SA on alert after Nigeria confirms case

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said yesterday that no confirmed case of Covid-19, also known as coronavirus, has been recorded in South Africa since the global outbreak began in Wuhan in China in December last year.

The NICD, a division of the National Health Laboratory Service, said two South Africans tested positive for Covid-19 on Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

“We confirm that these citizens are currently being treated in Japan and are in good care. The departments of international relations and cooperation and health are in constant contact with the individuals and the Japanese authorities.”

According to the department of health, Japanese authorities had informed the South African government, through the SA embassy in Tokyo, that there were 12 South African crew members working on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship when it was affected by Covid-19.

“On 25 February 2020, we were informed by the Japanese authorities that two of these South Africans tested positive for Covid-19. They are being treated in Japan and the latest reports indicate that they are currently asymptomatic,” the department said.

The NICD said 133 people were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and 89 of those met the case definition for people under investigation as of 28 February.

“We note the continued spread of Covid-19 in other parts of the world and the decrease in the number of transmissions in China,” said Sinenhlanhla Jimoh, NICD senior communications manager.

“The African region has recorded a new positive case of Covid-19 in Nigeria on 27 February.

“Given these recent developments globally and in Africa, it is not unlikely that we will have importation of Covid-19 to South Africa.

“As such, we continue to monitor trends of Covid-19 globally and in the African region to improve our knowledge of the disease and to continually enhance our surveillance and response.”

The institute welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to repatriate South African citizens from Wuhan in Hubei province, China.

– News24 Wire