COVID-19 WRAP | SA records fewest new Covid-19 cases since December 8

January 25 2021 - 21;59

SA records just 4,500 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours

SA recorded its fewest new Covid-19 cases since December 8, with 4,551 new infections in the past 24 hours.

This was from 26,113 tests, at a positivity rate of 17.4%. There have now been 1,417,537 total confirmed Covid-19 cases across the country.

The last time SA recorded fewer than 5,000 cases in a single day was on December 8, when 4,011 cases were recorded.

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January 25 2021 - 20:32

Maskless in Mpuma: I'm guilty and I'm sorry, says premier Mtsweni-Tsipane

Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane has apologised for not wearing a mask at Jackson Mthembu's funeral at the weekend.

Mtsweni-Tsipane was heavily criticised — including by Zizi Kodwa, who said on Monday that she had insulted Mthembu's legacy. Now she has admitted that she was wrong and said she had paid an admission of guilt fine.

“I have noted social media and media reports revealing moments where I was walking around without a mask. I have since reflected deeply on this momentarily lapse, which I regret profusely. I should have known better as a public figure, and more so attending a Covid-19 funeral.

January 25 2021 - 18:51

Warning! Bogus 'researchers' drawing blood from Limpopo community

The Limpopo health department on Monday warned about people knocking on doors, requesting to withdraw blood “for Covid-19 tests”.

The department said these people were not from their department.

“The Limpopo department of health has been made aware of impostors who are going around communities drawing blood samples, claiming to be researchers from the Department of Health,” it said in a statement.

January 25 2021 - 18:27

Political jabs: should public figures get vaccinated first to reassure the public?

“Vaccines don’t save lives. Vaccinations save lives”.

This concept, promoted recently by Prof Koleka Mlisana, who is a manager at the National Health Laboratory Services, outlines the dilemma facing many countries during the pandemic: how to get the public on board with the vaccination programme.

While different groups grapple with how best to spread accurate information as SA awaits the start of the vaccine rollout, some are advocating for public officials to be first in line to set a positive example.

January 25 2021 - 18:06

Mask-less Mpumalanga premier insulted Jackson Mthembu's memory: Zizi Kodwa

State security deputy minister Zizi Kodwa has called out Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane for not wearing a mask at the funeral of late minister in the presidency Jackson Mthembu.

Kodwa said the premier's actions were an insult to Mthembu's memory, as he had encouraged people to adhere to government's Covid-19 regulations.

Kodwa was speaking at a virtual memorial service that the ANC organised for Mthembu on Monday. He paid tribute to Mthembu, saying he had been his mentor in communication. He described him as a man who told the truth even when it did not suit the ANC.

January 25 2021 - 17:08

Moderna plans trial of altered Covid vaccine booster to address SA variant

Moderna said on Monday it plans to start clinical trials of an altered booster version of its Covid-19 vaccine aimed at the South African variant of the disease after tests showed its authorised vaccine may produce a diminished antibody response.

It will also test an additional booster shot of its authorised vaccine in trials to see if it boosts antibody reaction against the SA variant. The current regimen is for two shots, four weeks apart.

The company said in a press release that it was being cautious and that the two-dose regimen of the vaccine was still expected to be protective against the South African and other variants detected to date.

January 25 2021 - 15:13

Extend R350 relief grant, ANC urges government after NEC lekgotla

The ANC wants the government to consider extending the R350 relief grant paid to unemployed South Africans to mitigate the economic affect of Covid-19.

The R350 temporary social grant was introduced early last year after the emergence of the coronavirus, but was discontinued in October.

The government has since been under pressure to reinstate the temporary relief measure as the country remains under the adjusted lockdown alert level 3. Pressure has also come from the ANC's alliance partners, such as Cosatu and the SACP.

January 25 2021 - 15:11

Gauteng needs nearly 17 million vaccine doses to achieve herd immunity

Medical teams caring for the sickest Covid-19 patients who require ventilation will be the first to receive a vaccine dose come February 1.

Dumisani Malele of the Medical Supplies Depot spoke about the vaccine rollout during the Nasrec centre oversight visit by Gauteng health MEC Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi on Monday morning.

Malele said the vaccine would be handed out in the country according to a prioritised categorisation.

January 25 2021 - 15:08

Zimbabwe, beset by soaring Covid-19 cases, gets vaccine offers from Russia, China

Russia and China have approached Zimbabwe about supplying vaccines to tackle its escalating Covid-19 outbreak amid concern about Harare's ability to afford the shots, with plans for meetings with business leaders who have offered to pay for them.

Authorities in the impoverished southern African nation are scrambling to contain the accelerating spread of the coronavirus. Infections have doubled in just the past few weeks and three government ministers have died in the last 10 days.

Zimbabwe doctors' groups say that hospitals are quickly filling up with Covid-19 patients and cite an increase in the number of infected people dying at home, unable to afford the steep fees charged by hospitals.

January 25 2021 - 14:00

POLL | How has the delay in schools reopening affected you?

Public schools have been given the green light to reopen from February 15.

This comes after the department of basic education published the government gazette on Friday.

Private schools will reopen two weeks earlier, on February 1.

January 25 2021 - 11:18

Santam to process business interruption claims for all clients

Insurer Santam Ltd said on Monday it will start processing business interruption claims for all commercial policies that were affected by a coronavirus-led lockdown in April beyond those of its hospitality and leisure division.

It will cover a total base of Santam's 4,000 commercial clients who have claimed interruption to their business due to the lockdown, said Santam in a statement to the stock exchange.

“Santam made the decision to include the claims from all commercial policies with CBI extensions after further analysis and consideration of recent court judgments,” it said.

January 25 2021 - 10:47

Zimbabwe Covid-19 deaths pass 1,000 as infections surge

Zimbabwe's Covid-19 deaths have passed 1,000 as the country scrambles to contain a spike in infections of the virus that has said the lives of three government ministers in the last 10 days.

There are fears the more infectious South African variant of the virus came to the country when thousands of Zimbabweans living in the neighbouring countries returned home for the December holiday.

Zimbabwe has recorded a total 31,320 coronavirus cases and 1,005 deaths. More than half of these have been reported since the beginning of this year, data released late on Sunday showed.

January 25 2021 - 10:45

Major League’s DJ Banele on drawing inspiration from the likes of Burna Boy during the pandemic

While the aim is to still keep it moving as an artist in the entertainment industry, one half of the Major League DJz, Banele Mbere, has spoken out about the importance of being taken seriously by the government as a sector and staying sane during the pandemic. 

With a lot of artists trying to stay afloat financially and stay relevant with the times, the hip-hop artist, now turned amapiano DJ, shared his ongoing hardships as an artist in SA.

In an interview with TshisaLIVE, Banele said, “Being an artist during a pandemic sucks, I won't lie. With a lot of African countries closing down, one can't travel or gig – now we have to go back to all our online stuff, which isn't ideal for us at the moment.”

January 25 2021 - 10:45

Government's fault or 'bullying' — Eight reactions to SAB suspending 550 employee contracts

DA leader John Steenhuisen was one of many who reacted to the news that SA Breweries (SAB) has suspended the contracts of more than 500 temporary workers due to the ongoing ban on the sales and distribution of alcohol.

At the weekend, SAB told BusinessLIVE the contracts of 550 temporary workers were suspended with immediate effect while the ban continues.

Affected staff received their last payment on Friday and will receive no income during the suspension of their contracts, including from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) as they are contract workers.

January 25 2021 - 10:39

Pandemic crushes matrics’ enthusiasm and passion for future plans

As if 10 months of disrupted education were not enough, matriculants hoping to start university now face a new year of uncertainty and stress as Covid-19 rips into their dreams.

There is the strain of waiting for the grade 12 results, pushed back to February 23 instead of early January, before they know if their university placements are secure.

And then, even if their marks make the grade, they may not be able to put a foot on campus or meet fellow first-years as, though classes are due to restart in March, many institutions are urging students to study online.

January 25 2021 - 10:30

Ramaphosa vows to keep public abreast of developments on vaccine acquisition

President Cyril Ramaphosa says details of the deals into which the government enters with vaccine manufacturers will be released as and when negotiations are concluded and when non-disclosure agreement terms have been lifted.

Ramaphosa acknowledged concern that the government has not been sufficiently transparent about its efforts to procure Covid-19 vaccines.

He said as they did with the announcement about the Serum Institute of India (SSI), the details of deals with manufacturers will be released when negotiations are concluded.

January 25 2021 - 10:14

Biden to impose SA travel ban to combat new Covid-19 variant

US President Joe Biden will impose a ban on most non-US citizens entering the country who have recently been in SA starting on Saturday in a bid to contain the spread of a new variant of Covid-19, a senior US public health official told Reuters.

On Monday Biden will also reimpose an entry ban on nearly all non-US travelers who have been in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 26 countries in Europe that allow travel across open borders.

“We are adding SA to the restricted list because of the concerning variant present that has already spread beyond SA,” Dr Anne Schuchat, the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) principal deputy director, said on Sunday.

January 25 2021 - 10:13

'She must face the music' - Mzansi fuming at Mpumalanga premier's funeral mask moemish

Social media users are calling for the arrest of Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane for violating Covid-19 regulations by not wearing a mask in public.

Mtsweni-Tsipane was captured on national TV without any face covering on Sunday during the funeral of the late minister Jackson Mthembu. Video clips and images circulated on social media, drawing massive public condemnation.

“My take is the premier of Mpumalanga is used to not following Covid-19 protocols. She is used to not wearing a mask and has always got away with it. Kanti, she will do it at a wrong place at a wrong time. I don’t think it was her first time. She must face the music,” tweeted Cecilia Mthwane.

January 25 2021 - 10:11

Healthy appetite for Woolworths food offsets Covid-19 pressure

Robust demand in Woolworths’ food division helped offset pressure related to Covid-19 in Australia and its fashion business in the last half of 2020, the retail group reports.

Woolworths Food experienced a surge in online activity and delivered market share gains, the group said in a trading update for the 26 weeks ended December 27, when group sales rose 5.3% in actual currency terms.

Woolworths Food sales rose 10.9% and online sales 158.5% despite trading conditions across the group continuing to be affected by Covid-19, the update reads.

January 25 2021 - 10:10

Global life insurers impose restrictions, worried about long-term pandemic risks

Global life insurers are taking steps to curb payouts stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, including long-term health consequences that are not fully understood, industry sources told Reuters.

Life insurers, including Prudential Financial Inc, and Aviva PLC, are now imposing waiting periods before Covid-19 patients, including those who have recovered, can apply for coverage, executives and spokespeople said. Some are also limiting coverage for certain age groups.

These changes come as some reinsurers demand new safeguards from life insurers they backstop, and as the industry struggles to ascertain the extent of problems caused by the novel coronavirus.

January 25 2021 - 10:07

Head of French health regulatory body: Covid situation is worrying

The Covid-19 situation in France is worrying, the head of the country's Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS) health regulator told France Inter radio on Monday, as President Emmanuel Macron's government considers a possible new lockdown.

Dominique Le Guludec nevertheless added she was aware of the downsides caused by lockdowns, such as hits to the economy.

Reuters

January 25 2021 - 08:52

Third matric marker in Gauteng succumbs to Covid-19

The provincial education department said the 56-year-old tourism senior marker, who was working at the Florida High School marking centre, succumbed to Covid-19 complications on Sunday morning after being released from her duties on January 12.

January 25 2021 - 08:00

'The app will give you stress,' says user. But Covid-19 alert app's effectiveness depends on you, say experts

Some users of the Covid-19 alert tracing application, that uses Bluetooth to notify a person if they have been exposed to the disease, have complained that it is not working effectively.

The app was launched in July last year.

It is used for digital contact tracing using Bluetooth technology. It allows mobile phone users to update their Covid-19 statuses and alert each other anonymously if they encounter a positive case.

January 25 2021 - 07:39

More than 100 arrested for contravening lockdown regulations

Police arrested 30 people at a house in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng early on Sunday morning at a social gathering in contravention of the Disaster Management Act adjusted alert level 3 lockdown regulations.

“Police received information about people having a party in Vanderbijlpark. They pounced on the identified house and found more than 30 people drinking alcohol at about midnight and not adhering to the curfew,” said police spokesperson Capt Kay Makhubele.

Makhubele said more than 58 suspects were arrested on the West Rand for contravening the act, and more than 600 suspects were nabbed in Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg by integrated law enforcement agencies for crimes including contravening the act under lockdown level 3.

January 25 2021 - 06:27

Will the Mpumalanga premier be arrested for not wearing a mask while in public?

January 25 2021 - 06:00

Is it safe to have the Covid-19 jab?

People fear Covid-19. But many South Africans are also scared of the vaccines that have been proved to offer protection against the virus.

An infodemic of false information, particularly on social media, has targeted those who are "vaccine hesitant". Here are answers to 10 of the common fears.