The health MEC, Madoda Sambatha, said the patient was immediately placed under the care of the department.

“The person is now under the care of the department. “We should all the time know where Covid-19 positive people and their contacts are to prevent further spread. That way, we will be able to monitor their prognosis and make appropriate decisions,” Sambatha said. Madoda Sambatha, along with agriculture MEC Desbo Mohono, inspected two mine hospitals in Matlosana area for their readiness to receive state patients.

The two hospitals, Westvaal in Orkney and Duff Scott in Stillfontein, have been earmarked as overflow facilities should Klerksdorp Hospital be overwhelmed. This is to ensure that health service delivery in the area is not compromised.

Klerksdorp Hospital is the only designated Covid-19 hospital in the North West. “We have done an inspection on additional bed capacity. In the programme of fighting Covid-19, each province has to have additional bed capacity in case our facilities were to be overwhelmed like what is happening in affected countries globally. “The facilities we inspected are ready to be accessed and utilised should the need arise.

We are looking for another facility, this time in Bojanala Platinum District where most positive cases for Covid-19 have been confirmed thus far,’’ Madoda Sambatha said.