AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
THERE has been an outpouring of support for South African Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, who has gone into quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19.
World Health Organisation Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and South African president Cyril Ramaphosa have led a torrent of good wishes for Mkhize, who has tested positive together with his wife May.
Ghebreyesus wished the Mkhize’s swift and easy recoveries. Ramaphosa also wished the couple a speedy recovery.
“The President wishes the Mkhizes a safe and restful recovery and joins the Minister in calling on all South Africans to remain careful and do all we need to do to keep safe and help the country avoid a second wave of the pandemic,” Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement.
Mkhize has announced that he and his wife have gone into self quarantine after testing positive.
South Africans took to social media platforms to express their good wishes for Mkhize and his wife.
The health minister said he decided to test after showing mild symptoms.
He said: “I was feeling abnormally exhausted and as the day progressed, I started losing appetite. My wife had a cough, was dizzy and extremely exhausted. Given her symptoms, the doctors advised that she must be admitted for observation and rehydration.
“Our close contacts in the past week have been a few of our family members and some of my Health Ministry team. We have informed them and advised them to immediately isolate in their homes and be tested. I am now in quarantine at home and both my wife and I remain optimistic that we will fully recover from this virus.”
Mkhize said he would use the quarantine period to rest and recharge because the task to improve the health services in SA of and the lives of the people even post COVID-19 remained of paramount importance.
He urged South Africans to continue adhering to health protocols and not to neglect wearing masks, social distancing and washing or sanitizing hands.
Dr Mkhize added: “As a country, we’ve made significant strides in our fight against this pandemic. Let us not dare regress. Whatever we do and wherever we go, we have to keep in mind that there remains a risk of a second wave. This virus only spreads through movement and contact of people. Therefore we must all play our part. We must protect ourselves and those we love.”
