COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES | 1,861 new infections in SA bring total Covid-19 cases to 667,049

September 24 2020 - 21:30

1,861 new infections in SA bring total Covid-19 cases to 667,049

The total number of Covid-19 cases in SA has risen to 667,049 following an additional 1,861 new cases recorded on Saturday.

Over 4m tests have been conducted, with 18,405 new tests done since Friday.

77 new deaths have been recorded, 58 of which occurred in Gauteng. This brings the total number of Covid-19 related deaths to 16,283.

September 24 2020 - 15:35

Zimbabwe to gradually re-open schools from Oct 26

Zimbabwe will gradually re-open primary and secondary schools from Oct. 26 for all pupils, ending a break of seven months that was precipitated by the coronavirus outbreak, the information minister said on Tuesday.

The government had earlier this month said only students who are taking their final examinations would return to school.

September 24 2020 - 15:30

Canada 'bets the farm' on big spending as second wave threatens economic recovery

Canada's vow to double down on pandemic-related spending to keep the economic recovery under way in the face of a second wave of Covid-19 infections will support activity but raises questions over the burgeoning deficit, economists say.

The Liberal government on Wednesday made sweeping promises of major new investments and policy initiatives saying "this is not the time for austerity", while giving few details on how those plans would be financed and at what cost.

September 24 2020 - 15:28

UK PM Johnson has faith in top medical officer - health minister

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faith in his top medical adviser, health minister Matt Hancock said on Thursday, after reports said the government had sought advice on the Covid-19 pandemic elsewhere.

Hancock was asked about a report that Johnson had asked Sweden's top epidemiologist for advice, and whether Johnson had lost faith in England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty.

September 24 2020 - 14:35

Zulu king warns politicians to unite against Covid-19 or face punishment by ancestors

King Goodwill Zwelithini has urged politicians to unite in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and gender-based violence, or face the wrath of their ancestors.

The Zulu king was speaking at Umkhosi we Lembe — the annual commemoration of the day King Shaka was killed — hosted at the eNyokeni royal house in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday.

The king urged opposition political parties to work together against the pandemic and its effects on the economy.

September 24 2020 - 12:07

Mbalula visits Cape Town airport to assess Covid-19 response as SA gears for international travel 

September 24 2020 - 11:42

Curwin Bosch starts on clean slate having been SA’s form flyhalf before Covid-19

Before the Covid-19 enforced lockdown‚ Curwin Bosch was the country’s form flyhalf in the country’s best Super Rugby outfit.

That was more than six months ago and the rugby landscape couldn’t be more different right now.

Firstly‚ the Bulls have a different coach from the last time the sides met on January 31.

September 24 2020 - 10:28

Zero tolerance for mask-dodgers in SA's skies

Under fire from passengers for being lax about passengers not conforming to mask wearing regulations on board their flights, Flysafair this week imposed a new zero tolerance policy — including issuing “yellow cards” to transgressors.

“The cabin crew are not enforcing the wearing of masks during the flight,” complained Sue Lovett, of Sandton, earlier this week.

September 24 2020 - 10:24

Herbal remedy firm catches a cold over claims it can cure Covid-19

The local distributors of a herbal remedy have been ordered to stop claiming it can prevent or cure Covid-19.

The advertising watchdog said on Wednesday that SA Natural Products had failed to submit “unequivocal verification of efficacy” for Echinaforce. This was “markedly different” to the overall tone of a paid-for interview on Radio Sonder Grense (RSG) with marketing manager Estie Schreiber on August 27.

September 24 2020 - 09:19

WHO urges countries to take stronger action to stop spread of Covid-19 misinformation

"The technology we rely on to keep connected and informed is enabling and amplifying an infodemic that continues to undermine the global response and jeopardises measures to control the pandemic."