Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has confirmed the second case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in South Africa.
He said in a statement that the 39-year-old woman from Gauteng had direct contact with the first case from KwaZulu-Natal.
"She was part of the group of 10 that had travelled to Italy. The public must be notified that we have information and know the whereabouts of all the other 10 people who were part of the group that had travelled to Italy," he said.
All those who came back to South Africa are currently being tested."
"We are now awaiting their test results to come out. Since being traced, they have remained in isolation to avoid any further contact with third parties," the Minister said.
The second patient who had now tested positive for COVID-19 would be immediately admitted to a public health facility in Gauteng that the government had identified as one of the hospitals ready to receive COVID-19 positive patients.
The health department was now following all the protocols that had already been publicly announced in dealing with this case.
The public would be kept fully informed on all relevant developments.
"We also wish to notify the public that our embassy has advised us that a 39-year-old male South African who works in Daegu in South Korea has also tested positive for COVID-19. He was due to return to South Africa and has since remained in South Korea," Mkhize said.
African News Agency (ANA)
