Coronavirus in Cape Town? Here’s what we know so far

The man confirmed as the Western Cape’s first confirmed coronavirus patient is currently in self-quarantine, according to Premier Alan Winde. 

Speaking outside Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, Winde said the patient had proactively gone to a hospital to have himself checked.

“[The patient] presented himself with symptoms to a private healthcare facility. He was then placed under quarantine for 48 hours while tests were carried out.” 

“He is now at home under self-quarantine,” the Western Cape premier said.

Relevant stakeholders to tackle coronavirus based in Cape Town

The 36-year-old man had recently returned from travelling to several European countries and the Health Department confirmed on Wednesday 11 March that he had tested positive for the virus.

“A 36-year-old male had travelled to multiple countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Turkey. He returned to South Africa on 9 March 2020,” the department said in a statement.

It is not yet clear exactly where in the Western Cape the man is from, or at which facility he was tested. Winde said that he was unable to disclose this information.

He did say that relevant stakeholders in the tackling of the virus were in Cape Town though, and previous tests performed on a woman who feared she had contracted the virus, were also conducted at Tygerburg Hospital. She ultimately did not test positive for the coronavirus.

“We have the Mayco members here from the City [of Cape Town], and now we need to ensure that it doesn’t spread further across the province,” he said.

More than 3 000 precautionary tests

WInde said that thousands of tests had been carried out across the country in order to ensure that anybody who had come into contact with any of the 13 confirmed patients, aren’t carrying and spreading the virus.

“There are protocols in place that will come from the national minister. They will trace back to who sat in the seats beside them on the aircraft. We have tested more than 3 000 people in South Africa already because you need to check anybody who has come into contact with that person. 

Continue following hygiene protocols

Winde said that the most sensible thing for people to do at this point is to continue following rigorous hygiene protocols. 

He said that since the drought that threatened Cape Town’s water supply in 2017, the province has hygiene infrastructure in place to ensure that keeping your hands clean is simple. 

“Make sure you count to 20 while you wash your hands to make sure you get a proper wash,” he suggested.