Western Cape Health MEC Dr Nomafrench Mbombo has announced that she will self-quarantine for 14 days after coming into contact with the Consul General of France who tested positive for COVID-19.
On Wednesday Laurent Amar, the Consul General of France in Cape Town, announced on Twitter that he has tested positive for Covid-19, commonly known as coronavirus.
Amar posted: “Dear all, I have just been informed that I have been tested positive #covid19. Just want to share this with all potential contacts to break the chain of transmission and assure you that I will come back stronger soon”. (sic)
Dear all,
I have just been informed that I have been tested positive #covid19. Just want to share this with all potential contacts to break the chain of transmission and assure you that I will come back stronger soon @FranceCapeTown
— Laurent AMAR (@amarl_m) March 18, 2020
Mbombo replied to Amar’s Tweet saying she is “one of your contacts, definitely” and said they have come into contact more than three times “in the last weeks”.
“Now officially it means I must practice what we preach, self quarantine immediately,” the MEC tweeted.
I am one of your contacts, definitely. We have met more than 3 times in the last weeks. Strength to you . Now officially it means I must practice what we preach : self quarantine immediately . To be continued
Cc @WestCapeHealth @DrZweliMkhize #Coronavirussouthafrica https://t.co/Bura0ilGqQ
— Dr French Mbombo (MPL) (@nomafrench) March 18, 2020
In another post, which has since been deleted, Mbombo said: “the Consul General of France, Cape Town has tested positive for COVID-19… I have been in contact with him and others in past weeks. That means I undergo self-quarantine for 14 days. I also undertaken to go for testing in Tygerberg hospital. Note I have no symptoms but it was also about testing systems and oversight” (sic).
Mbombo said the post was deleted after she was advised it may cause panic.
“Now checking how Canada prime minister and all other politicians who publicly declared to be on quarantine, just like me, how did they do it” (sic).
By Wednesday afternoon the number of confirmed covid-19 cases nationally was at 116.