South Africa still coronavirus free as 133 tests come back negative

South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NCID) declared on Friday that no confirmed cases of coronavirus had been recorded in the country, after 133 patients were tested for the virus last week.

Despite there being no confirmed cases in the country, two South Africans have tested positive for the virus aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, currently quarantined off Japan. 

Officials say the infected crew members are being treated in Japan and are currently not displaying outward symptoms. A further ten South Africans are also working aboard the quarantined vessel. 

A spokesman for the NCID said it would “continue to monitor trends of Covid-19 globally and in the African region to improve our knowledge of the disease and to continually enhance our surveillance and response”. 

The institute also praised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to repatriate all South Africans currently stranded in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the current outbreak. 

This follows Thursday’s decision by cabinet to help the 199 South African citizens in Wuhan return home. The Presidency said none of the individuals had been diagnosed with coronavirus or displayed any outward symptoms. 

Upon arrival the repatriated citizens will be placed in a 21-day quarantine as an additional precautionary measure. 

Photo: Getty Images