Gauteng – Grayston Preparatory School in Sandton, Johannesburg, closed in the wake of the novel coronavirus scare concerning one of its staff members.

It has come to light that a teacher at that school allegedly had contact with the group that traveled to Italy recently. Although the teacher contracted coronavirus that causes the disease Covid-19, the (said) patient was asymptomatic, the test revealed.

The school will open on Wednesday pending communication from the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, it was reported. The teacher, it is believed, is under quarantine.

Meanwhile, on top of the three known cases in SA, the four new novel coronavirus infections have taken the count to seven.

The four people tested positive to Covid-19 after diagnoses conducted by National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). They are part of the group that went on a trip to Italy and returned to SA on Sunday Mar. 01, 2020.

The first patient, the first for SA, was confirmed on Thursday, four days after arriving in the country. On Saturday and Sunday the second and third followed in that order.

At the moment, there is no vaccine for the lethal coronavirus. Its symptoms are associated with fever, cough and shortness of breath among others.

Medical practitioners and governments across the world are urging the people to practice hygienic lifestyles. Not least covering one’s noses or mouth when sneezing or coughing, but also avoid contact and washing hands more thereof.

The death toll has gone over 4, 000 globally. South Africa is yet to report any deaths.

Dr Kerrigan McCarthy of the NICD said Covid-19 killed 2% of those infected with adverse effects on those most vulnerable groups of people.