The Eastern Cape Health Department has reiterated that there are no suspected cases of the Novel Coronavirus in the province.
Department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo was reacting to a Whatsapp conversation currently doing the rounds, purportedly between doctors at Uitenhage Provincial Hospital.
The message claimed that a patient who arrived from China and was not screened at the airport was presenting flu-like symptoms and was being treated by doctors at the hospital.
“I want to assure the people of the Eastern Cape and the people of the country at large that government is on top of the situation in terms of taking precautionary measures,” Kupelo said.
“Officially in South Africa and the Eastern Cape, in particular, there is no Coronavirus,” he added.
He said as and when they find a case or have reason to suspect any case authorities will make that announcement.
Meanwhile, Mercedes Benz South Africa has also rejected as false rumours doing the rounds on social media of a suspected outbreak at its East London operations.
“Employees and suppliers of MBSA can be assured that measures are in place to detect, manage and contain any cases of Novel Coronavirus should it come to our manufacturing operations,” said MBSA Corporate Affairs Manager, Thato Mntambo.
“Thus far, there are no suspected cases of Novel Coronavirus that have been reported at our manufacturing operations.”
She said that the plant expansion currently underway, necessitates the importation of skills from various part of the globe.
“Whilst none of MBSA’s employees nor contractors are from the Hubei Province (including Wuhan) in China, where the risk of Novel Coronavirus is believed to have originated, the company has proactively implemented measures to contain the spread of contagion,” Mntambo said.
