Just in: Two South Africans ‘test positive for coronavirus’ on cruise ship

Two South African crew members on-board The Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan have tested positive for coronavirus, the South African Health Department has revealed.

#Coronavirus The South African government says it's been informed by Japanese authorities that two South Africans have tested positive for the coronavirus in Japan.

— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) February 28, 2020

Coronavirus latest: First South Africans to get the disease confirmed in Japan

A further ten SA staff who were working on the luxury liner have also been put into quarantine. This comes just 24 hours after President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the repatriation of more than 100 South Africans marooned in Wuhan, China – the epicentre of this devastating outbreak.

In a statement, the Health Department confirmed that the South Africans – the first of our compatriots to test positive for coronavirus – were being treated in Japan. The remaining 10, who tested negatively for the disease, are still subject to a 14-day quarantine period. They face further isolation upon returning to Mzansi.

Health Department’s official statement on the matter:

“The South African government has been made aware by Japanese authorities through the South African 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 (coronavirus),”

“The two South Africans who are affected with coronavirusare currently being treated in Japan and they will remain there until they are fully cleared to travel. The other 10 are not going to be permitted to leave the ship until the others have left.”

“At this stage, it is most appropriate that the Covid-19 confirmed South African citizens should be treated in Japan until they are fully recovered from the virus. For the remaining 10, they will be permitted to disembark the ship as per the instructions of their employer after they tested negative for coronavirus.”

SA Health Department

Coronavirus in Africa: Latest news and updates

Nigeria reported the first new coronavirus case in sub-Saharan Africa on Friday, as global stock markets tanked on deepening fears of a pandemic and the World Health Organization warned against the “fatal mistake” of complacency.

An Italian man who returned to the densely-populated capital of Lagos early this week has been identified as the patient. African cases had previously been reported in Egypt and Algeria, but not in the sub-Saharan region.