Two suspected cases of the deadly coronavirus were investigated in KwaZulu-Natal — but shortly after confirming the two incidents, the health department said that tests had “dispelled” any sign of the virus.
Speaking to TimesLIVE, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said that “as of 7.30pm [Thursday], all cases under suspicion have tested negative”.
On Thursday evening, KZN health department spokesperson Noluthando Nkosi said in a statement that the department was “aware of two suspected coronavirus cases” in the province.
“At the moment, there is no laboratory confirmation of the virus for the above-mentioned cases,” said Nkosi.
Nkosi told TimesLIVE that one case was being handled at a state facility, while the other was being managed by a private hospital in Durban.
“The department is monitoring the treatment and management of these patients quite closely,” she said. “Members of the public will be duly notified of any new developments.”
However, later in the evening, the department said that tests had “dispelled” any sign of the virus.
"The department can confidently state that there are no confirmed cases because even in the cases in question, neither of the patients presented with symptoms after 14 days of the incubation period for coronavirus," the department said.
Nkosi appealed for calm and asked that the public not be misled by false statements doing the rounds on social media.
The national health department referred TimesLIVE to their counterparts in KZN.
This story has been updated to reflect NICD comment on the cases, and with comment from the KZN health department.
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