COVID-19 WRAP | Nearly 12,000 Covid-19 cases in Gauteng in 24 hours as third wave bites

June 25 2021 - 20:28

Netcare warns that some medical care 'may not be available to all patients at all times' as hospitals quickly fill up

Medical group Netcare said on Friday that it had increased hospital bed capacity, brought in more resident medical officers and tried to ensure it had enough supplies of oxygen and medication as Covid-19 cases continued to rise in Gauteng.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases said on Friday that there were 11,777 new Covid-19 cases in Gauteng alone in the previous 24 hours, with 18,762 infections recorded across the country.

“Our interventions are at all times aimed at doing the very best we can for all patients seeking care at any of our hospitals or clinics, while ensuring the safety of our front-line staff, doctors, nurses, paramedics and other healthcare workers.

June 25 2021 - 19:54

Nearly 12,000 Covid-19 cases in Gauteng in 24 hours as third wave bites

There were 11,777 new Covid-19 cases in Gauteng alone in the last 24 hours, as the third wave continues to severely impact SA's economic hub.

The province accounted for 63% of the country's 18,762 new infections, according to figures released by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) on Friday.

The next worst-hit province was the Western Cape, which had 1,758 new infections recorded in the past day.

June 25 2021 - 19:31

'Blatant disregard for the lives of our people': ANC slams own members and EFF for super-spreader events

The ANC has slammed its own members — as well as the EFF — for organising events that could potentially be Covid-19 super-spreaders this week.

The party said it was alarmed that at the height of the Covid-19 third wave in Gauteng, both the EFF and supporters of ANC's suspended secretary-general Ace Magashule had organised events that were attended by hundreds of people.

Magashule supporters gathered at the South Gauteng High Court on Thursday to support him as he took his party head on in an attempt to reverse his suspension.

June 25 2021 - 15:48

SAHPRA: 'We won't be pressured'

“In the eye of a storm, we don’t go sunbathing. We have to be our own president and lock down our social lives to level 5.”

This is the blunt message from Dr Daniel Israel, a general practitioner in Melrose, Johannesburg, as Covid-19 infections soar in Gauteng and the sick, unable to cope at home, wait for available beds in hospitals as the third wave unfolds in Gauteng.

Inviting family around for Sunday lunch in the belief they are as “safe as we are” might be a decision that ends in grief.

June 25 2021 - 11:30

SAHPRA: 'We won't be pressured'

The SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) says it will not be pressured into approving Covid-19 vaccines that do not meet the regulatory requirements and are inappropriate for use in SA.

CEO Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela was speaking on Thursday during a webinar about the evaluations of vaccines.

Her remarks come as the EFF gears up for a mass protest at the authority's Tshwane offices, where it will demand the approval of more vaccines to speed up the rollout process in phase 2 of inoculations.

June 25 2021 - 11:20

Clicks opens new vaccination sites

Pharmaceutical group Clicks has opened an additional 60 vaccination sites in an effort to speed the rollout across SA.

Covid-19 infections are on the rise in SA, with Gauteng reporting the most daily cases since entering the third wave.

The group is among several private sector businesses that partnered with the department of health for phase 2 of the vaccine rollout.

June 25 2021 - 09:30

Only half of over-60s have registered for Covid-19 vaccine

Only half of over-60s have registered for a Covid-19 vaccination, says the man in charge of the nationwide vaccine rollout.

Dr Nicholas Crisp said officials had been surprised to find that registrations on the electronic vaccination system were “by far” highest in rural areas.

“It is dramatically best in Limpopo, where 75% of the 60-plus population has registered,” Crisp told a media briefing led by acting health minister Mmalokolo Kubayi-Ngubane.

June 25 2021 - 07:46

Over-50s can register for Covid-19 vaccine from July 1

Registration for Covid-19 vaccinations will open to over-50s from July 1, and their jabs will begin from July 15.

Acting health minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane made the announcement at a briefing on Friday.

June 25 2021 - 07:46

The SA Revenue Service closes branches to pubic because of Covid-19 concerns

The SA Revenue Service (Sars) will close all its tax branches temporarily for physical visits from next week due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases across the country.

"With the rising case numbers and the onset of the third wave peak of the pandemic, we have decided to close our tax branches temporarily for physical visits as from Thursday, July 1. We are able to do so because the Sars digital platforms, as demonstrated during the peak of the second wave, allow taxpayers to continue to fulfil their obligations online,” the revenue service said in a statement.

June 25 2021 - 07:00

Covid-19 third wave hits Gauteng - Six key takeouts from premier David Makhura's address

As Covid-19 cases continue to soar in Gauteng, the provincial coronavirus command council addressed the media on Thursday about the province's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gauteng is the epicentre of Covid-19 in the country and has the most daily cases. On Thursday, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) revealed that the province had 9,521 daily cases, 59% of all new cases for that period.

Gauteng premier David Makhura warned that the third wave of infections is severe and urged residents not to be complacent.

June 25 2021 - 07:00

How do I check how many people have Covid-19 in my area?

More than 1,861,060 Covid-19 cases have been reported since the pandemic hit SA's shores 15 months ago.

The stats include people who have recovered or died from Covid-19 complications.

On Wednesday, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) reported that 17,493 new Covid-19 cases were identified in SA in the previous 24 hours.

June 25 2021 - 06:43

First Covid-19 case could have hit China in Oct 2019 - study

The virus that causes COVID-19 could have started spreading in China as early as October 2019, two months before the first case was identified in the central city of Wuhan, a new study showed on Friday.

Researchers from Britain's University of Kent used methods from conservation science to estimate that SARS-CoV-2 first appeared from early October to mid-November 2019, according to a paper published in the PLOS Pathogens journal.

The most likely date for the virus's emergence was Nov. 17, 2019, and it had probably already spread globally by January 2020, they estimated.

-REUTERS