COVID-19 WRAP | 7,216 new Covid-19 cases in SA, 25 more deaths

December 28 2021 - 20:38

More than 7,200 new Covid-19 cases, 25 deaths recorded in SA

There were 7,216 Covid-19 cases recorded across SA in the past 24 hours, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases said on Tuesday.

There were also 25 new Covid-19 related deaths, according to the latest data.

December 28 2021 - 17:13

Muted start to the new year expected

Prayer gatherings, festivals, parties and events to usher in the new year appear to be muted this year.

Churches are also abiding by Covid-19 health and safety protocols.

December 28 2021 - 15:35

Malaysia lifts African travel ban, cuts booster wait amid Omicron fears

Malaysia has lifted a travel ban on eight southern African countries that had been among the first to report the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, citing the greater spread of the variant worldwide, its health minister said on Tuesday.

Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin also announced authorities would cut the waiting time for booster vaccine doses amid concerns about the spread of Omicron.

Authorities have detected 306 suspected Omicron cases out of 366 samples from travellers who tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival between December 21 and 25, he said. — Reuters

December 28 2021 - 14:48

I’m on medication for a chronic health condition — should I change anything with the Covid-19 pandemic?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises that people with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, TB and HIV continue to take their medication as prescribed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It said health and safety protocols, such as wearing a mask, sanitising and social distancing should be adhered to.

“For people with chronic conditions such as such as asthma, diabetes, TB and HIV the most important thing is to continue your medication as prescribed, attend recommended check-ups and seek medical help if you have new symptoms,” it added.

December 28 2021 - 11:23

SA study suggests Omicron enhances neutralising immunity against Delta

Research by SA scientists suggests Omicron infection enhances neutralising immunity against the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, found that people who were infected with Omicron, especially those who were vaccinated, developed enhanced immunity to the Delta variant.

December 28 2021 - 10:23

LISTEN | Two years of Covid-19: Some takeaways

On December 31, 2019, little did we know a novel virus that would greatly disrupt our lives had emerged in the city of Wuhan in China.

Questions about how the virus emerged linger two years after the first cases of Covid-19 were reported.

December 28 2021 - 09:30

Steenhuisen joins calls for no curfew on New Year’s Eve

As Mzansi gears up to celebrate the crossover to a new year this weekend, the DA has joined calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to scrap the Covid-19 curfew.

SA is on lockdown alert level 1, which means the curfew is from midnight to 4am. No more than 750 people may gather indoors and no more than 2,000 people may gather outdoors.

There were calls on social media last week for Ramaphosa to ease the restrictions, to allow churchgoers to attend special overnight prayer services.

December 28 2021 - 06:59

Nearly 9,000 people in hospital with Covid-19

There have been 150 Covid-19 hospital admissions in the latest 24-hour period reported on Monday, bringing the number of people currently admitted to 8,990.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases said there were 3,782 new infections, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to date to 3,417,318. This increase represents a 22% positivity rate.

December 28 2021 - 06:30

Apple closes New York City stores to shoppers as Covid-19 cases rise

Apple Inc said on Monday it has closed all of its 12 New York City stores to indoor shopping as cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant surged across the US. Customers will be able to pick up online orders at the stores, an Apple spokesperson said. The affected stores include outlets at Fifth Avenue, Grand Central and SoHo.

"We regularly monitor conditions and we will adjust both our health measures and store services to support the wellbeing of customers and employees," the company said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Apple said it had temporarily closed three stores in the US and Canada after a rise in Covid-19 cases and exposures among the stores' employees. For the same reason, Apple also mandated that all its customers and employees wear masks at its US stores.

Globally, concerns over the Omicron variant have prompted major companies to tighten protocols. A US court earlier this month ordered the reinstatement of a nationwide vaccine-or-testing Covid-19 mandate for large businesses, which covers 80-million American workers. Opponents of the move have rushed to the Supreme Court to overturn the reinstatement.

Apple shares closed up 2.3% at $180.33. - Reuters

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