A 47-year-old doctor at Mahikeng Provincial Hospital in North West has tested positive for Covid-19, Health MEC Madoda Sambatha said on Wednesday.

"Line listing of contacts is in progress and management will be done in line with the Covid-19 National Institute for Communicable Diseases guidelines, the department of public service and administration guidelines, and occupational health and safety guidelines," he told journalists.

"The position of the department is that the doctor in question and other employees in contact used appropriate personal protective equipment. Continuous decontamination of the affected units is done as per guidelines. It is for these reasons that the unit will not be closed as the risk level is low for contamination following adherence to safety measures."

The doctor also worked at Victoria Private Hospital in Mahikeng, where the maternity ward and theatre were affected. Twenty-two staff members, two doctors and 21 patients were identified as contacts.

"[The doctor] also saw 104 patients at his private surgery. Those wards and his private surgery have been closed and decontaminated. At Mahikeng Provincial Hospital, the doctor was in contact with 12 doctors, 29 nurses and 70 patients."

Sambatha said 12 healthcare workers in North West - including doctors and nurses - had tested Covid-19 positive so far - six were in the private sector and six in public service. 

Two provincial police officers also tested positive, one from Brits (Madibeng municipality) and another from Klerksdorp (Matlosana municipality).  

"The Madibeng case involves a 47-year-old female police officer.  The patient was isolated at Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital, pending transfer to La Femme Peglerae and is in a stable condition. 

"The case in Matlosana involves a 37-year-old female police officer who was deployed to Matlosana. Contact listing is done and the officer is managed according to relevant guidelines. The officer is currently isolated in a private facility," he said.

African News Agency