MEC: No confirmed cases of coronavirus in KZN

MEC: No confirmed cases of coronavirus in KZN

There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the province, says the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health. 

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu
https://twitter.com/kznhealth

Health authorities are reminding people that as far as their screening process is concerned, they have not picked up any cases of the deadly outbreak from China in South Africa. 


Media reports last night suggested there were two suspected cases in KwaZulu-Natal. 


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But, local health officials immediately clarified that these people have tested negative for the virus. 


Samples from these patients - who presented symptoms similar to those caused by the novel coronavirus - were sent to labs for analysis. 


The results showed that none of them were sick with the disease. 


They are being monitored at public and private healthcare facilities in Durban. 


KZN's MEC has asked that media reporting on the virus to be more responsible. 


Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu has lambasted sensationalist reporting saying these mislead people and can cause unnecessary fear and panic.  


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"KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Ms Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu hereby wishes to refute the false, irresponsible, and sensationalist reporting by certain news websites, which has created an untruthful and impression about coronavirus," it said in a statement. 

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