Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, on Thursday night while in Bloemfontein said he was informed that the three provinces are working together for contact tracing of Covid-19 suspects. 

The North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha, previously announced that one of the nine people who tested positive for the virus in his province can also be traced back to this church gathering in Bloemfontein. 

OFM News previously reported that the first two confirmed cases in the Northern Cape came from Hartswater, where a couple tested positive after also attending a church gathering in Bloemfontein. Meanwhile Mkhize, while addressing the nation recently on Covid-19 from Mangaung, described Bloemfontein, as well as Sandton in Gauteng, as potential epicentres of the virus in South Africa.

On Wednesday night, the Ekurhuleni executive mayor in Gauteng, Mzwandile Masina, dropped another bombshell when he announced that a nurse who works in the Duduza Clinic, tested positive after attending this church gathering. This led to the closure of the clinic in that area and two mobile clinics were deployed to the area to serve the community on Thursday. 

Meanwhile, Mkhize said the spike of Covid-19 in the Free State was linked to the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast held at the Divine Restoration Ministries in Bloemfontein earlier this month. So far, the province has recorded at least one death after the 86-year-old pastor, who also attended the church gathering, died from the virus in Bloemfontein. His 81-year-old wife is said to be in a stable condition in hospital. So far the province has recorded a total number of 86 positive cases of Covid-19 and one death. Premier Sisi Ntombela on Thursday night, alongside her Health MEC Montsheng Tsiu, said 77 of the 86 people are from Mangaung and Bloemfontein in particular.

OFM News