18 March 2020

UPDATE:

The number of confirmed cases jumps to 116.

The new 31 cases are as follows:

GAUTENG: 16
KWAZULU-NATAL:3
MPUMALANGA: 2
WESTERN CAPE: 10

EARLIER:

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has announced that South Africa now has 85 confirmed cases of COVID-19 – including 8 cases of local transmission.

The new confirmed cases are:

Gauteng: 14

-A 45 year old male who had travelled to Belgium, UK, France and the US
-A 37 year old male who had travelled to the UK
-A 54 year old female who had travelled to the USA
-A 52 year old male who had travelled to the UK
-A 25 year old male who travelled to the UK
-A 52 year old female who had travelled to Italy
-A 59 year old male who travelled to the UK and Dubai
-A 57 year old male who travelled to the USA
-A 60 year old male who travelled to the USA
-A 37 year old female who travelled to Italy and Dubai
-A 21 year old female with no travel history
-A 34 year old male with no international travel history
-A 26 year old female with no international travel history
-A 32 year old female with no international travel history

KZN: 4

-A 48 year old male who travelled to Dubai
-A 59 year old female with no international travel history
-A 5 year old male with no international travel history
-A 3year old male with no international travel history

Western Cape: 5

-A 3 year old male who travelled to the UK
-A 58 year old male who travelled to the UK and Austria
-A 2 year old male with no international travel
-A 62 year old female who travelled to the UK and Ethiopia
-A 71 year old female who travelled to the UK

 A press release from the Minister stated:

“It is notable that there are 8 (eight) cases of local transmission. I must inform the public that there was a debate with clinicians, epidemiologists, virologists on when we, as government must release results to the public. These experts raised an issue of an ethical obligation to immediately alert patients as soon as the results become available.

This therefore means that by the time a confirmation test is conducted in public laboratories, patients would have been notified of their initial results. This clarification is important because as government, we had announced to the public that all positive results will be verified through our publics laboratories and the NICD. In our efforts to ensure transparency, we have decided to release results as they are submitted by both public and private labs. In instances where our confirmation tests give contrary results, we will inform the public, make reference to that specific resultpreviously announced and give the outcome of the confirmation results.

Whilst we respect that private laboratories have the capacity to test and on their own issue results, our intention and approach is to ensure that there is credibility in the information and results given to the public. Whilst we appreciate the importance of being transparent with South Africans, we will not do so irresponsibly and not take into account all clinical and any other broader implications of the information we give to you.”

On a more positive note, all the citizens who returned from Wuhan have tested negative for COVID-19.

Minister Mkhize said: “It gives us great pleasure to also announce to South Africans that all the citizens from Wuhan were tested and their results came back negative for COVID-19”  “We continue to keep them in quarantine for the prescribed period and will thereafter initiate the process of reunifying them with the community, ” he concluded.

While fear and uncertainty is a natural response to COVID-19, the public is urged to remain as calm as possible and take the necessary precautions to stop the virus from spreading.

Source: Department of Health

16 March 2020

The Department of Health has confirmed that as of today (Monday morning) South Africa now has 62 confirmed and verified cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

It was further stated: “We also wish to mention that there are two cases of local transmission which have been presented to the NICD. These are under investigation. We are in the process of conducting confirmation tests and establish their direct contacts and those whom they have subsequently come into contact with.”

15 March 2020

President Ramaphosa declared the COVID-19 pandemic a state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act during his address this evening.

In summary, President Ramaphosa said:

• There are now 61 confirmed cases of the virus in South Africa.
• Government has implemented travel bans to a number of countries including Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom and China. Travel bans on these countries will come into effect from 18 March 2020. He also said local travels must only be necessary.
• Gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited. Large events and celebrations are cancelled.
• Schools closed from Wednesday 18 March until after the Easter weekend.
• Government also said they would be working closely with universities, colleges etc. to increase hygiene and put other appropriate responses in place.
• Businesses are called upon to take measures to intensify hygiene control.
• Surveillance and testing systems are being strengthened at hospitals.
• Partnering with the private sector to develop a tracing, tracking and monitoring system for all those affected by the coronavirus.
• Calling on everyone to take various personal measures as previously stated (hygiene, elbow greetings, etc.).
• 35 land ports and 2seaports shut down out of total 72 ports.
• A package is to be compiled as a response to the economic impact of the disease.

Source: EWN

EARLIER:

Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize announced on Sunday that the number of Covid-19 cases in South African has risen to 51, with 13 new cases identified since Saturday.

The newly-confirmed cases are:

KZN (total 12)

• A 34 year old male who had travelled to the UK

Gauteng (total 24)

• A 60 year old male who had travelled to Iran.
• A 36 year old male who had travelled to the UK.
• A 54 year old male who had travelled to Switzerland.
• A 27 year old male who had travelled to the UK.
• A 21 year old female who had travelled to Germany.
• A 53 year old female who had travelled to Germany.
• A 29 year old male who had travelled to Switzerland.

Western Cape (total 14)

• A 35 year old female who had travelled to Germany and Austria.
• A 42 year old female who had travelled to Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
• A 50 year old male who had travelled to the Netherlands.
• A 33 year old male who had travelled to Switzerland.
• A 35 year old male who had travelled to Austria

On Saturday night,  the Minister and Deputy Minister of Health held an urgent National Health Council meeting with the MECs and HODs for Health of all the provinces with the purpose of discussing the latest situational analysis of each province as more Covid-19 cases are being confirmed.

Dr. Mkhize stated: “In our engagement, it became clear that the role played by contact tracers is very important and their capacity needs to be strengthened. The NHC agreed that in order to minimise the risk of further spread of the virus, contact tracing must be done within 48 hours.” 

President Cyril Ramaphosa is also set to hold an emergency Cabinet meeting today to discuss various strategies to deal with Covid-19 in South Africa and its impact on education and public health.

Cabinet will also discuss and subsequently decide whether to enforce travel bans on countries that have not managed to contain their infection rates.

 

 

Follow the link below for additional information from one of our #ImStaying community on the ground in China. https://imstaying.co.za/south-african-do…19-team-in-china/ ‎

14 March 2020

Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize announced that South Africa’s number of confirmed coronavirus infections had jumped to 38 after it stood at 24 on Friday.

Mkhize said: “This means that our numbers have increased by 14 from Friday’s confirmed cases of 24.”

The new confirmed cases are:

Gauteng: 7 new infections – (total 17)

• A 76-year-old man who had travelled to the UK and the US.
• A 72-year-old woman who had travelled to the UK and the US.
• A 47-year-old man who had travelled to the UK and the US.
• A 52-year-old man who had travelled to Germany.
• A 38-year-old man who had travelled to the Netherlands and Germany.
• A 62-year-old man who had travelled to the Netherlands.
• A 19-year-old woman who had travelled to France and Italy.

Western Cape: 6 new infections – (total 9)

• A 27-year-old man who had travelled to Brazil.
• A 33-year-old woman who had travelled to France.
• A 49-year-old man who had travelled to France and Italy.
• A 14-year-old woman who had travelled to the US and Dubai.
• A 73-year-old man who had travelled to the UK.
• A 32-year-old man who had travelled to the UK.

KwaZulu-Natal: (total 11)

• A 47-year-old man who had travelled to Switzerland.

COVID-19 INFECTIONS BY PROVINCE

• Gauteng – 17
• KwaZulu-Natal – 11
• Western Cape – 9
• Mpumalanga – 1

SA TOTAL – 38

Meanwhile, one hundred and fourteen (114) South Africans have been repatriated back from Wuhan, China. The group arrived at Polokwane airport before being whisked off in four buses to the Ranch Resort to begin their 21 days of quarantine, alongside crew and SANDF & SAPS officials who assisted in the repatriation effort.

Source: Department of Health

13 March 2020

The Department of Health has stated that eight new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in South Africa, bringing the total to 24.

Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize has stated that all positive patients had been travellers from other countries into SA. He further said that  President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for an urgent meeting to be held on Sunday. The meeting is expected to focus on various aspects around the pandemic.

 

Here are the 8 new confirmed cases: 

 

Gauteng: 4

 

A 39-year-old female who had travelled to Switzerland and Austria

 

A 50-year-old male who had travelled to Austria

 

A 21-year-old female who had travelled to Italy

 

A 57-year-old male who had travelled to Switzerland

 

KZN: 2

 

A 79-year-old male who had travelled to Greece and Italy

 

A 52-year-old male who had travelled to Switzerland

 

Western Cape: 2

 

A 50-year-old male who had travelled to Switzerland and Austria

 

A 46-year-old male who had travelled to Italy

 

The Department of Health released a statement that there may be more positive results and that the National Institute of Communicable Diseases and National Health Laboratory Service were now verifying the information and these results.

 

A media release by the Department of Health will follow as soon as all results have been verified. Earlier today, Old Mutual confirmed that one of its employees has tested positive for COVID-19. While the company did not disclose where in the country the employee was located, they did state that he/she would not return to the office for 21 days in accordance with the international travel policy.

 

Follow the link below for additional information from one of our #ImStaying community on the ground in China. https://imstaying.co.za/south-african-do…19-team-in-china/ ‎

 

 

 

12 March 2020

 

LATEST UPDATE: 

 

The Government stated that the coronavirus case in the Free State has now tested negative. It was originally reported that this patient was the first local transmission case of the virus in the country. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has confirmed that South Africa remains free from local transmission.

 

Coronavirus Hotline Number: 0800 029 999 from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday

 

EARLIER

 

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on Thursday announced that South Africa now has 17 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19). This is an additional four cases from Wednesday. The Minister stated that a 32-year-old man who had come into contact with a Chinese businessman tested positive for the coronavirus in the Free State. The patient, who had not traveled abroad, has become the first local transmission of the virus in the country. “This is the first case of local transmission as all others have been by patients who had traveled abroad,” Mkhize cautioned.

 

 

The four new cases are as follows: 

 

FREE STATE: 1

 

A 32-year-old male who came into contact with a Chinese businessman. This is the first case of local transmission as all others have been by patients who had traveled abroad.

 

KWAZULU-NATAL: 1

 

A 38-year-old male from Durban who lives in Turkey and was visiting his family in South Africa has tested positive. He had traveled to the UK and returned to SA on 7 March 2020.

 

MPUMALANGA: 1

 

A 27-year-old female from Mpumalanga who had traveled to the United States. She returned to South Africa on 7 March 2020.

 

GAUTENG: 1

 

A 43-year-old male from Johannesburg who had traveled to New York via Dubai and returned to South Africa on 8 March 2020.

 

The public is urged to remain calm but vigilant and to continue to follow basic hygiene protocol.

 

 

11 March 2020:

 

The coronavirus outbreak has been labeled a pandemic by the World Health Organization. “In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of COVID-19 cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher. WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic”- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Source: World Health Organisation Live Press Briefing   Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has confirmed the first Capetonian with the dreaded Coronavirus was diagnosed this week.  Six new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed by the Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 13. Media Statement:

 

Minister Zweli Mkhize confirms six new cases of Coronavirus Covid-19

 

 

10 March 2020: The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) stated today that its members are unsure of how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among learners. Mugwena Maluleke, the general secretary of the union that represents more than 260,000 teachers,  called on the education department to issue clear instructions with regards to the matter.  The call for clarity comes after Grayston Preparatory School in Sandton was closed on Monday in order for deep cleansing of its premises to take place today following a suspected case of COVID-19.  Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has said that any decision to close schools amid COVID-19 fears would be guided by expert health officials. According to the Department of Health, the seven individuals who have tested positive for the virus have been in direct contact with more than 100 people, all of who have been quarantined. This is the full list of confirmed cases and the number of people they were in contact with:

 

• A 38-year-old male in KZN – 13 contacts reported.
• A 30-year-old female in Gauteng – 13 contacts reported
• A 38-year-old female in KZN – 15 contacts reported
• A 38-year-old female in KZN  – 16 contacts reported
• A 38-year-old male in KZN -15 contacts reported
• A 45-year-old male in KZN – 12 contacts reported
• A 38-year-old male in KZN -21 contacts reported.

 

The department issued a statement that read: “All of these patients belonged to the group that travelled to the Province of Milan in Italy on a ski trip. There were 10 members of that travelling group and one did not return to South Africa but travelled to the UK. The remaining two travelers are currently under home quarantine and await their test results which should take about 48 hours to be concluded.” To date, no new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the country. Follow the link below for additional information from one of our #ImStaying community on the ground in China. https://imstaying.co.za/south-african-do…19-team-in-china/ ‎ 9 March 2020:

 

• In a statement from the South African Government today ay 13:50 they appealed to South Africans to remain calm, “We call on members of the public to remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation about the Coronavirus.”  During the press briefing held, the Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize said there are seven confirmed cases of coronavirus in South Africa.  Of the reported cases globally, 80% are mild cases which include symptoms like body aches, tiredness and a mild cough.  15% of infected individuals have more severe effects and 5% may need to be hospitalized.  This is based on global statistics of which the most cases are prevalent in China.

 

 

Follow the link below for additional information from one of our #ImStaying community on the ground in China. https://imstaying.co.za/south-african-do…19-team-in-china/ ‎

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ 8 March 2020: The South African Revenue Service (SARS) announced that it has taken several precautionary measures in response to risk of infection from the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said SARS tax, customs and excise operations would continue as normal at all SARS branches, offices and ports of entry. These measures are aligned with and in support of other initiatives taken by the Department of Health. All SARS branches will make hand sanitizers available to taxpayers who visit our branches. SARS will also ensure that all working and service areas that are most frequently touched are kept clean with specialized detergents. Information will also be shared with taxpayers on basic steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In addition, the SARS Commissioner said that, “In the past few weeks, SARS has made available it’s person protective equipment to Customs officials at all ports of entry, including masks, gloves as well as hand sanitizers in line with National Government Guidelines”. SARS Customs officials will also be supported by health officials who will screen travelers entering South Africa.  SARS officials are also in contact with Customs authorities from neighbouring states to share information regarding the COVID-19 outbreak and steps to mitigate the risk of infection.

 

“I call on all taxpayers and traders to take note of the information available to take steps to protect their health and well-being. Our core message to our employees, as well as taxpayers, traders and travelers is to not panic, but to practice self-care and consideration to others.

 

“In this regard, to practice high levels of personal hygiene, especially to regularly and thoroughly wash hands; minimize handshakes and travel and remain indoors should they experience symptoms of flu.” “We want to reassure all taxpayers, traders and travelers that SARS, along with other government departments, is playing its part in responding to the COVID-19 virus.” SARS will provide further communiques when necessary. Source: South African Revenue Service

 

 

Follow the link below for additional information from one of our #ImStaying community on the ground in China. https://imstaying.co.za/south-african-do…19-team-in-china/ ‎

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8 March 2020: As South Africans are trying to come to terms with our first confirmed case of the coronavirus, a third case was confirmed on Sunday morning, 8 March 2020.  South Africa’s Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, addressed a media briefing on the coronavirus at the South African Parliament on Thursday, 5 March in Cape Town regarding the first case of the COVID-19 and explained that the first confirmed case was a 38-year-old male who travelled to Italy.  On Saturday, 7 March a 39-year-old woman from Gauteng, who was a direct contact to the first case from KwaZulu-Natal, was announced as the second confirmed corona case in South Africa. These two individuals were part of a group of 10 people who travelled to Italy.  International news giant, CNN, reported on Sunday that Italy announced a lockdown as global coronavirus cases surpassed 105,000. The announcement came after Italy saw a dramatic spike of 1,247 confirmed novel coronavirus cases on Saturday and Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, signed a decree Sunday that will put millions of people across Italy under lock down.  This coincided with South Africa’s third confirmed corona case, the wife of South Africa’s first novel coronavirus patient was diagnosed with COVID-19.

 

“He was upbeat and jovial.  I also spoke to the doctor who is treating him.  She confirmed that this patient is responding well.”

 

However, Minister Zweli Mkhize said he had spoken to the first confirmed patient this morning, “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,” Mkhize said. Source: South African Government Compiled By:  Justine Bishop & Joanita van Wyk Keep sharing your good news with us and for more positive and uplifting stories visit us at #ImStaying GOOD THOUGHTS • GOOD WORDS • GOOD DEEDS

 

 

Follow the link below for additional information from one of our #ImStaying community on the ground in China. https://imstaying.co.za/south-african-do…19-team-in-china/ ‎