COVID-19 WRAP | 2,237 new cases in SA

November 14 2020 - 23:27

2,237 new Covid-19 cases in SA

SA's confirmed cases of Covid-19 is now at 749,182 after the latest statistics were released on Saturday night. 

The country recorded 2,237 new cases, with 53 more Covid-19 related deaths reported.

SA's total number of deaths is now at 20,206.

November 14 2020 - 14:54

Medical experts home in on syndrome that attacks mainly black kids with Covid-19

Medical researchers led by the University of Cape Town are collecting data on a rare new syndrome that mainly attacks black children infected with Covid-19.

Paediatric specialists from across the country have teamed up to gather data that will provide a better understanding of multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

MIS-C is a rare disease which develops a few weeks after the onset of Covid-19. A cluster of children have become critically ill with the syndrome in the Western Cape.

November 14 2020 - 12:37

China finds coronavirus on packaging of Saudi shrimp

The western Chinese city of Lanzhou said on Saturday it had detected the new coronavirus on the packaging of a batch of shrimp imported from Saudi Arabia, as China ramps up testing of frozen foods.

The Lanzhou Municipal Health Commission said in a statement on its website that it had found one positive sample on Friday on the inner packaging of imported frozen shrimp from Saudi Arabia that had passed through customs in the coastal city of Tianjin.

The cold storage plant in Lanzhou where the case was discovered had been temporarily closed, all employees of the plant had been tested, all food involved was sealed and the whereabouts of all food sold had been determined, the statement said.

—Reuters

November 14 2020 - 09:43

Matrics who test positive for Covid-19 in Gauteng will be quarantined at Nasrec

The Gauteng education department has announced that all matric candidates who test positive for Covid-19 will now be placed under mandatory quarantine at Nasrec.

Spokesperson Steve Mabona said this move was to mitigate the risk of transmission of the coronavirus.

Mabona said candidates who tested positive would be housed at Nasrec, where they will write and study under the watchful eye of health and education officials.

November 14 2020 - 09:21

Australia may see first week of no local Covid-19 transmissions

Australia's three most populous states on Saturday recorded at least a week with no local transmissions of the new coronavirus, boding well for the country's recovery from the pandemic after a flare-up marred an impressive early response.

Victoria, the epicentre of the resurgence of the virus in recent months, recorded its 15th consecutive day of no new infections and no related deaths, two weeks after the state emerged from one of the world's longest and strictest lockdowns.

The second-most populous state's deputy chief health officer, Allen Cheng, told a news conference that the run of zero cases was "about as good as it can get".

—Reuters

November 14 2020 - 09:19

Biden aide says no US-wide Covid lockdown planned as West Coast states advise against travel

President-elect Joe Biden's top coronavirus adviser said on Friday there were no plans for a wholesale nationwide lockdown to curb the surging Covid-19 pandemic, while three US West Coast states jointly called for a halt in non-essential travel.

The warning against unnecessary transit came as the daily increase in Covid-19 cases in the US rose to a record of over 177,000 on Friday, the fourth straight day a new all-time high has been set, according to a Reuters tally of figures from US public health agencies.

California, Oregon and Washington urged residents to avoid venturing out of state, citing concerns raised by health experts that the coming holiday travel season would accelerate already alarming spikes in Covid-19 infections and hospitalisations.

—Reuters

November 14 2020 - 09:00

Britain to pilot Covid-19 tests for care home visitors

Visitors to care homes in parts of England will be able to get tested for Covid-19 under a new pilot scheme aimed at reducing onerous restrictions in time for Christmas, the health ministry said on Saturday.

With England under lockdown until December, care home visits can still go ahead in certain circumstances, but official guidance states that screens, windows or "visiting pods" should be used to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

"I know how heart-breaking restricting visits to care homes has been, not only for residents, many of whom will feel disoriented and confused by the situation, but also their loved ones who aren't able to simply hug each other to support them in this difficult time," health minister Matt Hancock said.

—Reuters