A Zimbabwean man has been charged for disclosing another person's COVID-19 positive status on social media. IoL reports that Jimmy Mhlanga is accused of revealing a third party's health status in a WhatsApp group in contravention of the Zimbabwe Public Health Act which provides for patient confidentiality.
The state alleges that Mhlanga used his mobile phone to disclose the woman's status and other personal details and also revealed the details of police officers suspected to have had contact with the patient.
The report notes that he disclosed the information without the consent of the patient. His cellphone has been seized as evidence and members of the group who received the message are expected to be called as witnesses. The case was postponed to 4 June.
[link url="https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/zimbabwe-man-charged-for-disclosing-another-persons-covid-19-status-on-whatsapp-47974657"]Full IoL report[/link]