The Department of health has today, 5 March 2020, confirmed the first case of CoronaVirus in South Africa. This after a 38-year-old man tested positive to having contracted the virus.

The patient arrived in South Africa on the 1st of March 2020 from a holiday in Italy. He was traveling with his wife and 8 other people. The patient then travelled to Kwazulu Natal Province, this was after landing at OR Tambo international airport , in Johannesburg. According to the Department of Health, the patient consulted a private general practitioner on March 3, with symptoms of fever, headache, malaise, a sore throat and a cough. The practice nurse took swabs & delivered it to the lab.The patient has been self-isolating since March 3. The couple also has two children.The Emergency Operating Centre (EOC) has identified the contacts by interviewing the patient and doctor. The Department has confirmed that a tracer team has been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal with epidemiologists&clinicians from NICD.

Protect yourself and others from #COVID19. Help prevent the spread of #CoronaVirus . Avoid contact with sick people.Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue. Avoid touching your eyes, nose & mouth.Stay home when you are sickest your hands with soap and water #CoronavirusOutbreak

-DoH

-The VIP Team