COVID-19 WRAP | Covid-19 death toll more than 60,000 as new cases hit 12,222 in just one day

June 28 2021 - 21:02

Covid-19 death toll more than 60,000 as new cases hit 12,222 in just one day

SA reached another grim Covid-19 milestone on Monday, as more than 60,000 people have now died since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in SA in March last year.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Monday that there were 138 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours, taking the total fatalities to date to 60,038.

In the same period, there were 12,222 new Covid-19 cases identified — with Gauteng, again, accounting for the majority (8,408) of them. The new infections came at a positivity rate of 28.3%.

June 28 2021 - 19:43

Liquor industry 'on its knees' as alcohol sales banned again

The National Liquor Traders (NLT) lobby group says the industry is on its knees.

The industry body said it was deeply concerned by government’s latest decision to enforce an alcohol ban on the country as part of the level 4 lockdown regulations.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, for the fourth time since lockdown was first declared, banned the sale of alcohol both for on-site and off-site consumption.

June 28 2021 - 17:25

IEC wants Wednesday's by-elections postponed after gatherings ban

The Electoral Commission will urgently approach the electoral court to postpone eight by-elections scheduled for Wednesday in the wake of level 4 lockdown restrictions.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday night moved the country to lockdown alert level 4, as Covid-19 cases were spiralling and the third wave of infections wrecked havoc, particularly in Gauteng. The restrictions prohibit all gatherings (except funerals), including political gatherings — and threw the hosting of Wednesday's by-elections into turmoil.

The Electoral Commission said it took the decision to seek the court’s approval to postpone the by-elections at an emergency meeting on Monday called after Ramaphosa's announcement.

June 28 2021 - 16:47

IEC not hell-bent on holding October elections at all costs: Sy Mamabolo

The Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) says it is “not hell-bent” on holding local government elections “at all costs” in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, but has to make technical preparations in the event elections do go ahead as planned in October.

“We want to reiterate that we are technically preparing for an election because of the constitutional requirement for regular elections. That does not amount to the IEC saying an election cannot be postponed in any circumstances,” said IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo.

He said the IEC instituted an inquiry led by retired deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke because it wants all factors that affect the conduct of free and fair elections to be systematically analysed.

June 28 2021 - 16:44

Police probe into whether EFF 'march to save lives' broke rules is ongoing

Organisers of the EFF “march to save lives” have yet to be held to account, should any lockdown regulations have been violated when hundreds of supporters gathered in Pretoria.

Police spokesperson Col Brenda Muridili said on Monday an investigation in terms of the Disaster Management Act regulations was under way and, once complete, the docket would be submitted to the director of public prosecutions for a decision on whether to prosecute.

Hundreds of EFF supporters gathered for a picket outside the offices of the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) on Friday to demand approval of the Russian and Chinese Covid-19 vaccines.

June 28 2021 - 16:40

EXPLAINED | 11 reasons why you can leave or enter Gauteng under lockdown level 4

The department of co-operative governance has provided clarity on the restrictions to travel in and out of Gauteng, after president Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of an adjusted level 4 lockdown on Sunday.

Ramaphosa said Gauteng now accounts for more than 60% of new Covid-19 cases in the country, and would be subject to several restrictions to try to curb the spread of the virus in the province.

“Because of the burden of infections in Gauteng, travel in and out of the province for leisure purposes will be prohibited. This does not include work, business or commercial travel, transit through airports or for the transport of goods.

“If you are not in your place of residence, you will be allowed to return home to or from Gauteng,” he said

June 28 2021 - 16:36

Ban on leisure travel from Gauteng will be 'devastating' for KZN tourism: Fedhasa

The Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (Fedhasa) in KwaZulu-Natal says the banning of leisure travel from Gauteng under harder lockdown restrictions will be devastating for the hospitality industry.

Fedhasa east coast chair Brett Tungay told TimesLIVE on Monday that scores of hospitality establishments in the province relied on guests from Gauteng visiting over the school winter holidays.

“It's actually quite devastating with Gauteng being closed. Large sections of KwaZulu-Natal, like us in the northern and central Drakensberg, 60% of our clientele is Johannesburg-based. It's going to have a hugeeffect there.”

June 28 2021 - 16:33

Many aren't pitching for jab as the virus got them at the eleventh hour

Herd immunity is under threat as the country’s vaccine rollout seeks a firmer footing amid about 160,000 active cases in the third wave.

Experts say multiple factors are standing in the way of getting shots into arms, and included in those are infections among those who were meant to arrive for a jab, as well as those who simply don't want to get one.

According to Jackie Maiman, head of the Independent Community Pharmacy Association, Gauteng in particular had seen a “significant drop in numbers of vaccines”.

June 28 2021 - 13:41

Gauteng travel, booze bans see Sun International shut doors for 14 days

All of Sun International’s hotels, restaurants and casino properties will be temporarily closed from Monday, after the new Covid-19 regulations announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

June 28 2021 - 13:13

Winter school for grades 11 and 12 plus supplementary exams to continue, says Motshekga

While contact classes for school pupils will be suspended from Wednesday, winter classes for grade 11 and 12 pupils are to go ahead. 

This was the word from basic education minister Angie Motshekga on Monday as she visited Seemahale Secondary School in Botshabelo, in the Free State, where she was conducting an oversight visit amid the vaccination of teachers.

“The usual winter vacation learner support programme for grades 11 and 12, organised by provinces, districts and schools, should continue under very strict conditions, in compliance with the Covid-19 health and safety protocols,” Motshekga said.

Some of these winter classes are usually held as residential camps. Motshekga said the camps could turn into a super-spreader event and therefore called for these to continue as day classes.

June 28 2021 - 12:50

More than 1,700 arrested in KZN for flouting lockdown regulations

Police in KwaZulu-Natal have arrested more than 1,700 people for flouting level 3 lockdown regulations. 

Police spokesperson Brig Jay Naicker said law enforcement officials were concerned that citizens were being arrested daily for not conforming to lockdown regulations, despite pleas from the government and the health sector for compliance.

Provincial commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said: “Since the announcement of the level 3 lockdown regulations, we have stepped up our daily operations focused on ensuring that all the citizens in the province comply with the regulations to stem the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

June 28 2021 - 12:20

From booze ban to a higher lockdown level: 5 things you correctly predicted from the family meeting

The address by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday saw the fulfilling of several predictions about the tightened restrictions SA would be placed under during a surge in Covid-19 infections. 

Amanda Khoza and Andisiwe Makinana accurately predicted the changes in regulations in an article on TimesLIVE before the address.

In the days and hours leading up to the announcement, several experts, businesses and social media users shared what they thought would be high on the agenda.​

Ramaphosa said the measures agreed by the national coronavirus command council (NCCC) are aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 in SA. He said the Delta variant first detected in India has spread to more than 85 countries and was dominant in SA.

June 28 2021 - 12:18

Vodacom Durban July to go ahead despite SA moving to harder lockdown

Despite SA moving to adjusted alert level 4 of the lockdown, the Vodacom Durban July (VDJ) race day will go ahead on Saturday.

Gold Circle said in a media statement on Monday that “attendance at all race meetings in KwaZulu-Natal, from today until further notice, will be limited to essential services personnel: trainers, jockeys, grooms, National Horseracing Authority staff and Gold Circle employees required to ensure each race meeting can proceed.

“No owners, Gold Circle members or box/suite holders will be permitted access to either Hollywoodbets Greyville or Hollywoodbets Scottsville until further notice.”

June 28 2021 - 12:02

Covid-19 regulations: Government schools will reopen on July 19

Basic education minister Angie Motshekga said on Monday teaching at government schools will stop on Wednesday and start again on July 19.

June 28 2021 - 10:00

China administered total of 1.186 bn doses of Covid-19 vaccines as of June 27

China administered about 20.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines on June 27, bringing the total number of doses administered to 1.186 billion, data from the National Health Commission showed on Monday.

Reuters

June 28 2021 - 09:45

Covid-19 regulations: Crèches remain open under new lockdown rules

Crèches and daycare centres will remain open under adjusted alert level 4 of the lockdown.

Under the new Covid-19 regulations, as per the government gazette on Monday, “early childhood development centres will remain open”.

All public and private schools will close early for the winter break from Wednesday.

After president Cyril Ramaphosa's address to the nation on Sunday night, The SA Childcare Association told its members that the regulations on school closures only applied to institutions governed by the education department.

“Only the minister of social development can close early childhood development centres under the Children's Act,” it said.

Under adjusted alert level 4, gyms and fitness centres, flea markets, nightclubs, casinos, taverns and shebeens, restaurants, except for takeaways, conferencing, entertainment facilities, theatres, cinemas, museums, libraries and galleries are to be closed to the public.

June 28 2021 - 09:06

How much does the Covid-19 vaccine cost?

With the second phase of the Covid-19 vaccination programme under way, no person, insured or uninsured, is expected to pay to receive a jab.  

The second phase of the vaccine rollout is expected to run until October 17 and prioritises citizens who are 60 and older. 

0.8% of the population in SA has been fully vaccinated and 2.9% of the population has received one dose of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine.

June 28 2021 - 08:59

537 elderly prisoners have received Covid-19 jabs

While the health ministry pushes for vaccination of the elderly, those behind bars have not been left behind.

On Monday the department of correctional services (DCS) reported that its vaccination processes for prisoners who are 60 and above was going according to plan with more than 500 prisoners vaccinated to date.

The prisoners were receiving their jabs alongside prison healthcare workers and guards.

“As of June 24, 797 healthcare professionals, or 77.9% of correctional services healthcare workers, had received their vaccines. Ninety officials and 537 inmates aged over 60 also received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Other inmates and officials will receive vaccines during the next phases,” said department spokesperson Sechaba Mphahlele.

June 28 2021 - 08:22

Settlements locked down as Fiji endures deadly coronavirus wave

At the Qauia settlement, a community of more than 2,000 near Fiji's capital of Suva, police stand guard to ensure no one other than health workers comes in - or out - of an area that has become a hotspot of Covid-19 infections.

After keeping the coronavirus at bay last year, Fiji, with a population of about 900,000, is now recording as many as 300 new cases a day as part of a wave of infections linked to the highly transmissible Delta strain, a variant first detected in India.

The spread has been rampant in the Pacific island's close-knit settlements, with Qauia representing the fastest-growing cluster, according to health authorities.

"The names of those who are sick are not mentioned. Those within the zone who are sick, their names are not publicised so we do not know who is sick nor do we know if any of our relatives are sick," said Sefaira Vere Waqaituinayau, who has family members in Qauia.

"So what we do is we organise food and other items to be taken into the zone, through the police or soldiers, to deliver to our relatives."

Although the total number of infections in Qauia is not public, the settlement recorded 153 cases in a single day last week, according to official data.

Reuters

June 28 2021 - 08:15

Japan Olympic Committee chief says strict border controls needed to prevent Covid-19 spread

There is no way there will be zero coronavirus cases among athletes arriving for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, so border controls need to be strict to stop the spread, said Japanese Olympic Committee President Yasuhiro Yamashita at a news conference on Monday.

He also added that imposing restrictions such as requiring delegations from countries like India to quarantine was necessary to gain the understanding of the Japanese public.

With less than a month until the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games start, more athletic delegations have been arriving in Japan. Two members of the Ugandan delegation tested positive for coronavirus. 

Reuters

June 28 2021 - 08:00

More infectious Covid-19 variants account for most UAE cases, authority says

New coronavirus infections in the United Arab Emirates are mostly from more infectious variants leading to an increase in the number of virus-linked deaths, a federal authority has said.

The Gulf Arab state, with a population of about 9 million, has had one of the world's fastest vaccination campaigns.

However, cases have risen over the past month to more than 2,000 new infections a day, though that is still below a peak in February.

On Saturday, the UAE recorded 10 deaths, its highest single daily toll since March, according to the Reuters Covid-19 tracker.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said the increase in deaths was due to the spread of the Beta, Delta and Alpha variants.

The Beta variant, first detected in South Africa, is the most dominant variant in the UAE, accounting for 39.2% of cases, it said.

Delta, first detected in India, accounts for 33.9% of infections. Alpha, first detected in Britain, accounts for 11.3%, it said on Twitter late on Sunday.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) this month warned that Delta was becoming the globally dominant variant of the disease with its increased transmissibility.

Reuters

June 28 2021 - 07:28

Calls for faster vaccine rollout and help for businesses hit by lockdown

Political parties have accused government of forcing South Africans to pay the price for vaccine rollout failures by adopting the adjusted level 4 lockdown, while concern is mounting for those at risk of losing their incomes. 

Trade union federation Cosatu said relief needed to be provided for those sectors of the economy prohibited from trading or required to downscale, including the liquor, tourism, hospitality, sports and events sectors.

Two liquor industry bodies have asked the president to reconsider the 14-day ban on alcohol sales, with one saying it is considering taking legal action.

June 28 2021 - 07:00

‘Job hunting is going to be difficult’: SA weighs in on Ramaphosa moving the country to level 4

Scores have reacted to the move to level 4 lockdown following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address on Sunday night.  

The president moved the country from level 3 to level 4 for 14 days, citing the increase in Covid-19 cases.

The move comes after a meeting of the national coronavirus command council, the president’s co-ordinating council and cabinet after the shocking news that the Delta variant is dominant in SA.

June 28 2021 - 06:30

Australia's Covid-19 response team holds urgent meeting amid outbreak

Australia's Covid-19 response committee is due to hold an emergency meeting on Monday as outbreaks of the highly contagious Delta variant across the country prompted a lockdown in Sydney and renewed restrictions elsewhere.

Around 18 million Australians, or around 70% of the population, are now under some form of lockdown or Covid-related restrictions as officials grapple with Covid-19 flare-ups in almost every state or territory.

"I think we are entering a new phase of this pandemic, with the more contagious Delta strain," federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp on Monday, adding Australia was facing a "critical time" in its fight against Covid-19.

The national security committee, chaired by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, will be briefed by the country's chief medical officer later on Monday, Frydenberg said.

Sydney, Australia's most populous city and home to a fifth of Australia's 25 million people, was plunged into a two-week lockdown over the weekend.

Reuters

June 28 2021 - 06:20

India reports 46,148 new Covid-19 cases, 979 deaths

India reported on Monday 46,148 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours, data from the health ministry showed.

The South Asian country's total Covid-19 case load now stands at 30.27 million, while total fatalities are at 396,730, the data showed. India's coronavirus-related deaths rose by 979 overnight. 

Reuters

June 28 2021 - 06:10

If you smell someone’s BO in an enclosed space, you’re in dire Covid danger

Put on an extra jersey, open your window and always wear a mask.

That’s the message from the GreenFlag Association, which is researching air quality in minibus taxis, to South African taxi drivers.

As the rate of Covid-19 infections continues to increase, particularly in Gauteng, the public benefit organisation focused on promoting awareness of good ventilation in closed spaces, this week reiterating that poorly ventilated public transport has the potential to be a super-spreader.

GreenFlag has found that public transport is the perfect environment for spreading Covid-19, especially in winter temperatures when commuters prefer to keep vehicle windows closed.

The organisation is working with students at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) to research air quality in minibus taxis.

June 28 2021 - 06:00

WATCH | Cyril Ramaphosa announces SA will move back to level 4

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced new regulations on Sunday evening as Covid-19 cases continued to surge in SA.

The president was addressing the nation on developments in the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. He has placed the country on adjusted level 4. 

The address follows meetings of the national coronavirus command council, the president’s co-ordinating council and cabinet. 

The government was forced to meet on Saturday and Sunday following the shocking news of the Delta variant which is now dominant in SA.