There are currently no reported or suspected cases of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in South Africa, despite social media reports.
Spokesperson for the Department of Health, Popo Maja, told Tourism Update: “There’s nothing at this stage. There is no single case of the coronavirus in South Africa.”
Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, said in a statement that the department had distributed clinical guidelines and case definitions to the healthcare sector on how to diagnose and respond to a possible case of coronavirus.
The virus, which was originally discovered in Wuhan in December, has infected thousands of people. More than 300 people have died.
To date, there has there has been only one suspected reported case in southern Africa – confirmed by the Botswana Department of Health and Wellness last Friday – where a traveller arrived in Botswana from China.
