantine of contacts
– Community mobilisation on stopping the spread of the virus
– Increase hygiene: constant washing of hands with soap and water, using sanitisers

“As South Africans, we all have to work together to fight this outbreak. We need not panic and be engulfed by fear, but at the same time we cannot be complacent. We do believe that together we can conquer this outbreak,” Mkhize concluded.