As the novel coronavirus, Covid-19, spreads around the globe, South Africans are waiting with bated breath to see what happens in SA.
This follows the Minister of Health, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, confirming two more cases of Covid-19 in South Africa.
In two statements released over the weekend, Dr Mkhize explains the second confirmed case is a 39-year-old woman from Gauteng. She is part of the group of 10 people who travelled to Italy. The third patient is the wife of South Africa’s first patient. She too had travelled to Italy.
With both women receiving medical treatment, Dr Mkhize explains the remaining members of the group have been traced and they are all in isolation, as the Ministry of Health waits for their test results to return.
With three confirmed cases in South Africa two in KZN and one in Gauteng, should South Africans be panicking?
With the spread of fake news and misinformation, people are finding themselves falling victim to a certain degree of unnecessary fear.
Currently, the first patient is gearing up to be sent home following his progress and improvement in health.
In his statement, Dr Mkhize said he spoke to the patient on Sunday, March 8. “I had an opportunity to speak to the first confirmed patient. He was upbeat and jovial. I also spoke to the doctor who is treating him.”
Dr Mkhize explains that the doctor confirmed the patient was responding well and is now asymptomatic. The patient will be retested in due course to determine his recovery process.
With the patient responding well, he is not the only person to recover from the dreaded Covid-19.
As of this morning, March 9, there were a total of 110, 110 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Out of this, over 62, 000 people recovered, with 43, 923 ongoing cases.
The death rate stood at 3,831 people this morning, which makes up a small percentage of the cases around the globe.
With Covid-19 not necessarily being a death sentence, Dr Mkhize says the ministry continues to call for calm and cooperation during this period.
He states the ministry’s commitment to do everything in its power to mitigate against the uncontrollable spread of Covid-19 in our country remains.
With officials working to stop the spread of Covid-19, the community is urged to remain calm and to refrain from spreading unverified information.
