by Staff writer
An unemployed South-African woman has taken “weirdo” to a new height by falsely claiming she contracted coronavirus.
The woman, from Eastern Cape, claimed she contracted the deadly virus from the 38-year-old man who was the first person in South Africa to be diagnosed with the virus.
The impostor woman claimed she was employed by the 38-year-old Italy-returnee. She entered Grey Hospital in King William’s Town, posing as a patient displaying symptoms of the coronavirus.
Local press reported she caused a big panic when she announced she was infected with the coronavirus.
“Understandably, doctors and nurses ran around testing the woman and taking steps to ensure the woman was isolated,” said provincial health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo.
Sizwe Kupelo described the woman’s act as contemptible, calling it “a childish and selfish hoax”.
The Eastern Cape Department of Health will be opening a case against the women, Kupelo confirmed.
“Because of the seriousness of the [novel] coronavirus, the Eastern Cape Department of Health will open a case with the police against the woman who lied about having the virus. Her family confirmed to the department that she has no history of mental illness, hence the police will be roped in.”
Another coronavirus case in South Africa
On Saturday, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize confirmed a second case of the novel coronavirus in Gauteng, South Africa.
A 39-year-old woman, who was part of the same travel group to Italy as the first case, has tested positive for coronavirus too.
