COVID-19 WRAP | KZN's virus cases overtake Western Cape & Brazilian state plans deal with Russia to make vaccine

August 11 2020 - 22:16

KZN overtakes Western Cape as SA reports just 2,500 new Covid-19 cases

KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday overtook the Western Cape to become SA's second hardest hit province in terms of Covid-19 infections.

The health ministry reported that there were 2,512 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed across SA in the past 24 hours, taking the national total to 566,109.

August 11 2020 - 19:29

My husband is not involved in tenders for school sanitisers: Angie Motshekga

Allegations of corruption made against ANC MP Mathole Motshekga over Covid-19 tenders are desperate, far-fetched lies that should be ignored.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the basic education department said minister Angie Motshekga noted with dismay the false news circulating on social media, alleging that her husband Mathole was involved in the production of sanitisers for schools.

August 11 2020 - 19:29

Cape Town restaurateurs slam state for stalling court battle against booze ban

Cape Town restaurateurs embroiled in a legal fight to lift the ban on alcohol sales have accused the government of spoiling the broth.

The lawsuit — brought by 10 restaurateurs against cooperative governance & traditional affairs (Cogta) minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and the ministers of tourism and health — was set down for Tuesday in the high court in Cape Town, but was postponed.

Liam Tomlin, one of the litigants, cried foul after the matter, which had been brought on an urgent basis, was shifted back two weeks.

August 11 2020 - 19:28

People are beating cigarette ban so it must be 'unreasonable', Fita says in latest court battle against NDZ

SA's prohibition on cigarette sales has failed and, therefore, there “cannot be any possible basis for the ban”.

This is according to the Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita) in its latest salvo against co-operative governance & traditional affairs (Cogta) minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and government's ongoing ban on the sale of tobacco and related products.

“Once it is accepted (as it must be) that the ban cannot be shown to have the effect of stopping smoking, there cannot be any possible basis for the ban,” Fita CEO Sinenhlanhla Mnguni said in an affidavit filed with the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) on Tuesday.

August 11 2020 - 19:26

Brazilian state plans deal with Russia to make Covid-19 vaccine

Brazil's Paraná state is in talks with Russia to produce a Covid-19 vaccine, the state research institute said on Tuesday, hours after President Vladimir Putin declared his country to be the world's first to grant regulatory approval for a vaccine.

João Pedro Schonarth, spokesman for the Parana Technology Institute (Tecpar), told Reuters talks were underway. The state government said Governor Ratinho Júnior was set to meet the Russian ambassador to Brazil on Wednesday, but a spokesperson did not say if a production deal would be signed at the meeting.

August 11 2020 - 15:58

OPINION | Covid-19 pandemic is being amplified by a financial fraud crisis

The past few months have been tough for Jack and Sarah.

While they are committed to curbing the spread of Covid-19 and have gone out of their way to protect themselves and the people around them, they co-own a popular barber shop which was closed during the first phases of the national lockdown.

The lack of income has been a huge worry. Fortunately, the couple had accumulated savings over the years which were seeing them through this tough time, but these funds were fast running out.

August 11 2020 - 15:57

'Hospitals will cope with trauma upswing': Western Cape on lifting booze ban

“We can cope with the Covid-19 workload, the pandemic and with the upswing in trauma.”

There are the words of Dr Saadiq Kariem, the chief of operations for the Western Cape department of health, who supports the province's premier Alan Winde's plea for the lifting of the liquor ban.

According to Winde, the province has flattened the infections curve and has passed its Covid-19 peak. However, the second “pandemic” — unemployment — was gaining momentum in the province.

August 11 2020 - 15:12

Trump says 'great' bond with China's Xi changed after Covid-19

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping has frayed in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic and that he has not spoken to his Chinese counterpart in a long time.

"I used to have a very good relationship with him," Trump told Fox Sports Radio in an interview, citing their Phase One trade deal last year. "I had a great relationship with President Xi. I like him, but I don't feel the same way now."

Trump said his feelings changed amid Covid-19.

—Reuters

August 11 2020 - 15:01

'Tobacco products kill, are not essential': Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Co-operative governance & traditional affairs (Cogta) minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has dismissed a contention by the Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita) that the high court ought to declare tobacco an essential item.

“Cigarettes and tobacco do not, by their nature, fall into the same category as goods which are life sustaining or necessary for basic functionality,” Dlamini-Zuma argued in a responding affidavit to Fita’s application for leave to appeal a North Gauteng High Court decision, dismissing its challenge of the tobacco ban under lockdown.

The matter is now before the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).

August 11 2020 - 14:34

Russia becomes first country to approve a Covid-19 vaccine, says Putin

President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia had become the first country in the world to grant regulatory approval to a Covid-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing, a move hailed by Moscow as evidence of its scientific prowess.

The vaccine still has to complete final trials, raising concerns among some experts at the speed of its approval, but the Russian business conglomerate Sistema has said it expects to put it into mass production by the end of the year.

Russian health workers treating Covid-19 patients will be offered the chance of volunteering to be vaccinated in the coming weeks, a source told Reuters last month.

—Reuters

August 11 2020 - 13:15

KZN education spokesperson shares what kept him going during 23-day hospital Covid-19 battle

KwaZulu-Natal education department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi spent 23 days in hospital where he witnessed six patients die, learnt to adjust to the “new normal” and fought Covid-19.

He was supported by what he refers to as an “amazing” team of doctors and nurses.

“In the 18 days that I was in ICU six people died. It was so traumatic because you know when doctors and nurses rally around one bed and run around with a lot of machines that there is serious trouble. The next thing the curtains are drawn. The team wearing white comes with a white mobile coffin, they quickly close your curtains not to see but most of the time they were late to do so.

August 11 2020 - 12:50

Vacuum bag filters a hot tip for mask safety during Covid-19

T-shirt buffs and scarves are only a little better than no mask at all, researchers have warned.

There is, however, is a simple solution for people observing Covid-19 safety protocols, and that is to insert a clean vacuum bag liner into a cloth mask.

Research published in the Journal of Hospital Infection by experts in the US and UK assessed the effectiveness of various mask materials to protect a person from infection after 30 seconds and after 20 minutes of exposure in a highly contaminated environment.

August 11 2020 - 12:49

New Zealand record new Covid-19 cases; brings back restrictions

New Zealand on Tuesday confimed new cases of locally acquired Covid-19 after going for 102 days without any domestic transmission.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said four people from one family in South Auckland had been confirmed to have acquired the coronavirus.

Ardern announced that Auckland will move to alert level 3 restrictions from noon on Wednesday for three days.

The rest of the country was also be moved to alert level 2 restriction from Wednesday, she said.

-REUTERS

August 11 2020 - 11:43

SA's agricultural sector calls for lifting of booze ban

SA's agricultural sector has joined growing calls for the government to reconsider its ban on the sale of alcohol.

Agri SA said it was “gravely concerned” about the impact the current ban has had on the value chain ranging from wine, barley, hops, fruit and maize farmers to glass manufacturers and processors.

August 11 2020 - 11:00

Russia approves first Covid-19 vaccine, Putin says

Russia's health ministry has given regulatory approval for the world's first COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Institute, after less than two months of human testing, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

The move paves the way for mass inoculation even as the final stages of clinical trials to test safety and efficacy continue.

The speed at which Russia is moving to roll out its vaccine highlights its determination to win the global race for an effective product but has stirred concerns that it may be putting national prestige before science and safety.

-REUTERS

August 11 2020 - 09:57

'It's impossible': David Makhura denounces fake PPE corruption claims involving his family

Gauteng premier David Makhura has rubbished claims that members of his family have been involved in personal protective equipment (PPE) tender corruption, saying that legal action will be taken against anyone who makes this claim.

“I dismiss, with contempt, the lies posted on social media platforms about the involvement of my immediate family in PPE procurement,” he said in a statement.

“As a matter of principle, neither my wife nor children do business with government.”

August 11 2020 - 08:50

Staff on edge as Covid-19 patients are booked into PE quarantine hotel

The five-star Radisson Blu hotel in Summerstrand is being used as a Covid-19 quarantine site and staff are not happy about it, claiming some “stubborn patients refuse to stay in their rooms”.

Though the executive assistant manager for the Radisson Blu Port Elizabeth, Elmarie Fritz, confirmed that some patients had not confined themselves to their rooms, she said these were “minimal isolated incidences which were immediately taken care of by the department of health personnel on duty”.

August 11 2020 - 08:28

'Unemployment pandemic is gaining momentum': Alan Winde pleads for lifting of booze ban

Pressure is mounting on the government to lift the ban on the sale of alcohol and to allow for more economic activity to prevent huge job losses.

The DA-led Western Cape provincial government took a firm stance at the weekend, stating that domestic alcohol sales should be allowed immediately, “with smart recommendations in place”.

“These positions have been taken with a view to reducing the impact of a second, equally dangerous pandemic: unemployment. We will now engage the national government on these positions,” said Western Cape premier Alan Winde.

August 11 2020 - 08:14

'Every cent' of R1.19bn spent in Eastern Cape's Covid-19 fight to be accounted for

Every single cent of the R1.19bn spent on buying personal protective equipment and hospital beds in the fight against the spread of Covid-19 in the Eastern Cape will be accounted for.

This was the promise from finance MEC Mlungisi Mvoko on Monday. He also vowed that where required legal prescripts were not followed, action would be taken.

Through the provincial treasury, the province is investigating a number of complaints relating to the use of taxpayers’ money in the fight against Covid-19.

August 11 2020 - 08:00

You can now test for Covid-19 at these Gauteng shopping malls

Gauteng department of health is expected to open a third mall-based Covid-19 testing station on Tuesday.

August 11 2020 - 07:10

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 20.09 million, death toll at 734,243

More than 20.09 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 734,243​ have died, according to a Reuters tally.

Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

-REUTERS

August 11 2020 - 06:00

Parolee released in January denied special R350 grant because he's been 'working' for past 18 months

A parolee who came out of prison this year was declined the special R350 grant on the grounds that he has been working for the past 18 months.

This is one of the examples of a flawed government system in which legitimate applicants are told they don't qualify for the Covid-19 social relief of distress grant, according to IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe.

The 34-year-old Inanda man was released from the Durban B medium prison on parole in January. TimesLIVE has seen his stamped parole papers.