Covid-19: 'Patient zero' has recovered, says KZN premier Sihle Zikalala

18 March 2020 - 15:51 By Orrin Singh

Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.

Officials say China could start clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine in late April.
Image: STR/AFP

KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala said on Wednesday that “patient zero”, the country's first confirmed case of Covid-19, had recovered.

Zikalala said at a briefing in Durban that the 38-year-old man from Hilton in the Midlands was ready to be discharged from hospital.

[VIDEO] @KZNGOV Provincial Executive Council media briefing led by Premier Sihle Zikalala @sziks, currently underway in Pietermaritzburg pic.twitter.com/zzHIEG7zf5
— KZN Provincial Gov (@kzngov) March 18, 2020

The coronavirus is considered most dangerous for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. Patients from Spain, Italy and Denmark who have recovered from the virus share their experiences.

Thursday will mark two weeks since the father of two tested positive for the virus and was subsequently quarantined at home outside Pietermaritzburg.

TimesLIVE reported that he was among a group of 10 people, including his wife, who had travelled to Italy.

The group returned to SA on Sunday, March 1, via OR Tambo International Airport and later travelled to Durban.