COVID-19 WRAP | SA records 288 Covid-19 deaths, 15,000 new confirmed cases

January 02 2020 - 21:12

SA records 288 more Covid-19 deaths, 15,000 new confirmed cases

SA recorded 288 more Covid-19 related deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the national death toll to 29,175 on January 2.

The total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country stands at 1,088,889 with 15,005 new infections and the total number of recoveries at 897,704.

January 02 2020 - 20:25

India likely to approve two-dose regimen for Covid vaccines, four weeks apart - sources

India's drugs regulator is likely to approve administering two doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine and another locally-developed one by Bharat Biotech, each four weeks apart, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Saturday.

Experts at India's Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) have already approved the vaccines and a final decision is expected to be announced by the agency's chief at a news conference scheduled on Sunday.

Calls to CDSCO were unanswered outside regular business hours. 

—Reuters

January 02 2020 - 16:28

List of police stations affected by Covid-19 cases grows

The Carletonville police station on Gauteng's West Rand has become the latest of a list of stations that had to temporarily close due to Covid-19.

“All communities serviced by Carletonville police station are advised that the police station has been temporarily closed for decontamination due to a Covid-19 related incident,” provincial spokesperson Brig Mathapelo Peters said in a statement on Saturday.

“The community services centre will be operating from Welverdiend satellite police station.”

January 02 2020 - 15:40

18 cases of fake negative Covid-19 test results identified at Beitbridge border

The Limpopo department of health has identified 18 cases of fake negative Covid-19 test results being produced at the Beitbridge border post by people attempting to enter SA.

Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba told TimesLIVE that there were syndicates illegally selling negative Covid-19 results to those wanting to enter the country.

“Anyone entering or leaving the country needs to produce Covid-19 test results that are not older than 72 hours; especially when someone is wanting to come back into our country, that is now where it becomes our problem — we cannot allow anyone back in who does not produce these negative results to enter the country, be it if they are returning to SA or entering.”

January 02 2021 - 13:20

Tributes pour in for former Eskom deputy CEO who succumbed to Covid-19

Tributes have been pouring in for the former deputy CEO of Eskom and chairperson of former lotto operator Gidani, Prof Bongani Khulamo, who died at 68 after contracting Covid-19.

Khumalo is believed to have succumbed to Covid-19 related complications on Wednesday.

Described by the ANC and SA Communist Party (SACP) as a “distinguished servant of the people”, Khumalo held high positions at several major entities in the country.

January 02 2021 - 09:48

A not so happy New Year as SA records over 16,000 virus cases overnight

January 02 2021 - 09:44

US Covid-19 cases surpass 20-million as deaths mount

US coronavirus cases crossed the 20 million mark on Friday as officials seek to speed up vaccinations and a more infectious variant surfaces in Colorado, California and Florida.

The United States has seen a spike in number of daily Covid-19 fatalities since Thanksgiving with 78,000 lives lost in December.

A total of 345,000 have died of Covid-19, or one out of every 950 US residents, since the virus first emerged in China late in 2019.To slow the death toll, Senator Mitt Romney on Friday urged the US government to enlist veterinarians and combat medics to give out coronavirus vaccinations.

Reuters