The department’s spokesperson Kwara Kekana says the wife and daughter tested positive for the virus, while the husband refused to be tested.

“We can confirm that there was a family that refused to be quarantined. The wife and daughter tested positive to the virus while the husband refused to be tested and left the hospital without swabs being taken.”

The department subsequently filed an urgent application at the High Court in Johannesburg High Court.

The family was traced and is receiving treatment.

“The department approached the court last night on an urgent basis in order to ensure that we don’t interfere with the constitutional rights of the patients without a court order. The court order was granted around at 1 am this morning in favour of the department,” Kekana says.

The department has pleaded with members of the public to cooperate with health workers as the coronavirus pandemic start to bite.

Jaracanda FM