COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES | South Africa exceeds the 500,000 mark in Covid-19 infections

August 1 2020 - 22:30

South Africa exceeds the half a million mark in Covid-19 infections

A total of 503,290 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been recorded, reports the health department. 

42,450 new tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of tests to 3,001,985.

148 new Covid-19 related deaths have been recorded. This brings the cumulative number of deaths to 8,153.

The number of recoveries currently stands at 342,461.

August 1 2020 - 17:26

Revised calendar will see schools reopening on August 24

The department of basic education has released a revised calendar for the 2020 school year, which will see schools reopening on August 24.

In a statement released on Saturday, the department said that it had been huddled in consultations with stakeholders after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced two weeks ago that schools would be closed for a month.

August 1 2020 - 13:37

Another life lost due to Covid-19 complications

August 1 2020 - 12:12

Wayde van Niekerk awaits second result after testing positive for Covid-19

Wayde van Niekerk’s planned comeback to international racing in Italy on Saturday night has been put on hold after he tested positive for Covid-19.

The rest of the SA contingent were negative, a member of the Van Niekerk camp told TimesLIVE.

That includes the Olympic 400m champion’s coach tannie Ans Botha, teammates Ruswahl Samaai and Antonio Alkana, his agent and physio, who had worked on Van Niekerk daily.

Van Niekerk, who was feeling healthy and no ill effects, was awaiting the result of a second test to confirm if he is indeed positive.

August 1 2020 - 11:53

Virus effects to last decades, WHO says six months on

The WHO said Friday that coronavirus pandemic effects would be felt for decades as its emergency committee assessed the situation six months after sounding its top alarm over the outbreak.

The novel coronavirus has killed nearly 675,000 people and infected at least 17.3 million since it emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.

August 1 2020 - 11:24

ANC MP Zamuxolo Peter dies from Covid-19

ANC MP  Zamuxolo Joseph Peter, who was a member of parliament's portfolio committee on tourism, has died after a short illness due to Covid-19, the committee said on Friday night.

Peter, who was described as being driven by the objectives of nonracialism and a non-sexist and united SA, joined parliament as a member of the National Assembly after the 2019 general elections.  

August 1 2020 - 09:22

Virus cases in SA fast approaching half a million mark

August 1 2020 - 09:17

Covid-19 homeless camp reunites teen with his family

A teenage runaway, a dad dreaming of seeing his children again and a reformed drug dealer are among those helped at one of Tshwane's campsites for the homeless which have been set up during the lockdown.

During a visit to the sprawling site of white and military green tents at the Lukas van den Berg sports ground in Pretoria West this week, TimesLIVE also found out some of its temporary residents have since managed to find work.

In March, the site offered respite to more than 300 people.