COVID-19 WRAP | 11,500 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours & KwaZulu-Natal the new epicentre for Covid-19

December 26 2020 - 22:21

11,500 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours as positivity rate breaches 30% mark

SA recorded 11,552 new Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours, with just more than 30% of tests done in this period coming back positive.

Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Saturday night that 37,817 tests fell in the past 24-hour cycle, which translates to a positivity rate of 30.54%. Government previously set a positivity rate benchmark of 10%.

December 26 2020 -  17:03

Former Durban deputy mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala dies of Covid-19

Former Durban deputy mayor Nomzuvo Shabalala died on Saturday of a Covid-19 related illness, parliament confirmed.

Shabalala was a MP at the time of her death.

December 26 2020 -  17:00

Japan bans new entries of foreigners after virus variant arrives

Japan on Saturday said it would temporarily ban non-resident foreign nationals from entering the country as it tightens its borders after the detection of a new, highly infectious variant of the coronavirus.

The ban will take effect from December 28 and will run through January, the government said in an e-mailed statement.

December 26 2020 -  14:46

First case of new Covid variant found in France as cases rise

France recorded its first case of the new variant of coronavirus, as the number of cases and deaths from Covid-19 mounted in the country, increasing concerns of a new wave of the virus hitting the eurozone's second-biggest economy.

The French health ministry said a Frenchman who recently arrived back in France from London had tested positive for the new variant of the coronavirus.

December 26 2020 -  13:35

Tokyo Covid-19 cases hit record, new strain arrives before New Year holiday

Tokyo reported a record rise in coronavirus cases on Saturday, as Japan experiences a surge that now includes a new, fast-spreading strain while the government urges people to stay home.

Infections of the virus that causes Covid-19 hit a record 949 in the capital just as Japan heads into New Year holidays that normally see people stream from the capital into the provinces.

December 26 2020 -  12:30

Sydney residents discouraged from Boxing Day shopping, some suburbs to re-enter lockdown

Sydney residents were urged not to head to the shops for Boxing Day bargains, while those in some northern beach suburbs prepared to re-enter a strict lockdown for three days from Sunday as the city seeks to stamp out a coronavirus outbreak.

The state of New South Wales recorded nine new coronavirus cases, eight of them directly linked to the northern beaches outbreak, which now stands at 116 confirmed cases. Lockdown measures for some suburbs were first imposed on December 19 but were eased slightly for the Christmas break.

December 26 2020 -  11:02

Zweli Mkhize called on to intervene urgently in Beitbridge backlogs

With several deaths already recorded at the Beitbridge border post, the transport and freight forwarding industries have called for urgent intervention saying “a humanitarian disaster is unfolding”.

December 26 2020 -  10:13

Another new coronavirus variant found in Nigeria, says Africa CDC

The news comes after Britain and SA both reported new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that appear to be more contagious, leading to new travel restrictions and turmoil in markets.

December 26 2020 -  09:54

Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 14,455 - RKI

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 14,455 to 1,627,103, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Saturday. The reported death toll rose by 240 to 29,422, the tally showed.

Reuters

December 26 2020 -  09:30

Mexico records 9,679 new coronavirus cases, 665 more deaths

Mexico's Health Ministry on Friday reported 9,679 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 665 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 1,372,243 cases and 121,837 deaths.

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

Reuters

December 26 2020 -  09:17

Russia approves Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine for people over 60 

Russia on Saturday approved its main Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, for use by people over the age of 60, Russian news agencies cited the health ministry as saying.

People over 60 have thus far been excluded from Russia's national inoculation programme, as the shot was tested on this age group separately.

Reuters