Health Minister, Dr Zwelini MKhize, has confirmed the first Capetonian with the dreaded coronavirus was diagnosed this week.
According to a statement a 36-year-old man who recently traveled to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Turkey and returned on Monday was diagnosed with the virus.
At this stage, it is unknown where the patient is being held.
Mkhize says there are six new confirmed cases in the country with four people testing positive for the virus in Gauteng, one in Kwa-Zulu Natal and one in the Western Cape.
"This takes the total number of coronavirus positive patients in South
Africa to 13.
“More information relating to these cases will be communicated. We also request that the privacy of the patients and the families continue to be observed by the media and members of the public.”
Read the Minister's full statement here:
The Minister of Health wishes to inform the public that 6 new cases of COVID-19 have
been confirmed.
This takes the total number of coronavirus positive patients in South
Africa to 13.
Gauteng Cases: 4
- A 33-year-old female who had travelled to Italy and returned on the 1st of March 2020.
- A couple, 34-year-old male and a 33-year-old female who had travelled to Germany.
They returned to South Africa on the 9th of March 2020.
- A 57-year-old male who had travelled to Austria and Italy. He returned to South Africa
on the 9th of March 2020.
KwaZulu-Natal Case: 1
- A 40-year-old male who had travelled to Portugal. He returned on the 7th of March
2020.
Western Cape Case: 1
- A 36-year-old male who had travelled to multiple countries including Germany, Austria,
Switzerland and Turkey. He returned to South Africa on the 9th of March 2020.
All the patients have now been advised. Those who are symptomatic have started
receiving treatment. Some of these patients are already in hospital while some,
specifically those who are asymptomatic are in self quarantine.
Contact tracing has
also started for all these cases.
It is also noteworthy that to date, 3642 tests have been conducted.
More information relating to these cases will be communicated.
We also request that
the privacy of the patients and the families continues to be observed by the media and
members of the public.
WATCH: Dr Berth and the MEC confirm that the patient is not at the Tygerberg Hospital but currently at home.