COVID-19 WRAP | 101,573 health workers vaccinated in SA

March 06 2021 - 21:10

101,573 health workers vaccinated in SA

The total number of health workers vaccinated against Covid-19 is 101,573 since the beginning of the vaccine rollout. 

According to the health stats released by Dr Zweli Mkhize on Saturday evening, the cumulative number of confirmed coronavirus cases in SA total 1,520,206.

The national death toll stands at 50,647. 

March 06 2021 - 15:55

President Buhari calls for Nigerians to follow his vaccine lead

President Muhammadu Buhari had his first Covid-19 vaccine shot on Saturday, part of a bid to boost public confidence as Nigeria attempts to inoculate 80 million people this year.

Vaccinating Nigeria's 200 million people, and those in other developing countries, is seen as key to stemming the spread of the coronavirus, but getting doses across the vast nation, with its potholed roads and lawless areas, is a huge challenge.

March 06 2021 - 15:51

Portugal to quarantine passengers on indirect flights from UK, Brazil

Passengers flying indirectly to Portugal from Britain or Brazil must present a negative Covid-19 test taken 72 hours before departure and quarantine for two weeks upon arrival from Sunday onwards, the interior ministry said on Saturday.

March 06 2021 - 15:40

Russian, Chinese hackers targeted Europe drug regulator 

A Russian intelligence agency and Chinese spies were behind cyberattacks on the European Medicines Agency (EMA) last year, Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant reported, citing sources close to the investigation into the breach.

The Amsterdam-based European drug regulator in December reported a cyberattack in which documents relating to Covid-19 vaccines and medicines were stolen and leaked on the internet.

The Russian foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Saturday, but Moscow has repeatedly denied western allegations of hacking.

China's foreign ministry was not immediately available for comment. Beijing has said previously it firmly opposes and cracks down on all forms of cyber attacks.

The EMA launched an investigation with Dutch and European law enforcement authorities, but has so far provided no details on who may have carried out the attacks.

Reuters

March 06 2021 - 12:56

Saudi Arabia to lift most coronavirus-related curbs on Sunday - SPA

Saudi Arabia will end most coronavirus-related restrictions on Sunday, including resuming indoor dining, reopening cinemas and resuming entertainment activities and events, the state news agency SPA said on Saturday.

Some activities will remain banned, including weddings and corporate meetings. Social gatherings will continue to be limited to a maximum of 20 people, SPA said, citing an interior ministry source.

Reuters

March 06 2021 - 12:30

How does resistance to disinfectants happen? We’re on the road to answering the question

SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes Covid-19 — is susceptible to most disinfectants, including those containing 70% alcohol.

As a result the manufacture and sale of “hand sanitisers” has become big business in the Covid-19 era. Hand sanitising is a key public health intervention and is encouraged in all public spaces.

There is, unfortunately, very little control of the quality and efficacy of many of these hand sanitisers. These products are ubiquitous. Many of these “hand sanitisers” are in unlabelled bottles with no traceability.

March 06 2021 - 10:26

Covid-19 affects men and women differently. It’s important to track the data

The African Population Health Research Centre, based in Kenya, has been mining data across 47 countries in Africa, tracking differences in Covid-19 infection, illness and deaths among men and women.

Sylvia Muyingo lays-out their key findings and explains why tracking these data is important.

March 06 2021 - 10:06

Russia reports 11,022 new Covid-19 cases, 441 deaths

Russia on Saturday reported 11,022 new Covid-19 cases, including 1,820 in Moscow, taking the national case tally to 4,312,181 since the pandemic began.

The government's coronavirus taskforce said that 441 people had died in the last 24 hours, bringing the Russian death toll to 88,726. 

Reuters

March 06 2021 - 08:00

US Senate adopts Covid-19 jobless benefit compromise, superseding Republican measure

The US Senate on Saturday approved a Democratic compromise measure setting federal unemployment benefits for workers hit by the coronavirus pandemic at $300 per week through September 6, under President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill.

The amendment supersedes a Republican measure adopted earlier in the day that would have cut off payments on July 18.

Reuters

Merck says study shows Covid-19 drug causes quick reduction in virus

US drugmaker Merck & Co Inc said on Saturday the experimental antiviral drug molnupiravir it is developing with Ridgeback Bio showed a quicker reduction in infectious virus in its phase 2a study among participants with early Covid-19.

"The secondary objective findings in this study, of a quicker decrease in infectious virus among individuals with early Covid-19 treated with molnupiravir, are promising," said William Fischer, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, in a statement from the companies.

The antiviral is being currently tested in a Phase 2/3 trial that is set to be completed in May.Merck decided to focus on therapeutics after its two Covid-19 vaccines failed to generate desired immune responses, prompting it to abandon the program in January.

Reuters