The Department of Health in South Africa released a statement on Saturday confirming that at least 13 medical practitioners have been infected by coronavirus.
" We have noted with concern a number of confirmed COVID -19 cases of health workers who work both in the private and public hospitals . This includes doctors and nurses. We mention this because health workers are in the frontline of this battle. They are exposed not only to their families but to the patients who they are meant to treat" reads the statement in part.
The Department of Health further mentioned that onemedical doctor from Limpopo who tested positive quarantined himself after traveling for holiday abroad.
“In Mpumalanga 1 medical doctor who had also travelled for holiday tested positive and he is reported to have had physical interactions with staff and patients,this led to other health workers who had contact with him being screened and qaurantined and tested. That section of the hospital was closed and disinfected and will be reopening next week” the Department of Health said in a statement.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize