'90% of patients who contract Covid-19 have flu-like symptoms then recover'

Department of Health acting director-general Dr Anban Pillay says there are people who get better after getting the illness.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed South Africa’s first proven case of Covid-19 on Thursday.

A patient is a 38-year-old man who returned from Italy with his wife on Sunday.

The man consulted a GP on Tuesday, complaining of fever, a sore throat and a cough.

He is currently in self-quarantine.

RELATED: First case of coronavirus confirmed in South Africa

What is South Africa's readiness should this be a full-blown outbreak?

Bongani Bingwa speaks Department of Health acting director-general Dr Anban Pillay to give more insight on the matter.

Covid-19 has up to a 14 day incubation period, which means in that incubation period you may not necessarily demonstrate any signs or symptoms of infection.

Dr Anban Pillay, Acting director-general - Department of Health

The gentleman was not ill at the point in which he was passing through various airports when he arrived in South Africa, however, after a day or two, he then got symptoms, he says.

The critical thing is that we need to identify patients early, isolate them and make sure that all their contacts are also isolated so that the spread of the infection is not widespread.

Dr Anban Pillay, Acting director-general - Department of Health

He says people need to practise good general hygiene like washing their hands all the time and having hand sanitiser.

When you open doors try not to grab the handle but use your elbow where appropriate. Try not to shake hands, stay away from large crowds. I also want to add that 90% of patients who contract Covid-19 will go through flu-like symptoms and they will recover from those.

Dr Anban Pillay, Acting director-general - Department of Health

Listen below to the full conversation:

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