The public is being urged not to use the coronavirus for personal gain after a number of reports show some residents are lying about having the virus to receive speedy medical attention or fame.
Western Cape government is appealing to locals not to lie about having the coronavirus and to take the pandemic more seriously after a man used the virus as an excuse to jump the line at Tygerberg Hospital.
A man in Parow allegedly lied about possibly being infected with the virus as he became frustrated while waiting in line at the hospital. He had to tell hospital staff if he had been to China or not, which he hadn’t.
“The reported “suspected case” detected in Parow yesterday initially matched the case definition based on information provided by the person. As per our response protocol, our health response team immediately came into effect. Upon further investigation it was found the person did not meet the criteria for COVID-19 and did not require to be tested. We ask the public not to use the COVID-19 situation for personal gain as this leads to misusing of resources and unnecessary panic,” said the Western Cape Government in a statement.
He later admitted to using the virus as an excuse to jump the line but now the department is considering taking sanctions against him.
This is not the first time a South African has used the virus for personal gain. A women in the Eastern Cape was allegedly called out for doing the same.
Last week a woman claimed to be displaying signs of the coronavirus and is now facing criminal charges after it was revealed that she was simply claiming to be ill for attention.
She presented herself as potentially being infected with the virus saying she was employed by the 38-year-old man who was South Africa’s first confirmed case.
It was later revealed that she was unemployed and that her entire story was false.
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