The first laboratory confirmed case of Covid-19, also referred to as the coronavirus, has been confirmed in the Western Cape.
There were now 13 confirmed cases after six more people tested positive. Four of them are in Gauteng, one in KwaZulu-Natal and one in the Western Cape.
The Western Cape man, 36, returned to South Africa on Monday March 9 and had travelled to countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Turkey.Â
At a briefing outside Tygerberg Hospital on Wednesday March 11 Premier of the Western Cape Alan Winde would not divulge the location of the man but said he had self quarantined. He did reveal that three people were under quarantine at the hospital’s Infectious Diseases ward.
Tygerberg Hospital’s Dr Jantjie Taljaard was joined by MEC for Health in the Western Cape Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, and other departmental health experts. Tygerberg Hospital is a designated facility for isolation of coronavirus patients in Cape Town. Groote Schuur Hospital and Red Cross Children’s War Memorial Hospital are on standby if the need arises.
Dr Taljaard says they prefer not to admit Covid-19 patients to Tygerberg Hospital but for those with the virus to self-quarantine. If the symptoms become more serious they would be admitted, isolated and treated.Â
As of 4pm on Wednesday March 11 there are 121 517 Covid-19 confirmed cases globally, with 4 383 deaths and a 6% mortality rate.
The virus is quickly evolving and has spread to 120 countries.
If you show symptoms and have been in contact with people who have travelled recently, call 0800 029 999 and ask for further details.