14 June 2021 9 Min Read

COVID-19 WRAP | SA records 5,552 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours with two-thirds in Gauteng

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June 14 2021 - 20:11

SA records 5,552 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours with two-thirds in Gauteng

Gauteng accounted for more than two-thirds of the 5,500 Covid-19 cases recorded across SA in the past 24 hours, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases said on Monday.

Latest figures show that there were 5,552 new infections recorded, with 3,720 of them (67%) being recorded in Gauteng. The province with the next-highest number of cases was the Western Cape with 446 cases, followed by the Northern Cape with 248 and KwaZulu-Natal with 247 cases.

The new infections mean that there have now been 1,752,630 cumulative cases recorded across SA since the outbreak of the virus last year.

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June 14 2021 - 19:07

Over seven million Zimbabweans in need of food aid: World Bank

The World Bank says Covid-19 and its impact expanded the number of extremely poor people in Zimbabwe and increased extreme poverty to 49% in 2020.

In its latest economic analysis of Zimbabwe, the World Bank said that, to date, insufficient financial resources and implementation capacity constrained the government’s ability to reach the growing number of people in extreme poverty.

The World Banks’ economic report states that an addition of 1.3 million people living in abject poverty resulted in 7.9 million Zimbabweans from both rural and urban communities in need of food aid. As of the 2012 census Zimbabwe had a population of 14 million.

June 14 2021 - 18:16

Sportscaster Robert Marawa reveals he spent a week in ICU as he battled Covid-19

Popular sportscaster Robert Marawa has revealed that he battled Covid-19 for three weeks and his health deteriorated to such an extent that he spent a week in the ICU for High Care.

Marawa has been off air for several weeks but his recovery has been so encouraging that he could be back on radio on Monday to present his Marawa Sport Worldwide, which is simulcast on both Radio 2000 and Metro FM.

"It is with great gratitude that I still find myself alive and able to address this personal matter publicly.

June 14 2021 - 16:42

Covid-19 exposed weaknesses in SA's food systems: agriculture minister, Thoko Didiza

Agriculture, land affairs and rural development minister Thoko Didiza says the Covid-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in the country's “food systems”.

Speaking during a webinar she was hosting on youth in agriculture, the minister said: “Our logistic systems, particularly on food delivery, also showed their weaknesses.

“We saw the challenges that a number of vulnerable communities in our rural areas, our informal areas and in our townships at times did not access their food at the time at which they would have wanted to. All of these, in my view, were a reminder that our food systems are weak and therefore it needs strengthening.”

June 14 2021 - 16:20

‘It’s very bad’: Gauteng private hospitals take strain as third wave hits

Private hospitals in Gauteng are under severe strain as Covid-19 infections continue to rise by the thousands in the province.

“You will not get a bed for Covid-19. It is extremely difficult. People are also lying in the casualty [wards] in the private sectors,” SA Medical Association (Sama) chairperson Dr Angelique Coetzee said.

“It is very bad and there is nothing we can do about it. Therefore we are asking the elderly people to go and vaccinate because the hospitals are full of elderly people. Doctors cannot cope if there is not a bed, so you stress.”

June 14 2021 - 15:59

Aspen to release fresh J&J vaccines within one week

Pharmaceutical firm Aspen Pharmacare will release a fresh batch of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Covid-19 vaccines within a week to bolster the country's vaccination drive, it said on Monday.

It said the company had further doses of J&J vaccines under production that would be available to the government in July.

South Africa's vaccination drive faced a set back on Sunday when its drugs regulator said as many as 2 million doses of J&J vaccines that Aspen had ready for release from its local plant could not be used, after a US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) notice.

June 14 2021 - 12:06

Covid-19 pandemic results in decline in reports of elder abuse — Tafta

The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a decline of elder abuse cases being reported because of challenges to access the justice system.

This is according to The Association for the Aged (Tafta), a Durban-based organisation that provides care to the elderly at its many residences, ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Tuesday.

The day is set aside by the UN to demonstrate global opposition to the abuse of older people.

June 14 2021 - 11:30

Faster vaccine rollout & a united department: 5 things the DA wants Kubayi-Ngubane to focus on

The DA has outlined five priorities acting health minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane should focus on in Zweli Mkhize's absence.

Kubayi-Ngubane was appointed acting health minister last week after Mkhize was placed on special leave by President Cyril Ramaphosa pending investigations into contracts between the health department and service provider, Digital Vibes.

The department is accused of awarding Digital Vibes a “dodgy” tender worth R150m for communications regarding the National Health Insurance (NHI) rollout in 2019.

June 14 2021 - 11:03

Mark Pilgrim's Covid-19 battle: 'You beat cancer & saved us after a heart attack, now you're challenged again

Media personality Mark Pilgrim is keeping a positive attitude after testing positive for Covid-19 last week.

He is self-isolating at home and documenting his journey on social media. On Saturday, Mark penned a heartfelt letter to his immune system and shared that he previously fought cancer and a heart attack and was positive he would overcome Covid-19 as well.

“We've been through a lot together over the years. You kicked cancer's butt and also saved us after a heart attack. Now you're being challenged again and you're showing your strength once more. You're my heavyweight boxing champ and you're fighting so hard. I'm so proud of you,” he wrote.

June 14 2021 - 11:01

UK's Johnson set to announce delay to end of Covid-19 restrictions

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce on Monday that the end of Covid-19 restrictions will be delayed following concern about the rapid rise of infections of the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

Under a road map outlined by Johnson back in February, the government signalled all social restrictions imposed to control the spread of the disease would be lifted “no earlier” than June 21, when pubs, clubs and other hospitality venues could fully reopen.

But, in recent weeks there has been a fast growth again in the number of new cases caused by the Delta variant, first discovered in India, which health officials believe to be 60% more transmissible than the previous dominant strain and scientists warn could trigger a third wave of infections.

June 14 2021 - 09:37

'Level 2 does not have sufficient impact': David Makhura hints at harder lockdown for Gauteng

Gauteng premier David Makhura has hinted at a harder lockdown level in the province, saying Gauteng was looking at “extraordinary measures”.

Speaking during his visit to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic hospital at the weekend, Makhura raised concerns about the rate of Covid-19 hospital admissions.

He said the province was forced to look at extraordinary measures to combat the spread of the virus amid a third wave of infections.

June 14 2021 - 07:32

‘A revolutionary who fought for the working class’: Tributes pour in for Nehawu spokesperson Khaya Xaba

National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) spokesperson Khaya Xaba has been described as an impeccable communicator and hard worker after news of his death rocked the nation on Sunday.

The union said Xaba died in the early hours of Sunday morning after succumbing to complications related to Covid-19. It said his death is a loss to the union and workers at a time when he is needed most while the country battles the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Apart from being a national spokesperson, Comrade Xaba was also an activist for social transformation who understood society progresses through a class struggle, and this was evident through his participating in the mass democratic movement in various capacities”, Nehawu said.

June 14 2021 - 06:27

Steady supply of Pfizer Covid-19 doses keeps vaccination momentum going

Just over 1.6-million vaccines have been administered in SA as the health department ramps up efforts to vaccinate more people while the third wave of Covid-19 infections hits the country.

Although there have been questions about the availability of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine - with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) saying J&J must throw away millions of doses of its Covid-19 vaccine manufactured at a Baltimore facility - SA is still receiving Pfizer vaccines to keep the vaccination momentum going.