COVID-19 WRAP | SA records 429 new Covid-19 cases

October 04 2021 - 20:30

SA records 429 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours as new infections fall

None of SA's provinces recorded more than 100 Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, according to data from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) on Monday.

According to the institute, there were just 429 infections countrywide recorded in the past day. The infections came at a 2.6% positivity rate.

There were also 39 Covid-19 related deaths in the past day.

October 04 2021 - 12:00

Cyril Ramaphosa assures that Covid-19 jab won’t affect you in the bedroom

The Covid-19 vaccine does not cause infertility in women and erectile dysfunction in men, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday. 

Ramaphosa was on the campaign trail for the ruling party in Nelson Mandela Bay, where he urged residents to play their part in the fight against Covid-19 by getting vaccinated.

“The vaccine does not affect your reproductive health and fertility. Don’t entertain those claims. They are simply not true. You will be able to bear children after getting vaccinated. 

October 04 2021 - 08:00

Vaccine mandates move forward, some dig in for fight

With the US Covid-19 death toll now surpassing 700,000, the highest of any country, the federal government is leaning on vaccine mandates by individual states and businesses to help stop the spread. However, some local leaders are resisting the efforts.

October 04 2021 - 07:30

Bafana Bafana fans are ‘not keen’ to get the Covid-19 jab, even if it means watching matches for free

Football fans are not impressed by the SA Football Association’s (Safa) decision to allow free entry to watch Bafana Bafana at FNB Stadium only to those who are vaccinated.

The association made the announcement via a statement on Saturday.

“Only fans who are vaccinated will get free entry into the forthcoming Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup match between SA and Ethiopia scheduled to take place at FNB Stadium on October 12,” said the association.

October 04 2021 - 07:00

Can I get the flu shot and Covid-19 jab at the same time?

It is important to get both the flu shot and the Covid-19 vaccine, but it is not advised to get them together. 

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), you should be getting both vaccines, especially if you are at risk of severe Covid-19 or flu infection.

“However, these vaccines should not be given at the same time. If a person has a choice, the Covid-19 vaccine should be taken first. The two vaccines should be given on opposite arms, and should be given between 14 and 28 days of each other (that is at least two weeks apart),” it said.

The institute said this is to assist with monitoring if there is any reaction to either vaccine.

October 04 2021 - 06:25

New Zealand drops its Covid-19 elimination plan as Delta persists

New Zealand on Monday abandoned its strategy of eliminating coronavirus, easing some Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in its biggest city Auckland, and will instead look to live with the virus while controlling its spread.

The Pacific nation was among just a handful of countries to bring Covid-19 cases down to zero last year and largely stayed virus-free until an outbreak of the highly infections Delta variant in mid-August frustrated efforts to stamp out transmission.

"With this outbreak and Delta the return to zero is incredibly difficult," Ardern told a news conference."

This is a change in approach we were always going to make over time. 

October 04 2021 - 06:15

Britain reports 30,439 Covid-19 cases, 43 deaths on Sunday

Britain reported 30,439 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, a rise on Saturday's 30,301, and 43 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, a drop on the previous day's 121, according to government data.

Reuters

October 04 2021 - 06:00

PODCAST | What has caused SA’s shift in vaccine thinking?

Before SA had a secure and healthy stash of Covid-19 vaccines, there was a mighty push by the South African and African community to make sure vaccines were being supplied equitably. 

However, now that we have a bountiful supply of vaccines and have hopes to vaccinate enough of the community to substantially curb transmission, a powerful “anti-vax” sentiment seems to have taken hold.

This sentiment became apparent after President Cyril Ramaphosa mentioned the potential development of a vaccine passport during a national address on September 19. 

At the same time, many industries and companies are considering, or implementing, a mandatory vaccine policy.