COVID-19 WRAP | 81 new Covid-19 deaths as cases rise to 672,572 in SA

September 29 2020 - 22:12

SA records 903 new cases of Covid-19 for second consecutive day

For the second day in a row, SA recorded 903 new cases of Covid-19 in 24 hours.

Health minister Zweli Mkhize said on Tuesday this takes the number of confirmed cases countrywide to 672,572.

The new cases come from 12,011 tests, with a positivity rate of about 7.5%. In total, 4,164,491 tests have been conducted.

September 29 2020 - 16:03

Nearly 300 community health workers hung out to dry with no salaries paid

More than 280 community health workers contracted by the Gauteng health department have not been paid their latest salaries, says acting health MEC Jacob Mamabolo.

“The Gauteng department of health wishes to apologise to community health workers who have been negatively affected by the delay in the finalisation of their appointment and payment,” he said on Tuesday.

September 29 2020 - 14:21

2.2-million jobs lost in Q2 during lockdown - but overall employment improves

Stats SA says 2.2-million jobs were lost in the second quarter of 2020 during the lockdown.

But despite this, overall unemployment fell from 30.1% in the first quarter to 23.3% in the second quarter.

Stats SA released its latest quarterly labour force survey on Tuesday. The survey indicated that the number of employed people decreased by 2.2-million to 14.1-million in the second quarter of 2020 — during the lockdown — when compared to the first quarter of 2020.

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September 29 2020 - 14:07

Puzzled scientists seek reasons for Africa's low fatality rates from Covid-19

Africa's overburdened public health systems, dearth of testing facilities and overcrowded slums had experts predicting a disaster when Covid-19 hit the continent in February.

The new coronavirus was already wreaking havoc in wealthy Asian and European nations, and a United Nations agency said in April that, even with social-distancing measures, the virus could kill 300,000 Africans this year.

In May the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that 190,000 people on the continent could die if containment measures failed. Yet as the world marks 1-million Covid-19 deaths, Africa is doing much better than expected, with a lower percentage of deaths than other continents.

—Reuters

September 29 2020 - 12:55

Returned library books to be 'quarantined' in Durban

Returned books will be “quarantined” before they find their place back on shelves in Durban libraries.

One of the new rules for libraries is that all returned books must be placed in a quarantine room for 72 hours before they can be issued to borrowers.

eThekwini municipal spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said most of the city’s 95 libraries had reopened. The Durban City Hall library remained closed for refurbishment.

September 29 2020 - 12:36

South Africans with heart diseases neglecting treatment because of Covid-19

The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA) is concerned that South Africans suffering from cardiovascular diseases are not getting the medical treatment they require because they fear contracting Covid-19.

HSFSA head Prof Pamela Naidoo told TimesLIVE on World Heart Day on Tuesday: “This is alarming because high-risk patients should always ensure they adhere to their medical treatment plan to avoid fatal consequences.”

According to the foundation, about 225 South Africans die from heart disease, strokes and other circulatory diseases every day.

September 29 2020 - 12:12

Is SA seeing a drop or rise in Covid-19 numbers under level 1? Here is what authorities say

While SA's Covid-19 recovery rate continues to see a steady increase and Health minister Zweli Mkhize has reassured the public that we are "now past the surge", the rising number of cases in the Free State and Gauteng have sparked concern.

WHO is worried

According to the SABC, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concern after an increase in Covid-19 cases in SA over the past week.

The increase in the number of confirmed cases comes after the country entered level 1 of the lockdown last Monday. The increase also comes amid reports that the continent has experienced an overall decrease in infections.

September 29 2020 - 09:20

Global coronavirus deaths pass 'agonising milestone' of 1 million

The global death toll from Covid-19 rose past 1 million on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, a bleak milestone in a pandemic that has devastated the global economy, overloaded health systems and changed the way people live.

The number of deaths from the novel coronavirus this year is now double the number of people who die annually from malaria — and the death rate has increased in recent weeks as infections surge in several countries.

“Our world has reached an agonising milestone,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement.

—Reuters

September 29 2020 - 08:25

Concern raised as Covid-19 cases jump 6% in Gauteng under lockdown level 1

Active Covid-19 cases have shot up by 6% in Gauteng since the lockdown regulations were dropped to level 1, an increase “noted with concern” by the provincial health department.

“There is still no vaccine, the only way we can contain the spread of Covid-19 is through wearing of masks, keeping social distance and hand sanitisation, including adhering to the alert level 1 guidelines as provided by government,” said acting health MEC Jacob Mamabolo.

“The rise in infections has been attributed to, among other factors, non-adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions by some members of the public,” read a statement from his office.

September 29 2020 - 08:11

IN QUOTES | Tourism minister says SA will open to 'most countries' for international travel

As SA prepares for the reopening of international borders, tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has vowed that the country will open to “most countries” this week.

Speaking during an event on Monday to commemorate the last few days of Tourism Month, Kubayi-Ngubane said the cabinet’s decision to open the country’s borders to most countries was a significant milestone in placing the sector on an "irreversible path" to full recovery.

Restrictions on international travel for business, leisure and other travel will take effect from October 1. Travellers will be allowed to travel into and out of SA from countries deemed to carry less of a risk for Covid-19.

September 29 2020 - 08:00

Mining hospital donated for Covid patients to become permanent facility

The Gauteng government has assured people on Gauteng's West Rand that the AngloGold Ashanti Hospital, donated by the mining company as part of the response to Covid-19, will permanently contribute to the provision of quality health care in the area.

This follows after acting health MEC Jacob Mamabolo completed a preliminary audit of Covid-19 health structures that Gauteng remains committed to investing in legacy projects beyond the Covid-19 pandemic through major refurbishments and additional beds at existing hospitals.

“The fund will be used to provide rapid and targeted actions to support the health-care sector in efforts to flatten the curve of infections and provide humanitarian support to vulnerable households and communities,” said AngloGold Ashanti.