A salon owner in Ladysmith who tested positive for coronavirus has been charged with attempted murder, for continuing to work at his business and disregarding an instruction to self quarantine.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo said 27 people, who were at the salon, and a religious gathering, are now being traced for testing after having contact with the 52-year-old man.
“On March 24 at approximately 15:30, Ladysmith police officers received information that a man who allegedly tested positive with coronavirus came in contact with other people in Ladysmith area. The same man travelled to various countries to South Africa. On his return on March 18 he was tested positive with the Covid-19 and was instructed to self-quarantine for at least 14 days pending the blood results.”
“However the man allegedly continued with his business since March 21 and in doing so disregarded the instructions by a doctor thus allegedly contravening regulations in terms of the National Disaster Act pertaining to the Covid-19 virus,” he said.
The man has been arrested and moved to a hospital where he is currently being treated.
“The matter was discussed with the senior public prosecutor for the matter to be postponed in absentia to avoid further contamination,” Naidoo said.
