CORONAVIRUS UPDATE - HEALTH MINISTER CONFIRMS 3RD CASE OF CORONAVIRUS IN SA

A third case of coronavirus has been confirmed by Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize.

In a statement released on Sunday, Mkhize confirmed that the wife of the country's first coronavirus case has tested positive for Covid-19.

"Fellow South Africans, an announcement was made yesterday confirming the second case of COVID-19 in South Africa. We indicated that the second patient is a direct contact of the first," Mkhize said. 

"This morning we have received results of the direct contact of the first patient, his wife. She had also travelled with him to Italy as part of the group of ten. I now wish to advise the public that she has tested positive for Covid-19 and is therefore the third confirmed case in South Africa."

The second patient, a 39-year-old Gauteng woman who had also travelled with the Hilton man and his wife to Italy, was admitted to one of Gauteng’s public hospitals designated to receive Covid-19 positive patients.

The department expects the results of the other group members who had travelled to Italy within the next 48 hours.

Mkhize stressed that the couple’s children were tested and their results have come out negative. However, the thee children will remain in self quarantine until their parents have tested negative and will continue to not attend school.

"This morning, 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. She confirmed that this patient is responding well and is now asymptomatic. At the right time, as determined by the treating doctors, the patient will be retested to check his recovery progress," he added.

via - IOL