After many speculations regarding a 26-year-old female who was transferred to the Klerksdorp Hospital from the Joe Morolong Hospital, the Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize, today confirmed that the patient eventually tested negative to the COVID-19 virus. Minister Mkhize did however admit that the initial results of the test came out as an unclear positive result.

The minister of health made this confirmation during an official inter ministerial media briefing on the recent updates regarding virus, in Pretoria on Monday , 09 March 2020. In his statement, the minister however also announced that there has been 4 new cases of the CoronaVirus in KwaZulu Natal. This brings the total number if confirmed cases to 7 in South Africa, since the 1st case was reported on the 5th of March.

Earlier the Department of Health in the North West Province called for calm and no panic.Be that as it may, a preschool in Vryburg, Barney, has already sent out a circular to parents to inform them to keep their kids at home from tomorrow, 10 March 2020, until further notice. “Our kids are very small and the virus will attack them badly as their immune system is not as strong. So no school until we contact you if any new further developments” said a statement from Barney School.

“There is no need for the communities in the North West Province to panic. The National Minister of Health will make the official statement on the matter after consulting NICD”, said MEC Sambatha.

The Klerksdorp hospital has been earmarked as a centre that will be utilized in the North West Province for the purposes of treatment and isolation as far as the CoronaVirus is concern.

-The VIP Team

-DoH North West

-National DoH