UPDATE: Medical centre verifies first coronavirus case in Richards Bay

CAREDOC Medical Centre has confirmed that only one Richards Bay patient has tested positive for Covid-19 – a child, who is a Grade R pupil at Richards Bay Primary School.

The doctor who attended to the patients as well as close contacts of the confirmed cases, including the father and mother, have since been placed in self-quarantine.

ALSO READ: UPDATE: Pupils allowed to leave school after Richards Bay coronavirus lockdown

‘It is confirmed that a representative of the Department of Health visited our facility to confirm that persons/patients at our facility who might have been in contact with the patient, have been contacted and advised accordingly. There is only one confirmed case of which the Department of Health has the test results,’ said Caredoc in a statement.

Parents were allowed to take their children home a short while ago after Richards Bay Primary School was effectively in lockdown this morning.

A note has since been issued to parents outlining that they must have their children tested at Ngwelezana Hospital at their own expense or through their medical aid.

The school will reportedly not reopen tomorrow.

Meanwhile, there have been reports of panic buying in Richards Bay as people rush out to buy hand sanitisers and grocery items at various grocery outlets. Queues were reported at Richards Bay Chemicals in Alton earlier today as residents stocked up on disinfectants.

The public is advised to call the coronavirus hotline on 0800 029 999 with any suspected coronavirus cases, or to report or obtain information relevant to the pandemic

This is a developing story and the ZO will keep you updated as it unfolds.

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