• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
No Result
View All Result
1
Home Features COVID-19 IN SA | 1 year later

First COVID-19 patient in Gauteng recounts her experience

5 March 2021, 11:38 AM  |
Horisani Sithole Horisani Sithole |  @SABCNews
A total of 7.662.913 vaccine doses have been administered in long-term care facilities, the agency said.

A total of 7.662.913 vaccine doses have been administered in long-term care facilities, the agency said.

Image: Reuters

A total of 7.662.913 vaccine doses have been administered in long-term care facilities, the agency said.

The SABC has tracked down the first patient to be admitted for the coronavirus in Gauteng, as well as the doctor who first treated her, as March 5 marks one year since the first coronavirus case was recorded in South Africa.

Glynne Mitchell from Gauteng became the first COVID-19 patient to be treated for the virus. She was admitted to the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg. She recalls how terrified she was when she tested positive for the coronavirus.

The first case of COVID-19 in South African was detected in KwaZulu-Natal. A 38-year-old man who had travelled to Italy on holiday with a group of 10 people tested positive for the virus. Since then over 1.5 million South Africans have contracted the virus and there have been more than 50 000 COVID 19-related deaths.

Mitchell says, “I was admitted to the hospital and Dr Zamparini was the doctor that attended to me. And he made the best choices for me in the condition that I was in. And I’m very grateful. He was putting it at ease and making sure that I was in the best place and I was at a better hospital.”

Dr Jarrod Zamparini is the doctor who attended to Mitchell. Zamparini had been watching cricket on the day when his assistance was needed. Before he knew it, the specialist physician was thrust into the frontline of fighting a pandemic that’s gripped the world.

He says it’s not been an easy ride… over 1 000 healthcare workers at the hospital have been infected and 11 have died.

“We were learning on the floor like the rest of the world. So it was a question of do we have enough PPEs, medicine and beds. And through good management, we have really done well. We have upscaled from one bed to 17 COVID wards. And it’s also our Junior staff, interns who were really truly on the frontline. So it’s been one hell of a ride,” says Zamparini.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize speaks to Morning Live about the past year and COVID-19: 

Mitchell says she didn’t have symptoms associated with the virus so she didn’t know that she had been infected. However, she says that from the moment she tested positive, she was comforted by healthcare workers. Mitchell says the hospital staff took good care of her until she was well enough to leave.

She says that she was delighted, a few days ago, when she witnessed Dr Zamparini and other healthcare workers at the hospital get their jabs.

“I’m so glad that he got vaccinated. It gives hope to all our front care workers. And I’m so glad that I got to be part of it,” says Dr Zamparini.

Dr Zamparini says that the pandemic has pushed them to their limits. He says healthcare workers have to constantly navigate risks to themselves and taking care of the patients who need their help

“It was a huge task and I’m from the internal medicine and we manage patients in a hospital but it was everyone’s task from the emergency department from the time when patients come in with symptoms ranging from a bit of a sniffle all the way to needing incubation and ICU,” says Dr Zamparini.

South Africa has recorded over 1.4 million recoveries and has so far administered over 83 000 vaccines to frontline workers.

Reflecting on SA’s first COVID-19 case – A year on: Prof. Mosa Moshabela

 

Share article
Tags: AnniversaryCoronavirus
Previous Post

Education sector dealt a hard blow by COVID-19

Next Post

Alleged mastermind in Tshegofatso Pule’s murder denied bail

Related Posts

A man walks beneath a billboard during the 21-day nationwide lockdown aimed at limiting the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in central Cape Town, South Africa, April 6, 2020.

South Africa commemorates three years of hard lockdown

27 March 2023, 10:07 AM
A tap with a droplet of water.

UN Water Conference kicks off as world marks World Water Day

22 March 2023, 9:30 PM
Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, the Old Coronation Hospital.

“Report exposes state of Gauteng public health facilities”

15 March 2023, 11:09 AM
Members of Nehawu on strike

Phaahla links four deaths to Nehawu’s wage strike

9 March 2023, 1:00 PM
Silhouettes of mobile users are seen next to a screen projection of Instagram logo in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018.

Instagram down for thousands of users globally

9 March 2023, 7:33 AM
[File Image]: A nurse at one of South Africa's hospital during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Patients suffer as health workers strike

9 March 2023, 7:30 AM
Next Post
[File Image] Ntuthuko Shoba appears in court.

Alleged mastermind in Tshegofatso Pule's murder denied bail

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Eastern Cape ActionSA raises eyebrows over qualifications of senior officials
  • Unisa suspends registrar for various breaches of policy
  • Orlando Pirates player Thembinkosi Lorch found guilty of assault
  • Slain teen Palesa Malatji’s family calls for death sentence to be reinstated
  • Limpopo district embroiled in fraudulent travel claims
  • Dr Nandipha’s looks during court appearances under the spotlight
  • Deadline for Zimbabwean Exemption Permits draws near
  • Reserve Bank expected to increase repo rate on Thursday
  • Zimbabwe receives 18 helicopters from Russian Federation
  • Eastern Cape ActionSA raises eyebrows over qualifications of senior officials
  • Orlando Pirates player Thembinkosi Lorch found guilty of assault
  • Female student stabbed to death at NMU residence
  • Buses in Tshwane grind to a halt due to strike by SAMWU workers
  • Zwane expected to remain Chiefs coach despite dismal season
  • Bus operations suspended due to Samwu strike in Tshwane

LATEST

Dr Nandipha Magudumana  in court.
  • Thabo Bester saga
  • South Africa

Dr Nandipha Magudumana – from celebrity doctor to fugitive


eThekwini
  • Politics

Failure to remove incarcerated ANC eThekwini councillor is embarrassing: Analyst


SA Parliament.
  • Youth Month 2023
  • Politics

PODCAST | Political leaders much older than average age of the country


Suspended Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane
  • Politics

Mkhwebane calls for Dyantyi to recuse himself from inquiry


A man is pictured refilling bottles from a water tanker
  • South Africa

Magareng municipality promises to restore water supply in Warrenton


Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during the press conference Action Images via Reuters
  • Sport

Man City’s Stones exudes confidence ahead of Champions League final


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2023

Previous Education sector dealt a hard blow by COVID-19
Next Alleged mastermind in Tshegofatso Pule’s murder denied bail