Update
GEORGE NEWS - The test results of the man who was admitted to Mediclinic George on Wednesday night for suspected Covid-19 (coronavirus) came back negative, according to Kassie Karstens, hospital manager.
He confirmed this tonight, Friday 13 March.
Eight new cases of coronavirus in South Africa were confirmed by the National Health Department today, which brought the total number of cases to 24.
Among the new cases were two in the Western Cape, 50-year-old male, who had travelled to Switzerland and Austria, and a 46-year-old male, who had travelled to Italy.
According to a statement from the department, there were also four cases in Gauteng who include a 39-year-old female, who had travelled to Switzerland and Austria; a 50-year-old male, who had travelled to Austria; a 21-year-old female, who had travelled to Italy, and a 57-year-old male, who had travelled to Switzerland.
In KwaZulu-Natal, two cases were confirmed. They include a 79-year-old male, who had travelled to Greece and Italy, and a 52-year-old male, who had travelled to Switzerland.
Tracing of their contacts is underway.
Effect on economy
Nedbank's economic unit said in a statement today that the South African economy is highly exposed to economic conditions in China and the world economy through trade, services and financial linkages. "The economic threat posed to an already frail domestic economy is therefore significant.
"The outbreak is expected to hurt growth, hitting the export-orientated mining and manufacturing industries as well as the broader travel, tourism and hospitality industries the hardest. The risk of company closures and job losses are the highest in these sectors," said Nedbank.
"The Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is forecast to respond to the country’s faltering economic prospects by cutting interest rates further, supported by a subdued inflation outlook which is reinforced by the implosion of global oil prices. We have revised our GDP forecasts downwards to 0.3% in 2020, 0.9% in 2021 and 1.1% in 2022. The risk of a recession is high," said Nedbank.
Related article: No coronavirus cases in George
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