The first patient to be tested with coronavirus in South Africa, or patient zero, has recovered well, and is ready to be released.
This as the South African government has instructed experts to not speak to the media and to direct all communications to the NICD, News24 reported.
South Africa has 116 confirmed local cases of the coronavirus, or SARS-Cov-2. The first case was reported locally 13 days ago.
Cases of local transmission have now been reported in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
This as schools across South Africa are set to close on Wednesday, and South Africa close its borders in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s novel coronavirus response plan.
South Africa’s first Covid-19 positive person, Patient Zero, has still not received his double negative tests although he is in good health and has made a complete recovery, The Witness reported.
Meanwhile, his doctor, Robyn Reed in Hilton was back at work on Tuesday at her medical practice after her 14-day quarantine.
The four other positive patients, who were on the same skiing trip with patient zero, are in a Durban hospital and have also recovered and are awaiting their double negative tests.
As of Wednesday morning, South Africa has an official count of 116 cases
Health minister Zwelini Mkhize on Wednesday morning confirmed that South Africa as 116 cases on coronavirus in South Africa, an increase of 115 since the first case was reported 13 days ago.
102 of the confirmed cases are related to travel to high-risk countries such as the United States, Italy and the United Kingdom, and 14 cases of local transmission have been reported.
Cases of local transmission have now been reported in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
Some countries have asked to repatriate their citizens from South Africa.
Transport minister Fikile Mbalula said certain countries have asked to repatriate their citizens from South Africa, in much the way South Africans were repatriated from Wuhan in China.
Those who do not go home will be kept safe, though, home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi promised.
Mbalula said a travel ban to high-risk countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, will be enforced from March 18.
An exception to the ban will apply for diplomats and returning South Africans.
Travellers from medium-risk countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Portugal will have to apply for new visas, with certification that they are free of the novel coronavirus.
Source: businessinsider.co.za
