Coronavirus: 63 South Africans test negative for COVID-19
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says 130 health professionals are being trained in the North West - in preparation for the COVID-19 or coronavirus.
Medical doctors, environmental health practitioners, nurses and emergency personnel are among the trainees at the Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp.
The training includes sample taking, confirming diagnosis and management of cases.
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COVID-19 was first identified in China late last year - with its epicentre in the central city of Wuhan. It's spread to other Chinese cities - a number of countries.
The NICD says there are still no confirmed cased in South Africa.
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The institute's Professor Cheryl Cohen says 63 samples that were recently tested have all come back negative.
"We would like to assure the public that should South Africa identify a positive case. The country is well prepared to deal with it."
The NICD working together with the national department of health, continues to enhance systems to rapidly identify and detect any important cases that may reach our borders," she says.
