Covid-19

All the news about the coronavirus pandemic in SA and abroad

17 March 2020 - 09:39 By TimesLIVE

Image: Nolo Moima

OFFICIAL NUMBER OF CASES IN SA: 85


Covid-19 Coronavirus Outbreak 24-Hour Public Hotline: 0800 029 999

Hand sanitiser sold out? Don't try make your own, ...

The spread of coronavirus and the measures government has taken to prevent a full-on outbreak in SA have caused some ...

By Sanet Oberholzer

'Ignorant' Vanessa Hudgens slammed for 'insensitive' Covid-19 comments

'Yeah, people are gonna die. Which is terrible. But, like, inevitable?'

By Kyle Zeeman

Covid-19 live updates: coronavirus 'can survive in the air for hours'

The number of cases of Covid-19 in SA has increased to 116.

By TimesLIVE

Doctors map body's Covid-19 immune response: study

Researchers in Australia said on Tuesday they had mapped the body's immune response to the novel coronavirus, in a ...

By AFP

Italy rushes new doctors into service as coronavirus deaths rise above ...

Italy will rush 10,000 student doctors into service, scrapping their final exams, in an effort to help the struggling ...

By Reuters

Covid-19 infections in SA climb to 116

The number of cases of Covid-19 in SA has risen to 116

By Iavan Pijoos

WATCH LIVE | Ramaphosa briefs media on Covid-19 after meeting MPs

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to brief the media after his meeting with opposition parties where they discussed ...

By TimesLIVE

SA citizen shares step-by-step guide on how she deals with Covid-19 in ...

Slindile Mhlongo thread on panicking during the Covid-19 pandemic has gone viral

By Unathi Nkanjeni

WATCH | LOL! Trevor Noah takes the L in quarantine unity attempt

Haha! Talk about wanting unity during quarantine, only to take a young L!

By Masego Seemela

Doctors in Nigeria strike over delayed pay amid coronavirus

Nigerian doctors are going on strike amid the coronavirus outbreak to protest against overdue salaries and unsafe ...

By Busang Senne

Herman Mashaba applauds Pick n Pay's 'pensioners ...

Pick n Pay has launched special shopping hours for pensioners older than 65 due to coronavirus

By Unathi Nkanjeni

Trump says he knew Covid-19 would be a pandemic — he also said it was a ...

US president Donald Trump continues to backtrack on his stance on the coronavirus, now saying, 'I felt it was a ...

By Jessica Levitt

IN QUOTES | Mogoeng Mogoeng on judiciary measures for Covid-19

Here are five quotes from Mogoeng's briefing

By Unathi Nkanjeni

#Coronavirus: Five celebrities who are here social distancing

In SA, 85 people have tested positive for Covid-19

By Cebelihle Bhengu

Nature (not nurture) to blame for pandemic, say genome boffins

Evolution, not engineering, is to blame for Covid-19

By Dave Chambers

Withdrawal of bank notes and coins is fake, ...

The withdrawal of banknotes and coins due the Covid-19 outbreak is fake, the SA Reserve Bank warned on Wednesday

By Iavan Pijoos

SA Express suspends flights, places non-critical staff on compulsory leave

Highly indebted regional airline SA Express on Wednesday announced it was suspending operations with immediate effect

By TimesLIVE

'We are nervous': banks mull impact of coronavirus on SA

'We are nervous; incredibly nervous - the impact of this is likely to be far worse than the financial crisis of 2008'

Wendy Knowler
Consumer journalist

FREE TO READ | TONY LEON: SA needs a bazooka to fight the virus. Cyril ...

On Sunday, declaring a national “state of disaster”, Cyril Ramaphosa was at his best: equable, authoritative and ...

Tony Leon
Columnist

#Coronavirus: Amanda Black calls out private sector- 'At least pretend to ...

"Give employees paid leave until we get a clear understanding of how long this will be."

By Chrizelda Kekana

Coronavirus: where will high-risk medical waste ...

Vehicle tracking and incineration are among the hazardous waste protocols that will be followed to ensure medical waste ...

By Naledi Shange

Toilet paper stockpiling goes wrong as kids throw 18 rolls in the bath

South Africans are also panic buying due to fear of possible lockdowns due to the coronavirus.

By Cebelihle Bhengu

WATCH | Group dancing and balcony workouts: how people are beating the ...

With many countries in lockdown, fearing the spread of coronavirus, millions of people are self-isolating

By Deepa Kesa

FREE TO READ | Cops, medics raise alarm over lack of virus gear

As the coronavirus tightens its grip on SA, nearly 200,000 paramedics, emergency services workers and police officers ...

By GRAEME HOSKEN

Zodwa on that R1.6m endorsement deal and the impact of coronavirus on gigs

Zodwa is glad Covid-19 won't bankrupt her.

By Chrizelda Kekana

South Africans flown home from Wuhan all negative ...

In a rare piece of good news about the coronavirus pandemic, the health ministry has announced that all the South ...

By Matthew Savides

FREE TO READ | UCT, Wits close hostels, but students stay put

UCT and Wits students have threatened mass action and launched court applications to protest against the sudden closure ...

By TANYA FARBER, Amina Asma and Shonisani Tshikalange

WATCH | Somizi gets tested for Covid-19, expresses concern about the cost

Somizi was tested for the coronavirus and expressed concern about the virus and how much it cost to be tested

By Unathi Nkanjeni

Two-year-old tests positive for Covid-19, as infections in SA climb to 85

Four children, the youngest aged two, are among 23 new Covid-19 cases in SA.

By Matthew Savides

ZCC halts Easter pilgrimage to Moria - report

The ZCC  on Tuesday announced that it was halting all its events in the wake of the coronavirus.

By Naledi Shange

Early recess ordered at all higher education institutions due to Covid-19

Several institutions have already brought forward their Easter break, closed residences and replaced traditional ...

By TAMAR KAHN

Here's what Africa is doing to fight coronavirus

The World Health Organization has warned of the risk that COVID-19 could overwhelm strained public health systems in ...

By Reuters

Covid-19: Travel ban to high-risk countries imminent as SA revokes visas

The South African government says it is revoking 8,000 visas issued to Chinese nationals as part of a travel ban aimed ...

By Aphiwe Deklerk

Gautrain staff in self-isolation after executive tests positive, two ...

Gautrain confirmed on Tuesday that an executive who travelled from France - and interacted with staff at the Bombela ...

By Naledi Shange

Coronavirus-positive family traced by police ...

The Gauteng health department on Tuesday confirmed going to court to get a family, including a mother and daughter who ...

By Naledi Shange

Parliament to shut down 'until further notice' because of Covid-19

Both the National Assembly and the the National Council of Provinces will suspend business this week as a precaution ...

By THABO MOKONE

Covid-19: Slaapstad gets real as council hits snooze button on dozens of ...

The gradual end of life as Capetonians know it will accelerate on Wednesday with the closure of numerous council-run ...

By TimesLIVE

1,700 trapped on Cape Town cruise ship in Covid-19 drama

The cargo ship MV Corona, which set sail from Cape Town last Wednesday, has returned after a crew member showed ...

By Bobby Jordan

Covid-19: ZCC calls meeting to discuss Easter pilgrimage

Zion Christian Church (ZCC) has called a meeting with its members and health professionals on Saturday where they are ...

By Kgothatso Madisa
A doctor and laboratory specialists at the Infectious Disease Unit of Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi get ready to visit a ward for quarantined people on March 15 2020.
A doctor and laboratory specialists at the Infectious Disease Unit of Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi get ready to visit a ward for quarantined people on March 15 2020.
Image: Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

Taj Mahal closed to visitors amid coronavirus ...

Most schools and entertainment facilities, including cinemas, have already been closed across India.

By AFP Relaxnews

'Free coronavirus testing' scam reminds Babalwa of when her home was robbed

If people knock, saying they are providing free testing, don't open.

By Kyle Zeeman

'Hot girl' licks plane toilet seat for TikTok coronavirus challenge

A TikTok user has been slammed on social media after posting a six-second 'coronavirus challenge' video

By Unathi Nkanjeni

Cape Town bans all events that need a permit amid national disaster

The national coronavirus disaster means the end of all approved events in Cape Town, the city council said on Tuesday.

By TimesLIVE

Covid-19: ZCC calls meeting to discuss Easter pilgrimage

Zion Christian Church (ZCC) has called a meeting with its members and health professionals on Saturday where they are ...

By Kgothatso Madisa

Hand sanitisers may be on the way for minibus ...

Hand sanitisers could be dispensed at minibus taxi ranks under Cape Town's plan to protect public transport passengers ...

By TimesLIVE

Panic-buying: Twitter says calm down, but folks are gearing up for an ...

Several supermarkets have confirmed an increased demand in food items.

By Cebelihle Bhengu

How to keep sane in a time of coronavirus madness

As coronavirus continues to plunge the world into uncertainty, constant news about the pandemic can affect the mental ...

By Unathi Nkanjeni

MSC halts South African cruises amid coronavirus outbreak

The cruise company said the last cruise, which left on Monday, will return on Friday.

By Khanyisile Ngcobo

Alcohol wipes to the rescue as banks conduct business as usual

Banks say they are taking precautionary measures to deal with the coronavirus pandemic - but some staff say nothing or ...

By Nomahlubi Jordaan

Covid-19: Consumers could face rationing if they ...

Rationing may be imposed if South Africans do not stop panic shopping announcement of government's plan to curb its ...

By ERNEST MABUZA

Driver safety amid Covid-19: Gautrain bus services suspended in Rosebank

All Gautrain buses in Rosebank, Johannesburg, were cancelled on Tuesday morning after drivers raised concerns about ...

By Iavan Pijoos

Covid-19: Herman Mashaba pleads with consumers not to buy more than they ...

Herman Mashaba has called on South Africans not to buy more than they need as pictures of empty supermarket shelves go ...

By Cebelihle Bhengu

What local governments can do to help fight coronavirus

As the first point of contact for people on the ground, there are several measures local governments can put into place ...

By Naledi Shange

WATCH | Travel ban and closure of schools: SA declares national state of ...

President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on March 15 2020. This comes ...

By Deepa Kesa

My coronavirus lockdown: work - and attempts at ...

Communicating from beyond is serious business. 225 pings for 21 project streams. That’s how many times I was pinged at ...

By Jacqui Venter

'Game of Thrones' star is self-isolating with family after contracting ...

Kristofer Hivju, known for playing Tormund Giantsbane in the hit series, said he only had "mild symptoms of a cold".

By Khanyisile Ngcobo

'Patient Zero of the winelands': Cape estates close over coronavirus

Several top wine estates in the Cape winelands have shut some or all of their operations after a member of a Dutch wine ...

Wendy Knowler
Consumer journalist

Covid-19 hits gospel fraternity as Joyous Celebration and Spirit of Praise ...

This Easter weekend Mzansi will have to rely on TV and music streaming

By Chrizelda Kekana

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma to donate test kits, masks to every African ...

Chinese billionaire businessman Jack Ma has announced that his foundation, together with the Alibaba Foundation, will ...

By Khanyisile Ngcobo

Your cash doesn't have coronavirus, don’t give it to criminals: Reserve ...

As fear over the coronavirus grips Mzansi, criminals have taken the opportunity to scam unsuspecting people.

By Batandwa Malingo

Coronavirus: five reasons why you have to self-isolate

When you are healthy and at low risk of coronavirus, self-isolation — which can affect your work, social and sporting ...

By Claire Keeton

Kenyan nurses protest for safer working conditions at coronavirus facility

Kenyan nurses in the coronavirus isolation ward at Mbagathi Hospital are protesting about a perceived lack of health ...

By Busang Senne

Kenyan man arrested for spreading fake news on coronavirus

A 23-year-old Kenyan man has been arrested and charged with publishing false information with the intent to cause ...

By Busang Senne

Five ways Fikile Mbalula plans to keep public transport clean amid Covid-19

Random screening will take place at taxi ranks and train stations

By Unathi Nkanjeni

FREE TO READ | Life comes to a standstill, except in the toilet roll aisle

Empty supermarket shelves have revealed products we might soon realise we were taking for granted.

By ARON HYMAN, MARIE PROVOT and Wendy Knowler

Covid-19: UCT arranges student allowances as more universities shut

More universities have suspended in-person academic programmes.

By Iavan Pijoos

Skollie alert: Police stations are not closing due to coronavirus

Western Cape police are the latest to be hit by fake news linked to the coronavirus.

By PHILANI NOMBEMBE
COVID-19: WHAT IS IT
COVID-19: WHAT IS IT
Image: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

SPORT

Euro 2020 championship postponed over coronavirus

Uefa has proposed postponing this year's European Championship until 2021, a source close to European football's ...

By Reuters

Chiefs‚ Pirates heed Khoza’s advice to train‚ Sundowns rest as PSL in limbo

Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman Irvin Khoza might have encouraged clubs to keep training while the league remains ...

By Mark Gleeson

Rudolf Straeuli gives Lions ‘to-do’ list for quarantine time

The suspension of Super Rugby matches may have helped arrest the Lions’ slide‚ but it could prove a temporary reprieve ...

By Liam Del Carme

SA footballers abroad left kicking their heels by coronavirus

With European football shut down for the foreseeable future over fears around the coronavirus‚ a number of South ...

By Nick Said

Bok women’s captain Latsha heads home from Spanish club rugby

Springbok women’s captain Babalwa Latsha announced on social media platforms that she’ll be returning to South Africa ...

By Khanyiso Tshwaku
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