COVID-19 WRAP | No new Covid-19 cases in Mpumalanga and North West in past 24 hours

March 11 2021 - 21:29

SA recorded 1,474 new Covid-19 cases in past 24 hours

SA recorded 1,474 new Covid-19 cases and 95 deaths in the past 24 hours, health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said.

This meant that 1,525,648 total infections and 51,110 have been recorded across the country to date.

The new infections came from 33,493 tests, at a positivity rate at 4.4%.

March 11 2021 - 19:10

Africans slam rich nations for blocking access to generic Covid-19 vaccines

Charities in Africa slammed rich nations on Thursday for blocking efforts to waive patents for Covid-19 vaccines, saying this would prolong the pandemic for years in poorer nations and push millions across the continent deeper into poverty.

More than 40 charities, including Amnesty International and Christian Aid, said Wednesday's move by Western nations to prevent generic or other manufacturers making more vaccines in poorer nations was "an affront on people's right to healthcare."

Peter Kamalingin, Oxfam International's Africa director, said sub-Saharan Africa - 14% of the global population - had received only 0.2% of 300 million vaccine doses administered worldwide.

March 11 2021 - 14:02

R5.9bn set aside for fight against Covid in Gauteng, says finance MEC

Gauteng finance MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has announced a R5.9bn allocation towards the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in the province.

Nkomo-Ralehoko made the announcement while tabling the province's R142.6bn budget at the Gauteng provincial legislature on Thursday.

“A total of R5.9bn in new money has been allocated over the 2021 MTEF [medium-term expenditure framework], the bulk of which will be focusing on defeating the Covid-19 pandemic, and for which the Gauteng department of health will be receiving R2.8bn, largely one-off allocations.

March 11 2021 - 12:20

Swallows FC chairman Mogashoa calls on government to allow fans back into the stadiums

Swallows FC chairman David Mogashoa has become the first high-profile administrator to openly call on government to allow a controlled percentage of fans back into the stadiums.

Mogashoa told TimesLIVE that Dstv premiership and GladAfrica Championship clubs want to work with government and develop a solid plan that will pave the way for a return to venues.

“This thing is possible‚ we should not be letting other countries to lead us with technology and other things‚” said a forthright Mogashoa.

March 11 2021 - 08:42

Australia unveils $928m Covid-19 stimulus package for tourism industry

The Australian government unveiled a A$1.2 billion ($928 million) tourism support package on Thursday, aimed at boosting local travel while international routes remain closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The basket of airline ticket subsidies for travellers, cheap loans to small tour companies and financial aid for the country's two largest airlines is designed to keep the critical sector ticking over until foreign tourists return.

“This package will take more tourists to our hotels and cafes, taking tours and exploring our backyard,” Morrison told reporters in Sydney.

March 11 2021 - 07:59

Plan to seek emergency use nod for Covid-19 antibody therapy

Vir Biotechnology and Britain's GSK said on Wednesday they planned to seek emergency use authorisation (EUA) for their experimental Covid-19 antibody therapy after interim data from a study showed 85% reduction in hospitalisation and deaths among patients.

An independent panel recommended stopping further enrolment for the late-stage trial due to evidence of “profound efficacy” of the therapy, Vir and GSK said in a joint statement.

Antibody treatments are designed to decrease the severity of Covid-19 among patients diagnosed with the infection.

March 11 2021 - 07:40

Third wave is on its way, so let’s learn from the past to ride it out: MSF

A third wave is coming and SA needs to be prepared, because a widespread vaccine rollout will not be complete by the time a new surge in infections hits around April or May.

This is the word from Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders, MSF), which has been providing support to hospitals in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.

It warned on Wednesday that to avert more deaths and to ensure adequate care to thousands of Covid-19 patients, hospitals that were overwhelmed during the second wave must be better prepared.

March 11 2021 - 07:37

Uber driver coughed on by passenger after refusing ride for not wearing mask

E-hailing service Uber has condemned the behaviour of passengers who refuse to wear face masks. A video showing three women assaulting a driver in San Francisco, US, who refused to give them a ride for not wearing masks has gone viral.

In the video that was shared on Twitter, the passengers can be heard screaming profanities and racial slurs at the driver shortly after he picked them up.

“F**k the mask,” said one woman, before ripping off her mask and coughing on the driver several times.

March 11 2021 - 07:15

Former US presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton, Carter and First Ladies promote vaccine in new ads

Former US Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter will star in two new public service announcements (PSA) for the coronavirus vaccine alongside former First Ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton and Rosalynn Carter, the Ad Council announced on Thursday.

"The science is clear. These vaccines will protect you and those you love from this dangerous and deadly disease," said President Bush in one of the PSAs with Obama and Clinton, urging Americans to get vaccinated.

"That's the first step to ending the pandemic and moving our country forward," said Obama.

Reuters