COVID-19 WRAP | SA records 1,555 new cases and 13 more deaths

September 20 2020 - 20:11

SA records 1,555 new cases and 13 more deaths

The health department's latest stats show 1,555 new cases have been recorded in SA, bringing the total number to 661,211.

There are also 13 more Covid-related deaths in the country, bringing the total to 15,953. 

The health department added that 16,884 new tests were recorded since the previous statistics released on Saturday.

September 20 2020 - 18:17

UIF Ters payments to resume from Monday

Payments from the government’s relief scheme for workers is expected to resume on Monday, after being suspended for two weeks.

The payments of the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) was suspended on September 7, after the release of the auditor-general’s report, which uncovered alleged fraud and irregularities in the system.

September 20 2020 - 17:34

US sets record with more than 1-million coronavirus tests in a day

The US set a one-day record with more than 1-million coronavirus diagnostic tests being performed, but the country needs 6-million to 10-million a day to bring outbreaks under control, according to various experts.

The country performed 1,061,411 tests on Saturday, according to data from The Covid Tracking Project, a volunteer-run effort to track the outbreak.

The record comes after testing has fallen for several weeks. The US tested on average 650,000 people a day in the week ended September 13, down from a peak in late July of over 800,000 people a day.

Since the start of the pandemic, testing shortages have hampered efforts to curb the spread of the virus. At one point during the summer, Houston residents lined up in cars and waited hours for tests, even sleeping in their vehicles overnight. Miami saw similar lines.

Once tested, people may have to wait up to two weeks to learn if they have the virus, which has killed nearly 200,000 Americans and infected more than 6.7-million. Such delays defeat the purpose of trying to prevent further infections.

- Reuters

September 20 2020 - 16:12

Protesters say localised lockdowns in Madrid discriminate against poor

Protesters in some poorer areas of Madrid that are facing lockdown to stem a soaring Covid-19 infection rate took to the street on Sunday, to call for better health provisions and complained of discrimination by the authorities.

Madrid's regional government announced on Friday that movement between and within six districts that are home to about 850,000 people will be restricted from Monday, although people will still be able to go to work.

The lockdown measures predominantly apply to areas of lower income and with higher immigrant populations. Peaceful protests were held in 12 of the 37 districts affected on Sunday.

September 20 2020 - 15:52

Czech government could declare coronavirus state of emergency, says minister

The Czech government could declare a state of emergency if a recent spike in coronavirus cases continues in the coming days, health minister Adam Vojtech said.

The Czech Republic's daily count of new coronavirus cases has reached record highs in recent days and the country of 10.7-million had reported a total of 48,306 cases as of Saturday, Health Ministry data showed.

"Should we need to have some deeper measures (against the epidemic), then the emergency state will be necessary," Vojtech said in a televised debate on Sunday.

"We have not seen an escalation. The 'R' (reproduction) number is around 1.6. We will have to assess it based on weekdays when more tests are done," he said.

The 'R' number measures how many people are likely to get infected by one person that carries the virus.

Earlier in the weekend, Vojtech told the seznamzpravy.cz news website that he would consider proposing a state of emergency if the number moved close to 2.

The Czech government last declared a state of emergency in March in the early days of the global pandemic. 

- Reuters

September 20 2020 - 15:05

Baragwanath hospital to increase number of elective surgeries

Gauteng acting health MEC Jacob Mamabolo announced on Sunday that the number of elective surgeries at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, Johannesburg, will be gradually increased.

This after the health department cancelled elective surgeries at the start of the national lockdown in March.

September 20 2020 - 14:47

KZN hospitality industry already experiencing 'nice life' problems, says premier

KwaZulu-Natal's tourism and hospitality industry is on the road to recovery with some leisure accommodation venues already booked to capacity.

This is according to premier Sihle Zikalala, who addressed the media on the province's latest Covid-19 statistics, and the move to level 1, at a briefing on Sunday.

September 20 2020 - 13:11

UK health minister: Second national lockdown possible

British Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Sunday a second national lockdown was one possible step to curb the spread of the coronavirus, but it was not what he wanted to happened.

"If everybody follows the rules then we can avoid further national lockdowns, but we, of course, have to be prepared to take action if that's what's necessary," Hancock told the BBC.

"I don't rule it out, I don't want to see it." 

—Reuters

September 20 2020 - 09:08

Educators requested to report for duty from Monday

The department of basic education has announced that all teachers who were given permission to work from home during the pandemic should report for duty from Monday.

Elijah Mhlanga, department’s spokesperson said more than 22, 500 teachers were granted approval.

“If, however, some individuals are still not well, they are advised to follow the normal sick leave protocols. There are instances where substitute teachers have been appointed in the place of educators who been granted a concession to work from home.

September 20 2020 - 08:55

Nearly 100 new Covid-19 cases at one Eastern Cape school

Ninety-eight Ethembeni High School pupils have tested positive for Covid-19.

Pupils from Burgersdorp and Middelburg have been affected, according to the Eastern Cape education department.

Education department spokesperson Mali Mtima said: “A multi departmental team consisting of the local municipality, departments of health (Doh) and public works and education have been established to manage the spread of this outbreak and advise on measures suitable for learners, especially those writing their matric trial examinations,” Mtima said. “Currently, the team has advised the department to allow learners to write, as there are no reasons to stop the learners since they are medically fit. Invigilators have been advised to put on PPE and scripts will also be monitored for a specified period before being marked.”

September 20 2020 - 06:18

Mystery of 'staggering' PPE error

The Gauteng business owner linked to an R800m personal protective equipment (PPE) tender says he was shocked when he saw the figures in the health department's commitment letter because his quotation had been for one-tenth of the "staggering" amount.

Harvey Buthelezi, executive chair of HSB Mercantile, said that in the end he received orders worth just over R6m from the department, and he is still owed more than R2m. He said errors by health department officials resulted in his R87m quotation ballooning to R873m - before the contract was chopped to R4.6m.

Buthelezi was thrust into the spotlight when a list of companies that benefited from the Gauteng health department's PPE procurement programme circulated on social media.

September 20 2020 - 06:15

All eyes on Covid travel list as tourism awaits list of countries barred from SA

The US, the UK, France, Brazil and India - these are some of the countries that could be barred from sending travellers to SA when international travel resumes on October 1.

And as global airlines prepare to fly into the country once more, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways said its crew will be clad in full personal protective equipment [PPE] when processing passengers.

The Sunday Times understands from senior government sources that there areserious discussions about which countries to allow in and which ones to place on the high-risk list, amid concerns that barring SA's closest trading partners could risk "diplomatic issues".

September 20 2020 - 06:05

Medical waste piles up at Pretoria Covid ward amid payment row with Gauteng health

A medical waste contractor temporarily suspended services at 32 clinics and hospitals across Gauteng last month over a payment row - and yesterday scores of boxes of hazardous waste were still piled up at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria.

The three-day interruption in removal of the hazardous waste came after the contractor, Buhle Waste, gave the Gauteng department of health a two-day ultimatum on August 12 to pay outstanding bills of more than R18m.

Buhle Waste, which is among 40 Gauteng companies whose bank accounts were frozen after being linked to a personal protective equipment (PPE) scandal in the health department, said it suspended its services on August 14. It resumed removals after the department appeared to realise the urgency of the matter.

September 20 2020 - 06:00

Did SA get it right when tackling the coronavirus pandemic?

As the country prepares for a possible second surge and marks 200 days since the first positive test for Covid-19, medical, economic and scientific experts weigh in on failures and triumphs.

SECURITY FORCE ABUSES

Professor Salim Abdool Karim

The ministerial advisory committee chair said he was “deeply disappointed” at the behaviour of security forces tasked with protecting South Africans and enforcing the lockdown.

But he felt buoyed by the government’s response to the challenge