Coronavirus: SA's patient zero 'ready to be discharged'
Updated | By Newswatch
The Premier says the 38-year-old Hilton man who was the first person in the country to test positive for COVID-19 will soon be going home.
The man - who is known as patient zero - returned from Italy a little over two weeks ago - where he'd travelled with his wife and eight other people.
READ: Coronavirus: South Africa confirms first case of COVID-19
He's been receiving treatment at one of the public hospitals designated to treat cases of the novel coronavirus.
Premier Sihle Zikalala was speaking in Pietermaritzburg this afternoon - where he and members of the Provincial Executive Council addressed on the implementation of the measures to curb the spread of the disease.
READ: SAA grounds flights amid virus pandemic
"We can say with no doubt that, patient zero, the one who was the first to contract the virus is recovering and is ready to be discharged. More than 80 percent of the people who have been infected by this virus are now free and are back into their communities in the world, so with us also we believe it will be the same."
Patient zero's wife has also tested positive for the virus.
So far, there are 116 confirmed cases in the country. Six of them are children between the ages of two and five.
Twelve of all cases are locally transmitted.
Show's Stories
-
Chinese sightseeing destination looking to hire a Monkey King
You can be a Monkey King for an easy R15k a month.
Carol Ofori 8 hours ago -
Woman shows us what she does when dating apps don't work
We guess this method of finding the one is worth the risk...
Vic Naidoo 8 hours ago