A Grade 9 pupil from Cape Town has allegedly tested positive for the coronavirus. Reports say the pupil is from the United Herzlia School, which closed eight of their campuses across the Cape this week.
Parents of pupils who are currently attending the school were informed in a letter that the learner tested positive for Covid-19. Herzlia closed their schools on Thursday, March 12 after a parent of one of the pupils who had travelled abroad displayed symptoms of the wide-spread virus.
On Friday, the parent was confirmed to have coronavirus. The school put out a message on their Facebook page explaining the positive diagnosis.
“We now have the results of the COVID-19 test of our affected parent. Unfortunately, the parent has tested positive. Yesterday, we committed to communicating facts only – in discussion with the family this morning, we are heartened to report that he is feeling much better, is almost symptom-free and remains at home.
“This means that our schools remain closed until the end of the school holidays as communicated yesterday. Please continue to exercise preventative care and wash hands regularly,” read the statement online.
Another letter was allegedly sent out later, telling parents that a pupil had also tested positive for coronavirus and that she is in self-quarantine with her family. The girl’s parents and siblings have all tested negative for the virus.
On Friday, Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize announced there were 24 confirmed cases of the virus in South Africa. All of the affected had travelled out of the country.
Mkhize did emphasise there could be more cases as they were awaiting test results from other probable patients.
To date, there are 149, 279 people across the globe who have contracted the virus. A further 5,602 have died from it and 73,713 people have recovered from it.
If you believe you may be ill after coming into contact with a person who has tested positive, contact the NICD on: 0800 029 999.