Six new cases of the Coronavirus have been confirmed in the Western Cape.
Between 14 and 15 March, the local Department of Health received notification of six more laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the province to 16.
Spokesperson Mark van der Heever says the new cases, who are males with varying ages, were received from private laboratories and feedback given to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases.
“These six new cases, adding to the existing 10, all presented to private facilities with flu-like symptoms and recent international travel history to various countries,” he said.
“All 16 confirmed cases are being monitored and followed up by our health teams for 14 days.
“This includes regular testing every second or third day.
“Their close contacts are also being followed up with.
“Patients will be declared virus-free if they test negative after two consecutive tests.”
Meanwhile, Manzomthombo Senior Secondary in Mfuleni has advised parents to keep their kids at home after a pupil and the mother of another pupil apparently tested positive for the Coronavirus.
The school sent the children home on Monday morning along with a letter to parents.
It is believed the mother works for a German family who travelled overseas and she visited the Mfuleni clinic on Friday after experiencing symptoms.
Their results are expected to be known by tomorrow but mom Faith Bewana says they are worried: “It will be difficult letting the kids go play outside because we know who the parent is.”
The Western Cape Education Department said it would not comment on individual cases.
All Western Cape schools will close for learners tomorrow following measures announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday night to help contain the virus.
CANCELLED SHOWS: Baxter Theatre
Meanwhile, both the City of Cape Town and Netcare have warned of scammers pretending to be health officers offering to do Covid-19 tests for people in their homes.
The City and Netcare says they have not dispatched any medical officers to do home visits and urged residents not to open the door for these people and to call Law Enforcement or the police immediately.
In other news, more major events have been cancelled or postponed in line with the government’s decision to ban mass gatherings of 100 people or more.
They include religious festivals, and social gatherings such as the Cape Town Carnival in Green Point and the Corona Sunsets Festival in Camps Bay, which have both been postponed.
The Baxter Theatre Centre has also cancelled all performances with immediate effect, until the end of April 2020.
South Africa now has 62 confirmed and verified cases of Covid-19, Heath Minister Zweli Mkhize said yesterday.
Coronavirus has infected more than 162 000 people around the globe, and more than 6 000 have died in at least 60 countries.
Video: Kim Kay