Minister: South Africa ready in event of virus

South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize made assurances on Wednesday about his country's readiness to deal with the threat of a new deadly virus which has infected more than 6,000 people worldwide.

In a news conference in Johannesburg, Mkhize said South Africa was prepared to detect, manage and contain the coronavirus.

During the briefing, he also added that the nation had "no reported or suspected cases" to date.

The new type of coronavirus, which originated in China, has killed at least 132 people and infected more than 6,000 on the mainland and abroad.