COVID-19 WRAP | 201 deaths and 1,360 cases recorded in SA in 24 hours

September 28 2021 - 19:35

Covid-19: 201 deaths and 1,360 cases recorded in SA in 24 hours

There were 201 new Covid-19 related deaths recorded across SA in the past 24 hours, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases said on Tuesday.

There were 1,367 new infections recorded in the past day. Of the new cases, the most were in KwaZulu-Natal (372), followed by the Western Cape (241) and Gauteng (190).

This means there have been 87,417 fatalities and 2,898,888 cases to date.

September 28 2021 - 13:57

Colosseum kits and plastic flowers help Lego's earnings double

Lego said it had outpaced the toy industry in all major markets during the first six months of 2021 as production was uninterrupted by Covid-19 restrictions and most of its physical stores reopened.

September 28 2021 - 12:30

Here’s why Ramaphosa hasn’t called a new lockdown level family meeting yet

Ramaphosa addressed the nation on September 12, announcing a decision to ease restrictions from alert level 3 to alert level 2. The president said the new restrictions would be reviewed after two weeks “depending on the state of the pandemic”.

Co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma gazetted the eased restrictions, which took effect on September 13. The cabinet was, according to Ramaphosa’s announcement, expected to review the restrictions by September 26.

​However, a directive signed by Dlamini-Zuma on Sunday extended that “deadline” by a week, meaning any changes in restrictions will be reviewed and amended where necessary on October 3. 

The gazette says the decision was taken after consultation with the relevant cabinet members. 

September 28 2021 - 11:13

Pfizer begins study of oral drug for prevention of Covid-19

Pfizer Inc said on Monday it has started a large study testing its investigational oral antiviral drug for the prevention of Covid-19 infection among those who have been exposed to the virus. 

The drugmaker and its rivals, including US-based Merck & Co Inc and Swiss pharmaceutical Roche Holding AG , have been racing to develop an easy-to-administer antiviral pill for Covid-19.

The mid-to-late-stage study will test Pfizer's drug, PF-07321332, in up to 2,660 healthy adult participants aged 18 and older who live in the same household as an individual with a confirmed symptomatic Covid-19 infection.

September 28 2021 - 09:10

Sanofi reports positive results for potential mRNA Covid-19 shot

Sanofi on Tuesday announced positive interim results from its early-stage study for the mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine candidate it is developing with Translate Bio, a boost for the French drug company after delays with its other shot.

Sanofi said initial data Phase I/II from these results showed neutralising antibody seroconversion in 91%-100% of study participants, two weeks after a second injection, across all three dosages tested.

"These results will clearly help inform the path forward for our mRNA development programs," said Jean-Francois Toussaint, global head of research and development at Sanofi Pasteur.

No safety concerns were observed and the tolerability profile is comparable to that of other unmodified mRNA Covid-19 vaccines, the company said. Further data will be presented at a later date.

It did not say if these results will pave the way for the launch of late-stage human trials to test the shot's efficacy, which, if positive, would be the final step before applying for regulatory approval.

Sanofi is under pressure to revive its drug pipeline and eager to overcome setbacks in the Covid-19 vaccine race. It said these results showed the potential behind the Translate Bio company it recently acquired.

The company is also testing a potential Covid-19 vaccine developed with Britain's GlaxoSmithKline, but the progress of that shot was delayed after disappointing early results late last year.

Reuters

September 28 2021 - 09:00

Dear Mr President ... please end lockdown restrictions: SA hotelier

“It's time to encourage all businesses to open up fully and get back to work, just as we were before March 2020.” 

That's the word from The Capital Hotels and Apartments MD Marc Wachsberger in an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, in which he called for the permanent removal of lockdown restrictions.

The hotel group owns and operates several luxury establishments throughout SA.

September 28 2021 - 09:00

Jordan's crown prince contracts coronavirus

Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein has contracted coronavirus and his parents King Abdullah and Queen Rania, who tested negative, will protectively self-isolate for five days, the palace said on Monday.

"His Highness Prince Hussein, who had received the vaccine against the coronavirus, showed mild symptoms and is in very good health," the Royal Court said in a statement.

The 27-year-old prince has in the last year increased his public appearances and is seen regularly at most of the important meetings King Abdullah that attends with local and foreign dignitaries.

King Abdullah and Queen Rania will be subject to a precautionary home quarantine for a period of five days. The results of their Covid-19 tests came back negative.

Reuters

September 28 2021 - 08:00

UK records 37,960 new Covid-19 cases, 40 more deaths

Britain reported 37,960 new Covid-19 cases on Monday and 40 more deaths within 28 days of a positive test, official data showed.

The figures compared to 32,417 cases recorded on Sunday and 58 deaths.

Reuters

September 28 2021 - 07:30

Pfizer begins study of oral drug for prevention of Covid-19

Pfizer said on Monday it has started a large study testing its investigational oral antiviral drug for the prevention of Covid-19 infection among those who have been exposed to the virus.

September 28 2021 - 07:00

Should I sanitise my groceries to prevent catching Covid-19?

While world health authorities and experts advise you to frequently sanitise your hands to prevent the spread of Covid-19, there is no need to give your groceries the same treatment. 

Prof Wolfgang Preiser, head of medical virology at Stellenbosch University’s department of pathology, told the Sunday Times that assuming the groceries are clean there is no need to disinfect them.

“Packaging is extremely unlikely to be contaminated with a viable (still infectious) virus unless visibly soiled. In any case, packaging is removed before the preparation and consumption of food. Throw it away or recycle it and wash your hands with soap and water — done.”

September 28 2021 - 06:30

US President Joe Biden receives Covid-19 booster shot

US President Joe Biden rolled up his shirt sleeve for a Covid-19 vaccine booster shot, hoping to provide a powerful example for Americans on the need to get the extra shot even as millions go without their first.

September 28 2021 - 06:15

Vaxxing question: Why did Covax give far more doses to UK than most poor nations?

In March, as wealthy Britain led the world in vaccination rates and almost half its people had received a shot, the organisation meant to ensure fair global access to Covid-19 vaccines allotted the country more than half a million doses from its supplies.

By contrast, Botswana, which hadn’t even started its vaccination drive, was assigned 20,000 doses from the same batch of millions of Pfizer mRNA vaccines, according to publicly available documents detailing Covax’s allocations.

Other poorer nations, with fledgling vaccination drives at best, also received fewer shots than Britain. Rwanda and Togo were each allotted about 100,000 doses and Libya nearly 55,000.

The distribution was driven by the methodology used by Covax, a programme co-led by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi). Since January, it has largely allocated doses proportionally among its members according to population size, but regardless of their vaccination coverage.

This made some rich nations, which already had many vaccines through separate deals with pharmaceutical firms, eligible for Covax doses, alongside countries with no vaccines at all.

September 28 2021 - 06:00

EDITORIAL | Covid and lives be damned, all politicians want is votes

We should have known it would come to this. Given a choice to play by the book or throw caution to the wind, risk lives and possibly send the country back into a stricter lockdown, politicians will always serve themselves first.

As parties contest for a share of voice in the public sphere, victory in the upcoming local government elections is elevated over doing the right thing.

And so it was that when the EFF staged its manifesto launch at Gandhi Square in Johannesburg, its members ignored sensible Covid-19 protocols. When ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa took his party’s campaign to Ekurhuleni at the weekend, his focus was more on the ANC’s connection with the people than their health, something he has impressed upon us with monotonous regularity at his so-called family meetings.