The country’s very first coronavirus-positive patient is currently in recovery. This is according to KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala, who announced the news during a media briefing earlier today [March 18].
“Both he and his wife are recovering. They are now in a waiting period. They will be discharged back into their family and home,” Zikalala said.
The recovering patient is a 38-year-old man who travelled to Italy and contracted the virus there. He made his way back to South Africa on March 1, and Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize announced that he was the country’s first positive coronavirus case on March 5.
“The patient consulted a private general practitioner on March 3, with symptoms of fever, headache, malaise, a sore throat and a cough. The practice nurse took swabs and delivered it to the lab,” Mkhize said. “The patient has been self-isolating since March 3. The couple also has two children,” Mkhize said at the time.
Just 13 days after testing positive the patient is already well on his way to beating the virus for good.
Picture: Pixabay
Since the first case was announced on March 5, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the country has increased to 116.
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Picture: Pixabay