COVID-19 WRAP | SA records 135 new Covid-19 related deaths

November 1 2020 - 20:45

SA records 135 new Covid-19 related deaths

South Africa recorded 135 new Covid-19 deaths and 1, 371 cases in the past 24 hours, health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Sunday.

November 1 2020 - 17:51

Brazil health minister with Covid-19 released from hospital

Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello was discharged from the hospital on Sunday after checking in two days earlier suffering from dehydration and with an earlier diagnosis of Covid-19, the ministry said in a statement.

Pazuello tested positive for coronavirus on Oct. 21. Roughly half of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro's 23-member cabinet has gotten the coronavirus, with the president and his wife coming down with the disease in July.

Bolsonaro has sought to downplay the severity of the disease and opposed strict lockdowns favored by many state governors and local politicians.

Brazil has the world's second-deadliest outbreak of Covid-19, with 159,884 people killed, second to only the United States, according to a Reuters tally.

-REUTERS

November 1 2020 - 13:51

Tour Down Under's 2021 race cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns

The Tour Down Under in Australia that was scheduled to take place in January has been cancelled as the Covid-19 pandemic has made logistics difficult, organisers said on Sunday.

Traditionally the first World Tour race of the season, the race was to take place in Adelaide from January 14 to 24 but the country's quarantine measures proved to be a major hurdle in bringing teams to Australia.

November 1 2020 - 13:22

Iran registers 7,719 new coronavirus cases, 434 deaths in one day

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Iran increased by 7,719 to 620,491, health ministry spokesperson Sima Sadat Lari told state TV on Sunday.

The death toll rose by 434 to 35,298, she said. 

- Reuters

November 1 2020 - 12:30

Israel starts human trials on Covid-19 vaccine

Israel began human trials on Sunday for its Covid-19 vaccine candidate which, if successful, could be ready for the general public by the end of next summer.

Eighty volunteers will initially take part in the trial that will be expanded to 960 people in December. Should those trials succeed a third stage with 30,000 volunteers is scheduled for April/May.

"We are in the final stretch," said Shmuel Shapira, Director General of the Israel Institute for Biological Research.

The institute, which is overseen by the defence ministry, began animal trials for its "BriLife" vaccine in March and announced a week ago it had received regulatory approval to take it to the next stage.

- Reuters

November 1 2020 - 12:19

South Korea expands mask requirements as Covid-19 cases grow

South Korea said on Sunday it will expand its mandatory mask policy to spas, wedding halls and other places as part of new social distancing rules aimed at preparing for a prolonged Covid-19 outbreak.

While South Korea has managed to contain the Covid-19 spread better than many western nations, which are struggling with a resurgent virus, daily new cases in the country have risen above 100 in recent days.

November 1 2020 - 11:22

England's lockdown could be extended, UK minister Gove says

The one-month lockdown for England announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson this weekend could be extended as Britain struggles to contain a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, a senior cabinet member said on Sunday.

Johnson announced on Saturday that the lockdown across England would kick in after midnight on Thursday morning and last until December 2.

Asked if a lockdown could be extended beyond early December, senior cabinet minister Michael Gove told Sky News: "Yes."

November 1 2020 - 10:57

Indonesia reports 2,696 new coronavirus infections, 74 deaths

Indonesia reported 2,696 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, taking the total number of cases to 412,784, data from the health ministry website showed.

The data also showed 74 additional deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 13,943.

Indonesia has recorded the most cases and deaths from Covid-19 in Southeast Asia.

- Reuters

November 1 2020 - 10:42

Czech Republic reports 11,428 coronavirus cases, 173 deaths

The Czech Republic reported 11,428 new coronavirus cases for Saturday, and 173 new deaths, health ministry data showed on Sunday.

The total number of cases in the country of 10.7 million stood at 335,102, while deaths reached 3,251.

- Reuters

November 1 2020 - 10:08

Russia's new coronavirus cases hit record high

Russia's daily tally of coronavirus cases hit a record high of 18,665 on Sunday, including 5,261 in Moscow, taking the national tally to 1,636,781.

Authorities also reported 245 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 28,235. 

- Reuters

November 1 2020 - 8:34

Australia records no new Covid-19 cases for first time in five months

Australia recorded no new daily coronavirus community infections on Sunday for the first time in nearly five months, health officials said, paving the way for further easing of social distancing restrictions.

The state of Victoria, a coronavirus hotspot which accounts for more than 90% of Australia's 907 coronavirus-related deaths, saw zero new daily infections and no deaths for the second consecutive day.

November 1 2020 - 8:17

Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 14,177 to 532,930

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 14,177 to 532,930, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Sunday.

The reported death toll rose by 29 to 10,481, the tally showed. 

- Reuters

November 1 2020 - 8:03

Mexico reports 6,151 new coronavirus cases, 464 more deaths

Mexico's health ministry on Saturday reported 6,151 new confirmed cases of coronavirus and 464 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 924,962 cases and 91,753 deaths.

The government has said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases. 

- Reuters

November 1 2020 - 7:44

Protesters against Covid-19 restrictions clash with police in Spanish cities

Spain's prime minister on Saturday condemned a series of violent protests in cities across the country against restrictions imposed to curb the surge of Covid-19 after a six-month state of emergency came into action this week.

Protesters pelted police with rocks and other projectiles in Barcelona in a second night of disturbances in Spain's second-largest city.

November 1 2020 - 7:38

Brazil reports 18,947 new coronavirus cases, 407 deaths

Brazil recorded 18,947 additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, and 407 deaths from Covid-19, the health ministry said on Saturday.

Brazil has registered more than 5.5 million cases of the virus since the pandemic began, the third-worst outbreak globally after the US and India.

South America's largest country has also reported 159,884 deaths, making it the second-deadliest outbreak after the US. 

- Reuters

November 1 2020 - 7:00

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 45.54 million, death toll at 1,188,017

More than 45.54 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1,188,017​ 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