Private hospital group Mediclinic Southern Africa has debunked a tweet claiming a man died of the Coronavirus at one of its hospitals.
@MarkSmit222's tweet alleged a person died at the Louis Leipoldt Mediclinic in Bellville.
It said: “My good friend’s colleague, Steve Gouws, working at international Chinese company, ZTE, Cape Town, South Africa died at 1pm today after being exposed to another colleague who returned from China last week.
"Hospital refused to say Coronavirus. They claim it’s swine flu (sic)”.
My good friend's colleague, Steve Gouws, working at international Chinese company, ZTE, Cape Town, South Africa died at 13:00 today after being exposed to another colleague who returned from China last week. Hospital refused to say Corona virus. They claim it's swine flu.
— 𝓜 𝓪 𝓻 𝓴 (@MarkSmit222) February 7, 2020
After being pressed for answers by followers, he tweeted again: “My tweet was not to create fear but create awareness.
"Proper screening precautions are not done at airports as is done in other countries.
"Also, people have the right to know where this person died. It was Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt in Bellville, Cape Town.
My tweet was not to create fear, but create awareness. Proper screening precautions are not done at airports as is done in other countries. Also, people have the right to know where this person died. It was Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt in Bellville, Cape Town.
— 𝓜 𝓪 𝓻 𝓴 (@MarkSmit222) February 8, 2020
Mediclinic Southern Africa group said it had no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.
“We would like to provide the reassurance that, in strict accordance with the protocols, Mediclinic Southern Africa has implemented the necessary measures to manage any patients presenting with symptoms and to prevent the potential transmission of the virus in our facilities.
“We also encourage anyone experiencing signs and symptoms of flu or who think that
they may have been exposed to the virus to contact their health-care provider.”
Meanwhile, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases confirmed that the 61 patients it had tested in South Africa for the coronavirus, had tested negative.
The deadly virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has killed more than 1 300 people.
dailyvoice@inl.co.za