COVID-19 WRAP | Mkhize says SA can expect first batch of vaccines to hit the shores on February 1

January 27 2021 - 22:34

Covid-19 vaccines 'a public good' and will be available for free

The Covid-19 vaccine has been declared a “public good” and will be delivered for free.

“Its delivery is based on the principle of social solidarity, so that we look after each other, all of us, in our society,” Dr Aquina Thulare, a technical adviser for health department said during a webinar on Wednesday night.

She said that the almost 33 million people who don't have private health insurance will receive Covid-19 vaccines for free, while the seven million insured South Africans would be covered by their medical aid.

January 27 2021 - 20:20 

SA's first batch of Covid-19 vaccines will be here on February 1: Mkhize

The plane carrying SA's first batch of Covid-19 vaccines will arrive in the country on February 1.

Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said on Wednesday night that the vaccines — from the Serum Institute of India — will leave on January 31 and arrive the following day, at a time that has not yet been confirmed.

After this, he said, various processes will be done, which would take 10-14 days, after which “we will be ready to distribute to all provinces”.

January 27 2021 - 16:13

Webinar on African Covid-19 vaccine financing and deployment strategy

January 27 2021 - 16:08

Ivermectin gets partial greenlight to fight Covid

The SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) announced on Wednesday that it had authorised a limited “compassionate and controlled access programme” for Ivermectin to be used to treat Covid-19.

To date, the drug is not authorised for human use in SA.

Prof Helen Rees, chairperson of Sahpra, said there was not yet sufficient data to indicate a full authorisation of the drug for human use, but that the programme put in place would “give respite while we wait for better data”. And, she said, it would at least ensure the quality of the product was of a high standard, which isn’t always the case with products imported on the black market.

She added: “We desperately need decent data so we can tell the community if it’s a good idea or not whether for prophylaxis or treatment.”

January 27 2021 - 15:35

Police got it wrong, says Bheki Cele over maskless Mpumalanga premier

Police minister Bheki Cele has admitted that police “badly” managed the mask matter involving Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane.

The premier failed to wear a mask during the funeral of minister in the presidency Jackson Mthembu at the weekend - something that she has apologised for.

“The matter was handled badly from the side of the police, there is no doubt about that,” said Cele, in an interview with TimesLIVE on Wednesday.

January 27 2021 - 14:33

Litany of poor medical treatment for Shonisani Lethole at Tembisa hospital

Shonisani Lethole's lifeless body spent 10 hours and 15 minutes on the Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital bed until a doctor certified him dead the next day.

Lethole, 34, died on June 29 at 10.30pm, as recorded by a professional nurse.

The doctor on duty was called twice by nursing staff to certify Lethole's death. Dr Babayombe Bangala did not respond.

January 27 2021 - 14:30

NFP threatens legal action against Sahpra over Ivermectin

The National Freedom Party (NFP) has threatened legal action against the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) if it does not respond to an application to authorise the sale of Ivermectin by Thursday.

Attorney Prabashni Subrayan Naidoo said she was instructed by the NFP to address a letter to Sahpra on Monday.

Ivermectin, which was hailed as a revolutionary drug in the 1980s and works by paralysing and killing parasites in livestock, has been gaining traction as a “miracle cure” for Covid-19 patients.

January 27 2021 - 14:29

ActionSA proposes Covid-19 multiparty platform which excludes EFF and ANC

ActionSA has proposed a multiparty platform to encourage a unified response to the Covid-19 crisis, but excluding the ANC and EFF.

On Tuesday, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said he had written to leaders of several opposition parties to initiate the engagement platform.

The parties include the DA, UDM, FF Plus, ACDP, COPE, IFP and Mmusi Maimane’s One SA movement.

January 27 2021 - 14:25

'We've broken no rules': Surf's up for Durban beach ban protesters

A group of Durban surfers defied the government's beach ban by taking to the water to protest against restrictions on Wednesday.

The group, all members of Surfing South Africa, started their protest at New Pier and were soon thereafter ordered out of the water by the police before receiving a warning to steer clear of the ocean.

According to regulations, gazetted by co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma on 11 January, a beach is defined as the “sandy, pebbly or rocky shore between the high-water mark and low-water mark adjacent to the sea, or an estuary mouth extending 1,000m inland from the mouth; and within 100m of the high-water mark”.

January 27 2021 - 14:24

‘Restaurants can’t survive another week’: CEO stages sit-in at Union Buildings

It is imminent that the industry is facing complete and utter destruction, says Wendy Alberts, CEO of the Restaurants Association of SA (Rasa), on day three of a sit-in at the Union Buildings.

Alberts, with 11,000 restaurants behind her, is calling for the revised lockdown level 3  curfew and ban on alcohol sales to be lifted.

Wearing a pink dress and a mask, Alberts on Wednesday walked up and down in front of an entrance to the seat of government with a placard stating “President Ramaphosa, please save our restaurants” and “Jobs save lives”.

January 27 2021 - 14:23

Zim doctors push for Ivermectin in Covid-19 treatment

The College of Primary Care Physicians of Zimbabwe (CPCPZ) said Ivermectin, used to treat many types of parasite infestations in animals, and Nanosilver, used for antibacterial and antifungal purposes in water treatment, have shown positive results in the past five months.

Despite being a 40-year-old drug, Ivermectin is not registered in Zimbabwe. Doctors complete “section 75” forms every time they use it. The forms are for special exemption to use unregistered medicines.

In a letter addressed to the ministry of health and child care secretary, Jasper Chimedza, the CPCPZ said they feel comfortable using Ivermectin for Covid-19 patients.

January 27 2021 - 13:31

National coronavirus command council meets amid declining Covid infection rate

SA's national coronavirus command council is holding what government sources have described as a “regular” meeting.

The meeting comes as the rate of infections has been on a steady decline in the past week.

Government is pulling out all the stops to secure the arrival of the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines, which were expected to land in the country before the end of January to be administered to health workers as part of the government rollout strategy.

January 27 2021 - 13:00

'Shifting blame' or speaking out? SA reacts to Ramaphosa telling rich countries to stop 'hoarding' vaccine

President Cyril Ramaphosa topped social media's trending list on Tuesday after telling rich countries to stop hoarding Covid-19 vaccines.

Speaking at a virtual meeting of the World Economic Forum, Ramaphosa told wealthy countries to share the vaccine with developing nations.

“We need those who have hoarded the vaccines to release the vaccines so that other countries can have them,” said Ramphosa.

January 27 2021 - 12:57

Little risk and much to gain, so get Ivermectin systems in place: experts

Experts have asked the government to have systems lined up so Ivermectin can be distributed and used to treat Covid-19 patients if authorisation is given.

Medical doctor and activist Arne von Delft, who cofounded TB Proof, said on Wednesday: “We sent a letter to the authorities on January 18.

January 27 2021 - 11:27

Death of patient: Shonisani Lethole was not offered food for more than 100 hours in hospital

The care rendered to the late Shonisani Lethole in Tembisa Hospital in June last year was not only substandard but also negligent, according to the report of the health ombud released on Wednesday.

January 27 2021 - 10:47

Department backtracks on PPE funding for Eastern Cape schools

In a sudden U-turn on Tuesday, the Eastern Cape education department revealed it will, after all, fund personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement at the start of the academic year.

However, the announcement was greeted with outrage from some, who said the beleaguered department has “robbed Peter to pay Paul”.

Earlier, during a briefing on Friday, education MEC Fundile Gade said schools would be expected to procure their own PPE for the first term.

January 27 2021 - 10:39

Japan's Covid crisis reawakens deflation fears as cash hoarding returns

A spike in coronavirus infections in Japan is driving local households to do what they have always done in times of crisis: spend less and save more, stoking fears of a deeper retail recession and grinding deflation.

January 27 2021 - 09:59

Jacob Zuma’s rape trial advocate Kemp J Kemp dies from Covid-19 complications

Renowned advocate Kemp J Kemp has died from complications related to Covid-19.

Kemp, who was arguably best known for defending former president Jacob Zuma during his 2006 rape trial, passed away on Tuesday night.

January 27 2021 - 09:58

LISTEN | Dr Anban Pillay answers our vaccine questions

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January 27 2021 - 08:59

Lab-produced antibody gives new hope in HIV fight

This follows promising results that show injecting broad neutralising antibodies (bNabs) in HIV-negative people has the potential to kill the human immunodeficiency virus before it infects the cells.

On Tuesday, two proof-of-concept studies that tested an experimental antibody, VRC01, against HIV on more than 4,600 people raised the hopes of researchers after it achieved 75% protection in study participants during the 20-month study period.

January 27 2021 - 08:51

Taliban backs vaccine drive as Afghan government receives $112m funding pledge

The Taliban militant movement gave its backing on Tuesday for a coronavirus vaccination campaign in Afghanistan that has received a $112m pledge from the World Health Organisation’s COVAX programme.

The immunisation drive will have to take place amid relentless violence in the country despite the government and the Taliban insurgents opening peace talks in September.

January 27 2021 - 08:41

Organisation calls for lifting of ban on gatherings, says religion is communal

Freedom of Religion SA (For SA) has approached the high court in Johannesburg on an urgent basis to ask that government’s indefinite ban on faith-based gatherings be lifted.

The application by the organisation is in two parts.

In the first part, the organisation asks the court — pending the second part of the application to be heard at a later date — for an order suspending the operation of the lockdown regulations prohibiting faith-based regulations.

January 27 2021 - 08:29

Japan PM apologises after lawmakers' nightclub outings

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga apologised on Wednesday after lawmakers from his ruling coalition visited night clubs despite his government's call for people to avoid unnecessary outings to curb the spread of Covid-19.

January 27 2021 - 08:00

January 27 2021 - 07:10

Freedom Of Religion SA takes battle against religious gatherings ban to court

Churches and religious organisations representing more than 11m people have backed a court application by Freedom Of Religion SA (For SA) to force government to lift the ban on religious gatherings and recognise religious leaders as essential service providers.

January 27 2021 - 07:00

Pretoria restaurateur threatens to sue after police arrest employee who served nonalcoholic drinks

A Pretoria-based businessman has threatened to sue the state after police detained his employee for eight hours on Friday night, for serving what he says was a nonalcoholic drink.

January 27 2021 - 06:00

Children's vaccine shortage frustrates Limpopo parents

Children in parts of Limpopo have not been able to be vaccinated because of stock shortages.