COVID-19 WRAP | SA records 12,500 new Covid-19 cases

July 05 2021 - 19:55

SA records 12,500 new Covid-19 cases and 330 deaths in 24 hours

SA recorded 331 Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours along with 12,513 new infections, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Monday.

While the number of new cases was the lowest in more than a week, this came at a positivity rate of 31.6% — meaning that nearly one in every three people to test returned positive results.

July 05 2021 - 19:04

England ends lockdown: No facemasks, no distancing

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out plans on Monday for the final step in easing England's Covid-19 lockdown, including the removal of laws governing social distancing and face coverings, and an end to official advice to work from home.

Johnson said he expected the lifting of restrictions to go ahead on July 19. He said a final decision would be announced on July 12. Some elements, including education and travel policy, will be announced later this week.

July 05 2021 - 18:00

Balloon entrepreneur Bill Harrop takes last flight after losing Covid-19 fight

Balloon pilot Bill Harrop has taken his last ride. The 81-year-old veteran balloonist, who pioneered hot-air balloon tourism in SA, died on Sunday, just eight days after his wife, Mary.

The couple had been battling Covid-19.

"Sam and I are absolutely devastated to share the tragic news that our dad, our hero gained his angel wings at 1.25pm (SA time) yesterday, July 4," Harrop's daughter, Sarah Bauling, wrote on Facebook.

July 05 2021 - 14:46

Reprieve for Durban man who broke curfew to help stranded friend

Charges against a Durban man arrested for breaking the curfew — when he went out to help a friend left stranded after being mugged — were dropped on Monday morning.

On Sunday, Stuart Johnson of a financial services company in Durban tweeted that an employee had been arrested in the city centre when he went out to help a friend, whose car had broken down.

The friend and his passenger had been mugged while trying to repair the vehicle.

July 05 2021 - 14:01

Is it safe & how many doses do I need? - 5 questions about the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine answered

The SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) has approved the use of the CoronaVac Covid-19 vaccine.

The decision came a week after the EFF marched to the regulator demanding CoronaVac and others be approved for use in SA’s vaccine rollout programme.

Here is what you need to know about the vaccine that will soon be used across SA.

July 05 2021 - 13:25

Van Damme urges acting health minister to ask Cele to 'enforce the law in Nkandla'

Former DA MP Phumzile Van Damme has called on acting health minister Mmamoloko Kubayi to ask police minister Bheki Cele to enforce the law at the home of former president Jacob Zuma in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, where supporters gathered to “prevent his arrest” at the weekend.

Reacting to the crowds at Zuma's residence, Kubayi said this could result in a spike in Covid-19 infections.

“I shudder to think of the after effect of the Nkandla gathering with the current variant. After the Pretoria march, court protest in Joburg and marches in Soweto we saw numbers surge to above 26,000 last night,” the minister tweeted on Sunday with the latest Covid-19 stats.

July 05 2021 - 12:57

Bheki Cele kicks off police Covid-19 vaccination drive in Soweto

The vaccination of more than 180,000 police officers started on Monday with police minister Bheki Cele and other top brass receiving their jabs in Soweto, Johannesburg.

“We are happy to be here today and have been looking forward towards this day,” Cele said.

“The sad part is that we reach this point when we have lost 672 of our members. We wish it could have been earlier so that we did not lose those members.

July 05 2021 - 12:37

Why some people without medical aid are being turned away at private vaccination sites

While the private sector has jumped on board to open more Covid-19 vaccines sites across the country, some people are still apparently being turned away at private sites for not having medical aid.

Several social media users have recounted in recent weeks how they saw people being turned away because they did not have medical insurance.

The department of health responded to the concerns, explaining that all citizens, regardless of whether they have insurance or not, will be allocated to the most appropriate vaccination site, whether the site is private or public.

July 05 2021 - 12:23

Thuli Madonsela: 'How come those organising rallies are not arrested or held accountable?'

Former public protector Prof Thuli Madonsela says she is “baffled” that some citizens face arrest for the violation of lockdown regulations, while those organising rallies seemingly escape accountability.

SA is under alert level 4, which bans gatherings of any size due to the surge of Covid-19 infections. Madonsela said the breaking of this regulation at rallies and marches is heightened by some not wearing masks.

Breaking restrictions on gatherings and failing to wear face masks in public could result in a fine of six months' imprisonment.

July 05 2021 - 07:57

Nokuthula Mavuso warns fans about Covid-19 after falling ill

As Covid-19 infection cases continue to rise across the country, actress Nokuthula Mavuso is spreading awareness and detailing her own journey with the virus.

Taking to Twitter recently, the actress revealed that she had contracted Covid-19 after experiencing flu-like symptoms.

In a series of tweets, Nokuthula shared progress reports with her followers from her sick bed.

July 05 2021 - 07:23

DA slams R2.2m PPE spent at KZN library that 'does not exist'

The KwaZulu-Natal arts and culture department is accused of spending R2.2m on personal protective equipment for the staff of a library that has not yet been built.

The allegation has been made by MPL Bradley Singh, the DA's spokesperson on arts and culture in the province, and a member of the portfolio committee.

Singh raised the matter in a parliamentary question on June 30, and has given KwaZulu-Natal arts and culture MEC Hlengiwe Mavimbela seven days to respond to allegations that the money was squandered on pandemic protection gear for a library that has not yet been built.

July 05 2021 - 07:20

Can my pet catch Covid-19, and does it need the vaccine?

Pet owners diagnosed with Covid-19 must avoid contact with their pets, as they would with other people, to limit the chances of transmitting the virus onto their animals.

This is according to Dr Leon de Bruyn, president of the SA Veterinary Association (SAVA).

As SA saw consecutive days of record-breaking numbers of new daily infections at the weekend and battles the new and highly transmissible Delta variant, animal owners have raised concerns around the safety of pets from Covid-19.

July 05 2021 - 07:15

Zuma ‘not vaccinated’ for Covid-19, says he cannot take responsibility for uncompliant supporters

Former president Jacob Zuma on Sunday dismissed questions about his supporters gathered outside his home in KwaZulu-Natal without observing Covid-19 regulations.

Zuma, who has not received a Covid-19 vaccination, addressed media personnel at his KwaDakwadunuse home in Nkandla on Sunday night and said he was not responsible for what his supporters do even if their actions are against lockdown regulations.

The former president said he believes people were angered by the recent Constitutional Court judgment ordering him to be jailed for 15 months, and there was nothing he could do about it “as a person who is very much aggrieved”.

July 05 2021 - 06:44

Gauteng launches mobile vaccine drive in country’s Covid-19 epicentre

As the third wave of infections hits Gauteng hard, the provincial government has announced a Covid-19 mobile vaccine drive will be launched this week.

The project aims to get as many people over the age of 50 vaccinated as soon as possible. The drive will kick off in Ekurhuleni, Tshwane and Johannesburg this week and will be  carried out with the aid of civil society partners.

Mobile units will be stationed at different sites to enable people who are eligible to be vaccinated near their homes and places of work. Those who have registered and walk-ins who qualify will be helped.

July 05 2021 - 06:00

Vaccination programme for SAPS members starts today