COVID-19 WRAP | SA records nearly 4,000 new cases, 139 more deaths

January 20 2022 - 21:15

End in sight for rotational school classes, education DG says

The full return to schooling for all pupils every day could be on the cards.

Basic education department director-general Mathanzima Mweli said on Thursday that the directors-general of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) met earlier in the day and supported a presentation by the basic education department to this effect.

“Our recommendation is that we want to see schooling fully back on track 100% and we hope that the recommendation will be endorsed by the NCCC [national coronavirus command council],” he said.

January 20 2022 - 19:37

SA records nearly 4,000 new Covid-19 cases, 139 deaths in 24 hours

SA recorded just less than 4,000 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, statistics from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) revealed on Thursday.

According to the institute, there were 3,962 new infections in the past day, with the most recorded in Gauteng (928), followed by the Western Cape (813) and KwaZulu-Natal (681).

No other province recorded more than 500 infections in the past 24 hours.

January 20 2022 - 19:19

Hong Kong to shut secondary schools from Monday over Covid fears

Hong Kong will suspend face-to-face teaching in secondary schools from Monday until after the approaching Lunar New Year, authorities said, because of a rising number of coronavirus infections in several schools in the Chinese-ruled territory.

The government halted classes in primary schools and kindergartens early this month, and imposed curbs, such as a ban on restaurant dining after 6pm. and the closure of venues such as gyms, cinemas and beauty salons.

Schools will stay shut until February 7, after the Lunar New Year Holidays, the government said on Thursday. While sixth formers preparing for exams may have some face-to-face classes, all other levels must cancel or postpone exams and activities.

January 20 2022 - 19:14

Australia court rules minister acted rationally in cancelling Djokovic's visa

An Australian court said on Thursday it dismissed tennis superstar Novak Djokovic's challenge to his visa cancellation as the minister who revoked it reasonably believed Djokovic, who is not vaccinated against Covid-19, may be a risk to the community.

Djokovic was deported from Australia on Sunday night, just hours after the court dismissed his effort to stay in the country to play at the Australian Open, where he hoped to win a record 21st major title.

That followed an 11-day rollercoaster involving two visa cancellations, two court challenges and five nights in two stints at an immigration detention hotel where asylum seekers are held.

January 20 2022 - 18:43

Toyota curbs production in Japan as Covid-19 spreads among workers

Toyota Motor Corp is slowing production at as many as 11 plants in Japan because of rising Covid-19 infections among its workers and those at parts suppliers, it said on Thursday.

That disruption, which comes amid a shortage of semiconductors that is already forcing it to curb output, could cut production plans this month by about 47,000 vehicles, a Toyota spokesperson said.

Toyota on Tuesday said it expects to fall short of an annual target to build 9-million vehicles because it did not have enough chips. The company's business year ends on March 31.

January 20 2022 - 18:20

Malema calls for no masks and opening stadiums for 'vaccinated and unvaccinated'

EFF leader Julius Malema took his call for the government to open sports stadiums to the office of sports minister Nathi Mthethwa in Pretoria on Thursday.

Malema led hundreds of EFF supporters on a march around Church Square before addressing them. He called for an end to wearing face masks as a precaution against Covid-19 and for stadiums be opened for spectators regardless of vaccination status.

The picket was joined by sports figures including AmaZulu director Manzini Zungu, SA Football Players Union (Safpu) general secretary Nhlanhla Shabalala and National Football Supporters’ Association (Nafsa) acting CEO Siyabulela Loyilane. 

“Do away with the mask, open the country and the economy and we will take responsibility for our own lives,” he said to loud cheers from a crowd that included supporters of the various football clubs and artists.

January 20 2022 - 18:15

WATCH | 'They are running away': Malema and EFF picket sports minister

EFF leader Julius Malema has arrived outside the office of sports minister Nathi Mthethwa in Pretoria for a picket by the party demanding the opening of sports stadiums to crowds.

Malema joined throngs of party supporters who set out on a march through the city and then were due to return to picket again at the minister’s offices at the department of sport arts and culture at Sechaba House in Madiba Street.

Malema spoke briefly on arrival. “We are going to march and picket in front of the offices of sports, arts and culture,” he said.

January 20 2022 - 16:20

Children in sub-Saharan Africa hospitalised with Covid-19 dying at a higher rate than others: study

A study has found that children in sub-Saharan Africa hospitalised with Covid-19 are dying at a rate far greater than children in the US and Europe.

The study published in JAMA Paediatrics was conducted in 25 hospitals in SA, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda between March and December 2020.

Prof Refiloe Masekela, head of the University of KwaZulu-Natal's paediatrics and child health department, led the study at the university.

January 20 2022 - 14:30

France to unveil timetable for easing Covid restrictions

France will unveil a timetable for easing Covid-19 restrictions later on Thursday, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said, though he cautioned the wave of Omicron infections tearing through the country had not reached its peak.

Attal said France's new vaccine pass rules would help allow a softening of rules even as the incidence rate of infections continues to increase.

France reported nearly half a million coronavirus infections on Wednesday to leave the seven-day average at 320,000 cases. However, the number of Covid patients in intensive care has stabilised, leaving the government some room for manoeuvre.

Attal declined to detail the plans for the progressive easing of restrictions, which include the closure of nightclubs, caps on the number of people allowed into sports and entertainment venues and working-from-home rules.

On Sunday, the government gave final approval to President Emmanuel Macron's plans for a vaccine pass, which will require people to have a certificate of vaccination to enter public venues like restaurants, cafes, cinemas and long-distance trains.

The pass is expected to come into effect soon after the Constitutional Court rules on the matter on Friday. The vaccine pass has re-energised anti-vaccine street protests.

Prime Minister Jean Castex and his health minister, Olivier Veran, will unveil the timetable for unwinding restrictions at 7pm. – Reuters

January 20 2022 - 13:15

Minors get vaccinated at Manila zoo

Manila opens up its zoo as a vaccination center for minors and the elderly

January 20 2022 - 12:30

US to distribute millions of free N95 masks

The US will distribute 400-million non-surgical N95 masks for free to the public starting next week. The move comes after the Biden administration faced criticism for not doing enough to tackle the fast-spreading Omicron variant.

January 20 2022 - 12:00

New Zealand to tighten curbs in case of Omicron outbreak

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says tough measures, like mandatory masks and limits on public gatherings, will be taken if there is community transmission of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

January 20 2022 - 11:45

China Widens Testing Blitz After Mail Suspected for Covid

China is ramping up its coronavirus testing regime after linking at least two omicron cases at opposite ends of the country to international parcels. 

Residents in southern city of Guangzhou who received overseas mail between January 16 and 19 were told Wednesday to take a coronavirus test within three days. Additionally, local authorities are rolling out a free program from Thursday that will see anyone who has accepted an international package tested within three to seven days.

Guangzhou hasn’t found an omicron case in community transmission, but the increased scrutiny follows the detection of an infection in the nearby technology hub of Shenzhen that was linked to mail.

More than 1,300 miles (2090km) north, the Beijing government has asked residents to minimize purchases from high-risk countries and disinfect parcels thoroughly when unpacking after its first positive result for the variant was found to have touched mail shipped from Canada through the US and Hong Kong.

On Thursday afternoon, Beijing reported two additional infections, including a man who runs a frozen food business and a person living with other cold chain workers that were reported on Wednesday to have tested positive.

China has repeatedly pointed the finger at contaminated parcels and other goods as a source of coronavirus transmission, an idea that experts outside the country have said is unproven and unlikely.

Authorities have taken aggressive measures in pursuit of Covid Zero, from mass testing to lockdowns, but are facing growing challenges in trying to stamp out the more transmissible variant that’s led to flare ups weeks before the Winter Olympics.

 In addition to testing, Guangzhou will also require all inbound deliveries to go through a second round of disinfection upon arrival, and staff who handle overseas mail must have had a booster shot, according to local media report that cited the municipal postal bureau.

Nationally, 43 locally transmitted infections were confirmed on Thursday, including 24 in Henan province and 14 in the northern port city of Tianjin, according to the National Health Commission.

That’s down from 163 reported on January 16, the recent high of the current outbreak. Recent delta epicenter Xi’an reported zero cases for a second day, after its 13-million residents endured a monthlong lockdown to contain an outbreak that ballooned to more than 2,000 infections. The city said it’s gradually easing control measures, including allowing some companies and certain supermarkets to resume operations and restarting mail deliveries. - Bloomberg

January 20 2022 - 09:00

Taiwan to mandate Covid-19 vaccination proof for entertainment venues

Taiwan will mandate the use of passes that provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination for entry into entertainment venues, the government said on Thursday, as it seeks to reduce infection risks while tackling a small rise in domestic Omicron cases.

The Central Epidemic Command Centre said that from Friday entry into venues including bars and night clubs would require proof of full vaccination, either by showing a physical vaccine card or a new digital card.

The centre said the move was needed to minimise the risk of community transmission as Taiwan deals with a small number of domestic infections of the Omicron variant.

More than 70% of people in Taiwan have received two vaccine doses and booster shots are currently being rolled out, though only around 10% of residents have had their third shot so far.

Taiwan has kept the pandemic well under control thanks to strict border measures enacted early on and a highly efficient tracing system. It has reported 18,041 cases to date out of a population of 23.5-million. – Reuters

January 20 2022 - 07:00

Do children and teens need booster shots?

There is no evidence that healthy children and adolescents need booster doses against Covid-19.

So says World Health Organisation’s (WHO) top scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan, who was briefing media this week. 

Swaminathan said though there are many unknowns at play, at the moment there is no scientific evidence healthy children and adolescents need booster shots. Instead the goal should be to protect specific vulnerable populations.

January 20 2022 - 06:30

Booster shot may not defend against reinfection with Omicron: study

For the past few months, the Omicron variant has been like an onion for scientists: they have had to peel back one layer at a time with scientific accuracy while the world first went into full panic mode and then came to declare the new “variant of concern” a possible game changer that could end the pandemic phase of SARS-CoV-2.

Now, two bouts of research on international travellers have added to the body of knowledge of Omicron and the best way forward in managing the disease.

One — published as correspondence in The Lancet — suggests that even with booster shots Omicron can break through, and the other — a preprint in Science of the Total Environment — suggests that testing wastewater on aircraft is a great way to carry out surveillance of a variant traversing the world.

January 20 2022 - 06:10

Jabs and jobs: local vaccine-making facility will ‘employ hundreds’

Patrick Soon-Shiong’s vaccine-manufacturing facility is set to create up to 600 jobs.

The billionaire revealed this during the launch of the NantSA plant in Brackenfell, Cape Town, on Wednesday. It will allow next-generation vaccines to be manufactured in SA for Africa.

The launch was attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa; ministers Blade Nzimande and Mondli Gungubele; Dr Glenda Gray, the president and CEO of the SA Medical Research Council (SAMRC); Western Cape premier Alan Winde; and Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

January 20 2022 - 06:00

All aboard the cannabis? US study indicates hemp could combat Covid-19

It’s a scientific study that broke the internet: research suggesting that cannabis has the ability to prevent Covid-19 from entering human cells.

Findings of the Oregon State University study led by Richard van Breemen, a researcher at the institution’s Global Hemp Innovation Centre, College of Pharmacy and Linus Pauling Institute, were published in the Journal of Natural Products.

Hemp, known scientifically as Cannabis sativa, is a source of fibre, food and animal feed, and multiple hemp extracts and compounds are added to cosmetics, body lotions, dietary supplements and food, Van Breemen said.

TimesLIVE