Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The employee of the Mugg and Bean at the Langeberg Mall in Mossel Bay, who tested positive for Covid-19, is recovering well from the virus effects.

This is according to a reliable source.

The Mossel Bay Advertiser published an article online on Friday, 27 March, after the owner of the restaurant agreed to speak to the media, saying the Mugg and Bean, as well as the employee, were victims of the virus. 

"But we were proactive and this has now brought awareness that Covid-19 has reached Mossel Bay."

He says the employee, who works at Mugg and Bean fulltime and who is under the age of 50, complained about slight, fever-induced back pain, which would under normal circumstances not qualify as enough of a symptom to be tested.

"Because of the nature of our industry, we immediately phoned the national hotline and we had the person tested on Tuesday [24 March]. The employee immediately stopped working and we received the test results on Wednesday."

He says the individuals that were in close contact with the person who tested positive were immediately informed to isolate themselves, as per instructions of the hotline. "We also immediately closed the business and took action as soon as we were informed."

Harassment
On advice of his attorney, the owner of the Mugg and Bean declined to give comment, following verbal abuse has received online.

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says public health emergencies, such as the outbreak of Covid-19, are stressful times for people and communities. The CDC says fear and anxiety about a disease can lead to social stigma toward people, places, or things.

"For example, stigma and discrimination can occur when people associate a disease, such as Covid-19, with a population or nationality, even though not everyone in that population or from that region is specifically at risk. Stigma can also occur after a person has been released from Covid-19 quarantine even though they are not considered a risk for spreading the virus to others."

Reducing stigma
The CDC says it is important to remember that people, including those of Asian descent, who do not live in or have not recently been in an area of ongoing spread of the virus that causes Covid-19, or have not been in contact with a person who is a confirmed or suspected case of Covid-19, are not at greater risk of spreading Covid-19 than other citizens. "Everyone can help stop stigma related to Covid-19 by knowing the facts and sharing them with others in your community."

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