Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has sought to quell fears that South Africans returning from China may have the coronavirus, or risk spreading it further.
This comes as 122 South Africans are being repatriated from the Chinese city of Wuhan on Friday – due to fears of further outbreaks of the coronavirus.
The army has identified the Ranch Hotel and Resort in Polokwane as suitable quarantine area for those arriving from China.
The number of coronavirus cases in South Africa is now 16 – with no reported deaths.
More than 128 000 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in 118 countries across the globe, with at least 4 600 deaths.
Mkhize says none of the 122 South Africans tested positive for COVID-19, or showed symptoms.
“Only the ones who will come in are those who have got no symptoms or record of having being diagnosed positive with coronavirus. All the work will be done to make sure the specimens and everything has been done.”
“The only ones that will be coming in are the ones certain that all has been done to ensure they are not infected. But if anyone on board develops anything that may sound like symptoms, there is an isolation area.”
“When they land here, anyone who has got symptoms will be moved to a hospital. All the others will go in, we only want people who are healthy there because they are not sick and don’t need any other attention,” adds Mkhize.
In the video below, the health minister says all systems in place to receive South Africans from Wuhan
Social media users slam decision to use Limpopo resort as quarantine site
Social media users have reacted with shock and anger following government’s announcement that The Ranch Resort near Polokwane in Limpopo has been identified as the place to accommodate a group of South Africans that will be repatriated from the coronavirus epicentre of Wuhan, China.
The #LimpopoIsNotADumpingSite hashtag has been trending since Thursday evening into Friday morning.
In the video below, Ranch Hotel identified as quarantine zone for Wuhan evacuees
#CoronavirusInSA #Limpopo #LimpopoIsNotADumpingSite
Why don’t you take these people to Eastern Cape. After all Xhosas are the carriers of the country, they can take it. pic.twitter.com/fFcO7BzNsI
— Presley_Mbedzi?? (@PresleyPhethani) March 12, 2020
Am angry, actually this is beyond disrespect, the ANC is showing the entire SA that people from Limpopo don’t deserve anything good but death #LimpopoIsNotADumpingSite pic.twitter.com/UZNJVqYBG7
— Kgolane Tshegofatso (@elusivegeneral) March 13, 2020
Infographic of confirmed cases in South Africa:
