KZN doctor recalls night SA's COVID-19 Patient Zero was brought in to hospital

Patient Zero from Hilton, was admitted to Greys Hospital in Pietermaritzburg.

The case was detected a year ago today - and a commemoration ceremony was held at the hospital today. 

Doctor Bradley Naidoo says they received a call at around midnight. "Our senior staff, the nursing staff came out and I think it must've been an hour or so before the lady came in but that one hour with her was like one day in life." 

"We were wondering how sick this individual would be - would they need oxygen, would they need to be isolated. What care do we give them because so little was known at that point. So many thoughts went through our minds." 

Naidoo says they had to get used to treating patients under a new normal after that.

Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize who was also there, saluted healthcare workers who've been at the forefront of fighting COVID-19 - and thanked South Africans for their cooperation.

He recalled the day he found out the country had its first case. " I had to call the president and say to his excellency, this is a call I wish I never ever had to make." 

Mkhize says pushing the country into lockdown was one of the hardest decision government had to make. " 

He says the past year has been rough... " We learned alot, we have made our mistakes and we also acheived alot and on that basis it is important for us to thanks all South Africans for all what you've gone through"