This is the third case where a patient leaves a place of quarantine without telling the authorities in the province. 

MEC Madoda Sambatha says the latest patient was tracked down to a farm in Welkom in the Free State after attempts to locate her in Bloemhof failed last week. Sambatha says the patient has now been put under the care of the department. Meanwhile, the province so far has 11 confirmed Covid-19 cases and Klerksdorp in the Matlosana Municipality recorded its first case. 

"The Department of Health has taken a decision to put all confirmed Covid-19 patients and their contacts under its supervision to avoid the further spread of the coronavirus. 

“We should at all times know where Covid-19 positive people and their contacts are to prevent further spreading. That way, we will be able to monitor their prognosis and make appropriate decisions,” says Sambatha.

Meanwhile, Sambatha, who was flanked by the Agriculture MEC, Desbo Mohono, inspected two mine hospitals in the Matlosana area for their readiness to receive state patients.

"The two hospitals, Westvaal in Orkney and Duff Scott in Stillfontein, have been earmarked as overflow facilities should Klerksdorp Hospital be overwhelmed. This is to ensure that health service delivery in the area is not compromised, he adds. 

Klerksdorp Hospital is the only designated Covid-19 hospital in the North West.

“We have done an inspection on additional bed capacity. In the programme of fighting Covid-19, each province has to have additional bed capacity in case our facilities are overwhelmed, as in affected countries globally.

“The facilities we inspected are ready to be accessed and utilised should the need arise. We are looking for another facility, this time in the Bojanala Platinum District where most positive cases for Covid19 have been confirmed thus far,’’ he further adds.

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