The announcement applies to Mediclinics across the country, including those located in Central South Africa. 

Mediclinic Chief Operating Officer (COO), Wimpie Aucamp, assures the public the hospital group is equipped to handle patients that may test positive for COVID-19 but recognises the importance of imposing stricter measures following the spread of the virus in the country. Visiting hours will be “between 15:00 and 16:00 as well as 19:00 and 20:00”.

Aucomp adds no more “than one visitor will be allowed per bed in any unit and surgical patients may only have one individual as support on the day of surgery”.

Thus far, South Africa has 24 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country, with the majority of the cases evenly spread between Gauteng and Kwazulu-Natal. The Western Cape has three confirmed cases, while Mpumalanga has one.

On Thursday, Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize announced the Free State had recorded the first case of local transmission of COVID-19, but later backtracked, indicating the Free State man was initially tested at a local private laboratory in an attempt to decentralise testing. However, confirmation from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) determined the result was, in fact, negative.

Meanwhile, the chartered aircraft carrying more than 140 South Africans repatriated from Wuhan city in China, has just touched down at the Polokwane International Airport on Saturday. Approximately 40% of those repatriated, are originally from the Central South African provinces of the Free State and North West. 

The group, accompanied by members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will after testing, move to the Ranch Resort in Polokwane, under Protea Hotels, where they will be quarantined for 21 days.

OFM News