COVID-19 WRAP | SA records almost 200 more deaths

August 9 2021 - 21:34

US CDC urges avoiding travel to Israel, France, Thailand over Covid-19

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned on Monday against travel to Israel, France, Thailand, Iceland and several other countries because of a rising number of Covid-19 cases in those nations.

The CDC has been adding to its highest "Level 4: Very High" Covid-19 level as cases spread around the globe. The US added Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, along with other places, including Aruba and French Polynesia. 

Reuters

August 9 2021 - 20:01

Nine Russian coronavirus patients die after oxygen supply malfunctions

Nine coronavirus patients died in a Russian hospital in the southern city of Vladikavkaz after an oxygen pipe burst underground, cutting supply to an intensive care ward, Russian news agencies reported on Monday.

"Nine patients with coronavirus died due to a lack of oxygen," the TASS news agency cited the local health ministry as saying.

"A total of 71 people were in intensive care, not all were (receiving) oxygen supply," TASS quoted the ministry as saying.

Regional authorities have agreed with the defence ministry to supply oxygen to all of the city's hospitals from the town of Mozdok, around 80km north of Vladikavkaz, RIA reported.

Reuters

August 9 2021 - 19:37

SA records 6,787 new cases and almost 200 more deaths

SA on Monday recorded 6,787 new Covid-19 cases and 199 deaths. 

This brings the cumulative cases in the country to 2,540,222 and the total number of deaths now stands at 75,012.

August 9 2021 - 18:42

France reports more than 100 new coronavirus patients in ICU wards

France saw the number of patients in intensive care wards with Covid-19 increase by 111 on Monday, the first time since early April that the tally was over 100, health ministry data showed.

The total number in emergency care beds rose to 1,667, following a steady increase from a 2021 low of 859 on July 21. At the end of April, at the peak of the third wave, more than 6,000 Covid-19 patients were in ICU.

The worsening data follows a sharp increase in the number of daily new infections, driven by the more contagious Delta variant of the virus. New infections are back to a seven-day average of more than 22,000 per day, after having fallen to less than 2,000 per day at the end of June.

France also reported 68 new coronavirus deaths in hospitals, taking the total to 112,270.

Reuters

August 9 2021 - 17:39

Britain's Covid-19 cases up by 5% over past week

Britain has reported 25,161 new cases of Covid-19, government data showed on Monday, meaning the rise in cases between August 3 and August 9 stood at 5.2% compared with the previous seven days.

A further 37 people were reported as having died within 28 days of a positive test for Covid-19, taking the seven-day increase to 14.8%.

A total of 47.06-million people had received a first dose of a vaccine against coronavirus by August 8 and 39.55-million people had received a second dose.

Reuters

August 9 2021 - 15:45

Indonesia eases some Covid-19 curbs in areas where cases decline

Indonesia will extend level 4 mobility restrictions in several areas of Java and Bali until August 16, but will ease them in other places on those islands where Covid-19 cases have dropped, senior minister Luhut Pandjaitan said.

Outside of Java and Bali, those restrictions - the strictest in the government's scale - will be extended until August 23, co-ordinating minister of economic affairs Airlangga Hartarto said.

In Jakarta, there are plans to open malls with 25% of capacity for vaccinated people. 

Reuters

August 9 2021 - 12:30

Presidency thanks 35+ ‘breadwinners’ for giving the vaccination drive momentum

National breadwinners and fashionistas played a significant role in giving the vaccination drive momentum, minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said last week.

This as SA vaccinated more than 8-million citizens from different age groups with the J&J and Pfizer vaccines. 

“We want to thank the national group, the breadwinners, the people of fascinators, dress codes and vaccine attires, for gaining us momentum. We are looking forward to reaching  10-million by early next week with your full participation,” said Ntshavheni, who was appointed as communications and digital technology minister by President Cyril Ramaphosa last Thursday night.

August 9 2021 - 09:20

WOMEN’S DAY | 'Now I know I'll never crack under pressure': MEC Phophi Ramathuba on managing Covid-19 response

Limpopo health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba says what best describes her life and success is “who raised her”: her parents.

“When you see us in the streets, we are a reflection of who we are and where we come from. I need to appreciate that I am who I am because of my father. He is late now but I owe him everything, because if it wasn’t for my father’s vision, there wouldn’t have been a strong family,” she told TimesLIVE.

“My father’s foundation was education, he was education himself. The village used to call him ‘Teacher’. That is why all of us are educated. I started school where my father used to be a principal. All his children went to the same school.”

August 9 2021 - 09:18

WOMEN'S DAY | Covid-19 survivor Faith Tshwane: When virus hit SA I was not afraid, I was ready to serve

Having worked in the healthcare profession for more than 30 years, Faith Tshwane relishes the opportunity to help people — even in a pandemic.

The 58-year-old from Orlando East, Soweto, says when Covid-19 infections first hit SA, she was ready to serve.

“I was prepared. I didn’t have fear of this Covid-19. People were so scared; with me it was like Covid-19 is just like any other sickness,” she said.

August 9 2021 - 06:30

SA has recorded 190 Covid-19 deaths bringing total to 74,813 

August 9 2021 - 12:32

Motshekga responds to criticism over reducing social distancing in schools

Basic education minister Angie Motshekga has responded to criticism regarding reducing social distancing in primary school from 1m to 0.5m.

Earlier this week, Motshekga announced that the sector was is in negotiations with relevant stakeholders to reduce the social distance between pupils from 1m to half a metre.

Motshekga said the proposed measure was to have as many pupils back at school as possible so they could catch up for the lost time.