LIMPOPO – The Department of Health and the police yesterday arrested a 30-year-old man who tested positive for Covid-19 in Gauteng, but failed to quarantine and instead travelled to Limpopo.
Tracer teams in Gauteng struggled to locate the man until he was spotted in Tzaneen, Limpopo where the Health Department had him arrested and taken into isolation.
Read more: Covid-19: 1170 confirmed cases in South Africa
Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba said in a statement that her department will not hesitate to take in anyone who breaks the rules.
“Being an under-resourced province, the only way we can win this battle is to ensure that those who must be screened and tested do so, and those who must self-quarantine and isolate, also do so. Those who fail to observe these basics and expose our communities to danger will be dealt with.”
Read more: Covid-19: Testing and declaration of cases
She expressed concern, saying her department might have its hands full having to deal with ‘imported cases’ where Covid-19 patients are ignore curbing measures.
“The inter-movement of people between provinces will obviously bear consequences. We have to be prepared to fight hard because for now there is nothing we can do about it, it is what it is,” said the MEC.
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More arrests are expected of individuals who fail to self- quarantine and isolate, she added.
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