News24.com | LIVE | Covid-19: UCT student recovers\, govt releases flu vaccine priority list

LIVE | Covid-19: UCT student recovers, govt releases flu vaccine priority list

2020-04-08 14:30

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Top local stories from you may have missed 

The first student to contract coronavirus at UCT has fully recovered, the university has said. The student left self-isolation last week. UCT has had in total seven cases of Covid-19, including the student who recovered. This includes four members of staff and three students.

Netcare is investigating a Covid-19 outbreak at St Augustine's Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal where four people have died from Covid-19 and 47 staff members tested positive.

As stringent measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus continue, restaurants are not seeing much light at the end of the tunnel - with retrenchments and possible closures looming, particularly for small establishments.

Health workers will be getting mandatory flu vaccines, the Department of Health says. The other priority groups for flu shots are people over 65, people with cardiovascular diseases and chronic lung problems, pregnant women and those living with HIV.
16:26
Wits engineers designed a face shield that can be made in 3 minutes to help hospitals during Covid-19

A team of University of the Witwatersrand engineers has come up with an innovative face shield design which can be made in just three minutes (including the set-up times) to protect hospital staff in the fight against Covid-19.

Made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheeting and cut using a laser, the shields are aimed at answering a national call to help meet the growing demand for protective gear for medical staff.
16:12
UCT student fully recovers from Covid-19

The first student to contract coronavirus at UCT has fully recovered, the university has said. The student left self-isolation last week. 

Meanwhile, UCT has recorded another positive case - this time a staff member who is receiving treatment for the illness. The university is in a process of contact tracing people that staff member may have come into contact with, and they will be advised to quarantine for 14 days, UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola said.  

UCT has had in total seven cases of Covid-19, including the two mentioned above. This includes four members of staff and three students. 
15:50
4 die from coronavirus at St Augustine's Hospital, Durban, as 47 staffers test positive

Netcare is investigating a Covid-19 outbreak at St Augustine's Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal where four people have died from Covid-19 and 47 staff members tested positive.

Netcare CEO Richard Friedland said 33 of the 47 staffers were self-isolating and the remaining 14 were being "accommodated" at Netcare's facility "to ensure they are able to safely self-quarantine".

It was previously reported that three people had died from coronavirus at the hospital, but the hospital confirmed on Wednesday that number increased to four.
15:39
Tough times in store for some SA restaurants as jobs cuts, possible closures loom

As stringent measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus continue, restaurants are not seeing much light at the end of the tunnel - with retrenchments and possible closures looming, particularly for small establishments.

Restaurants are not deemed essential services, and have been ordered to shut their doors for the duration of the three-week lockdown ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa to curb the spread of the coronavirus. 
15:27
Department of Health's flu vaccine priority list

Health workers will be getting mandatory flu vaccines, the Department of Health says. The other priority groups are people over 65, people with cardiovascular diseases and chronic lung problems, pregnant women and those living with HIV.
15:21
International coronavirus stories you need to know: Deaths in Spain increase again, AU chief defends WHO, and France brings sailors home

Spain recorded a second successive daily rise in coronavirus-related deaths with 757 fatalities, lifting the total toll to 14 555, the health ministry said.

And, A man who stole three face masks from a London hospital during the coronavirus crisis has been jailed for three months.

The chair of the African Union Commission has defended the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its leadership from attacks by US President Donald Trump, who on Tuesday threatened to cut funding for the UN body.
14:19

ICYMI: The latest SA news:

Part of their attempt to support healthcare workers for the critical work they are doing to fight the pandemic, Old Mutual will now provide South African healthcare workers with free life insurance worth R10 000 due to Covid-19. 

Springbok legend Danie Gerber's wife Elsabe has now also tested positive for the coronavirus.

EFF calls for the removal of Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams from Cabinet for breaching lockdown regulations.

Restaurants are not seeing much light at the end of the tunnel - with retrenchments and possible closures looming, particularly for small establishments.
13:42

WATCH | 'I hope you'll find it in your hearts to fogive me', says Ndabeni-Abrahams in public apology
12:30
Business confidence falls to 7-month low as first effects of coronavirus start to show

Business confidence dipped to a 7-month low in March, as the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on South Africa and its trading partners became evident - particularly towards the end of the month - according to data released on Wednesday by the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
12:17

ICYMI: The latest news in SA: 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for two months – one month of which will be unpaid.

Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has issued a public apology for breaking lockdown regulations

The ANC has welcomed the decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to place Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Comrade Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for breaching lockdown regulations. 

Some 500 post offices will remain open for the remainder of South Africa's national Covid-19 lockdown, but they won't be delivering any mail.

The current lockdown regulations could leave over a thousand commercial line fisherman destitute, according to industry representatives.
12:04

ANC welcomes action taken by president against comrade Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams

The African National Congress (ANC) fully supports and welcomes the decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to place Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Comrade Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for breaching lock down regulations.  

The ANC calls on all its deployees and the rest of society to respect and abide by the letter and spirit of all lockdown regulations in order to effectively disrupt the chain of transmission occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.  

The national effort to contain and slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus is based on united action and social solidarity.   The message is clear, the lockdown is meant for all of us. Stay at home.  

Issued by the African National Congress
11:55
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11:03
Coronavirus wrap | Condom shortage risk because of coronavirus, EU nations battle over 'coronabonds', and Egyptian poor struggle amid lockdown
10:52
10:29

President censures minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams for lockdown lunch 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for two months – one month of which will be unpaid.

As to allegations that the minister violated the lockdown regulations, the law should take its course.

This follows the revelation on social media that the Minister had recently visited the home of a friend who hosted a lunch, contrary to the lockdown regulations.

The President summoned the Minister yesterday, Tuesday 7 April 2020.

The President expressed his disapproval of the minister’s actions, which undermine the requirement that all citizens stay at home and save South Africa from the spread of the coronavirus.

The president accepted the minister’s apology for the violation but was unmoved by mitigating factors she tendered.

President Ramaphosa has placed the minister on special leave for two months, during which Minister in The Presidency Jackson Mthembu will act in Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams’ position.

The president has reprimanded the minister and directed her to deliver a public apology to the nation.

The president said: “The nation-wide lockdown calls for absolute compliance on the part of all South Africans. Members of the National Executive carry a special responsibility in setting an example to South Africans, who are having to make great sacrifices.

“None of us – not least a member of the National Executive – should undermine our national effort to save lives in this very serious situation. I am satisfied that Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams appreciates the seriousness of what she has done and that no-one is above the law.”

- Statement issued by The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa
09:53

ICYMI: The latest in SA news:

Separated parents are now allowed to move their children between houses during the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, provided they meet certain legal requirements.

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola is set to roll out a screening campaign for Covid-19 at Sun City prison.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says it is too soon to tell whether the lockdown has worked, but the government should know whether it is so within days. Meanwhile, the debate in senior government circles is increasingly turning towards how to save a fragile economy.

Under South Africa’s coronavirus disaster regulations, spreading false information, colloquially known as fake news, about the novel coronavirus and Covid-19 with intent to deceive is a crime with up to 6 months imprisonment.

Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has found herself in the spotlight again after a social media post went viral allegedly showing her having lunch at the home of former deputy minister of higher education, Mduduzi Manana, during the national lockdown. But this is not the first time she has been in hot water.
09:22
Coronavirus wrap | Trump threatens WHO funding, Boris Johnson spends second night in intensive care, and relief in Wuhan
09:08
08:44
Lockdown: Separated parents allowed to move kids between houses - new regulations

Separated parents are now allowed to move their children between houses during the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, provided they meet certain legal requirements.
08:05
Coronavirus morning update: Lockdown latest, key virus finding in SA, and WhatsApp tightens rules

Your latest coronavirus news: The government will assess the effectiveness of the 21-day lockdown in the coming days; researchers sequence the Covid-19 virus genome in SA; and WhatsApp moves to curb the spread of misinformation about the virus.
07:04

Adriaan Basson: Ramaphosa's 21-day lockdown conundrum

Whether President Cyril Ramaphosa decides to end or extend the lockdown, the price could be just as high for South Africa and its people, writes Adriaan Basson.
06:51
WATCH | Ramaphosa defends 21-day lockdown decision, govt set for more talks

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government will assess the effectiveness of the 21-day lockdown, which is due to end on 16 April, in the coming days. 
06:45

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was spending a second night in intensive care battling the coronavirus which has infected more than 55 000 across the country and killed nearly 6 200.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he was "confident he'll pull through, because if there's one thing I know about this prime minister, he's a fighter and he'll be back, leading us through this crisis in short order".

In an update Tuesday evening, the prime minister's spokesman said his "condition is stable and he remains in intensive care for close monitoring."

He earlier said the 55-year-old Conservative leader was receiving "standard oxygen treatment and breathing without any other assistance" and had not required a ventilator.

- AFP
06:42
WhatsApp group admins may be criminally liable for fake news in SA – under these conditions

Administrators of WhatsApp groups in South Africa may be held criminally liable if fake news is shared in the group.
06:09
Lockdown: Ramaphosa says scientific analysis whether it is working expected within days

President Cyril Ramaphosa says it is too soon to tell whether the lockdown has worked, but the government should know whether it is so within days.

Meanwhile, the debate in senior government circles is increasingly turning towards how to save a fragile economy.
06:08

Nearly 2 000 people infected with the new coronavirus have died in the United States in the last 24 hours, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 00:30 GMT Wednesday.

The record daily figure of 1 939 brings the total number of deaths in the US to 12 722, which is approaching tolls in the worst-hit countries so far - Italy with 17 127 dead and Spain with 13 798.

President Donald Trump has defended his response to the crisis, and on Tuesday he blamed the World Health Organization for reacting slowly.


- AFP
21:58
One more person has died from coronavirus in South Africa, and the number of cases has jumped to 1 749 on Tuesday.

The death toll now stands at 13, and the latest patient a 60-year-old male from KwaZulu-Natal who was suffering with stage-four cancer. .

Here are the stories of the day: 

Minister of Communications, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, could be in hot water after a photo was posted on social media that shows her having a social lunch with former Deputy Education Minister, Mduduzi Manana during the lockdown. President Cyril Ramaphosa requested a meeting with Ndabeni-Abrahams in the wake of this. But Manana later clarified, claiming Ndabeni-Abrahams went to his house to fetch medical protective gear.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government is set to hold a meeting to discuss the effectiveness of the 21-day lockdown. This comes amid speculation that the lockdown may be increased, but this may worsen an already battered economy.

News24's investigations team explains how a lie about IT billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates wanting to test a Covid-19 vaccine in Africa exploded on social media across the world over the past two weeks, resulting in widespread outrage on Twitter.

Retailers to the rescue: Dischem is rolling out drive-thru testing in some of its stores, which will cost R850. Meanwhile, Checkers and Mr D Food will now deliver medicine to your home. Customers can do this through the Mr D Food app, but would need to call the MediRite pharmacy based inside their nearest Checkers branch.  

Looking internationally, The WHO has rejected any notion that Africa would be used as a "testing ground" for a Covid-19 vaccine.

WHO director general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, labelled rumours of this as "racist remarks", saying he was "appalled" after hearing about it. He said Africa will not be a "testing ground for any vaccine", saying any vaccine rollout would follow the same protocol across the world. Watch Ghebreyesus' statement below. 
21:48
International Covid-19 update: Ugandan officers ‘torture women’ during lockdown, Paris bans jogging

A Uganda court has charged 10 police officers with "aggravated torture" for allegedly forcing dozens of women to rub mud on their genitals as punishment for breaking a coronavirus curfew.

Over in France, Paris on Tuesday banned daytime jogging to keep people from bending anti-coronavirus lockdown rules as France breached 10 000 deaths due to the outbreak, AFP reports. 

Deprived of customers such as supermarkets, restaurants and schools due to the coronavirus outbreak and resulting lockdown UK farmers are throwing away thousands of litres of milk, reports AFP.
21:20
Unusual times need unusual methods: New Springbok coach speaks about working with the team during the coronavirus

With the country in lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has been forced to improvise in the way he prepares his players, as well as keeping fit himself.

"We have just finished another alignment camp using software from Microsoft, our official cloud partners, to communicate with the players and other coaches," he says.

Pictured is Jacques Nienaber. (Getty Images)
21:12
SA scientists make key coronavirus discovery - the lead researcher tells us more

Lead researcher, Dr Mushal Allam, says that sequencing the very first coronavirus genome from a South African Covid-19 virus patient will help to better understand the spread of the virus.

“Such genomes will be important going forward for designing diagnostic tests and vaccine design," Allam says. 
20:50
Latest international Covid-19 news: Russian lab wants to test a vaccine, Boris Johnson in 'good spirits'

The head of a top Russian research centre has told President Vladimir Putin that his lab was ready to start human trials of experimental coronavirus vaccines in June. Right now, the vaccine is being tested on animals. 

In other news, Ethiopian Airlines is already bracing for income loss of half a billion dollars and has axed most of its scheduled passenger flights, but is turning to cargo and charter operations to soften the blow.

And UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is still in intensive care but is “in good spirits”. He has not required a ventilator, a spokesperson said. 
20:39
SA's wine industry gets green light to export during lockdown

This follows a period of "intensive lobbying" by a task team of exporters, industry members said on Wednesday.

Industry bodies told Fin24 that the change in regulations, signed off by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula and published in the Government Gazette on 7 April, had been met with considerable relief. 
20:25
Some homeless people in Cape Town try to escape from tent encampment 

A group of homeless people made a break for it on Tuesday from a tent encampment in Strandfontein, Cape Town, which was erected to house them during the lockdown. 

The mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, said conflict erupted between people who did not want others, who had arrived from Somerset West, in their tent. 
20:13
'Panic' at four Joburg Covid-19 testing sites over sanitisers, masks

Johannesburg mayor Geoff Makhubo visited a testing site at District C in Roodepoort on Tuesday, where he heard concerns over minimal resources for healthcare workers.

The district has four testing facilities and one of its challenges is a shortage of sanitisers, masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) for trained healthcare workers.

Makhubo heard that another issue was absenteeism as staff members at the four testing sites "panicked" over the minimal resources.
20:00
The WHO has rejected any notion that Africa would be used as a "testing ground" for a Covid-19 vaccine

WHO director general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, labelled rumours of this as "racist remarks", saying he was "appalled" after hearing about it. 

He said Africa will not be a "testing ground for any vaccine", saying any vaccine rollout would follow the same protocol across the world. 
19:52
Smiling Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams takes us all, and the president, for a ride

Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, or "StellaRated", as she is known on Twitter, needs to be disciplined by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Going to dinner parties while the rest of South Africa is under a three-week lockdown undermines his whole effort to get citizens behind is national effort to curb the coronavirus, writes News24's Pieter du Toit.

Pictured is Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams. (Getty Images)
19:46
Covid-19 death toll in France breaks 10 000

France on Tuesday crossed the threshold of 10 000 deaths due to the coronavirus, with 7 091 recorded in hospital and 3 237 in old age homes, a government official said.

A total of 7 131 people were being treated in intensive care, top health official Jerome Salomon told journalists, warning that "the epidemic is continuing its progression."

- AFP 
19:29
Russian lab ready to start testing vaccines on people by June - report

The head of a top Russian research centre told President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday that his lab was ready to start human trials of experimental coronavirus vaccines in June.

Rinat Maksyutov, head of the Vektor State Virology and Biotechnology Centre, said his facility proposed first-phase clinical trials of three vaccines from June 29, on 180 volunteers.

Maksyutov was speaking during a video-link meeting between Putin and the heads of top research centres."Groups of volunteers have already been formed," he told Putin, adding that a lot of people wanted to take part in the trials.

"We have already received more than 300 applications."

The vaccine is being tested on mice and rabbits at the moment. 

- AFP
19:16
WhatsApp tightens rules on sharing to curb spread of fake virus news

WhatsApp has placed new limits on message forwarding as part of an effort to curb the spread of misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic.

The new policy limits users to forwarding certain messages to one "chat" at a time, aiming to limit the rapid propagation of content which is provocative but likely to be false.
18:59
International Covid-19 update: 'UK could see 66 000 death toll', people rush out of Wuhan

The UK could see as many as 66 000 Covid-19 deaths during the first wave of the current pandemic, new research showed has shown. 

Meanwhile, AFP reports that New York state has recorded its highest number of Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday, adding though that hospitalizations appeared to be "plateauing."

In Wuhan, thousands of travellers flocked to catch trains lto leave, as authorities lifted a ban on outbound travel from the hard-hit city where the global coronavirus pandemic first emerged.
18:55
Here are the top local stories you may have missed: Manana clarifies lunch pic, Dischem offers drive-thru testing

Former Deputy Education Minister Mduduzi Manana has clarified Minister of Communiciation, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams’ visit to his,  saying she went there to fetch medical protective gear, and that it was not a social visit.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government is set to hold a meeting to discuss the effectiveness of the 21-day lockdown. This comes amid speculation that the lockdown may be increased, but this may worsen an already battered economy.

Dischem is rolling out drive-thru testing in some of its stores, which will cost R850.

Checkers and Mr D Food will now deliver medicine to your home. Customers can do this through the Mr D Food app, but would also need to call the MediRite pharmacy based inside their nearest Checkers branch.  
18:41
Health workers are our primary soldiers in coronavirus fight, they have to be safe - Mkhize

The department received a donation of protective gear from businessman Patrice Motsepe and SA entrepreneur and philanthropist, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe.

"We have come with excitement to receive donations for some of the most essential PPE (personal protective equipment) - 200 000 surgical masks, boxes of gloves and a few other items. It is a very important contribution," said Minister Zweli Mkhize.
18:36
Home Affairs to screen everyone accessing its offices

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza said the department will secure temperature thermometers for all branches after workers complained about a lack of physical distancing and sanitisers.

"This is a very important time for us to see the conditions under which our frontline staff operate, and to design systems that will make it easier for them," he said.
18:05
Dis-Chem now offers drive-through Covid-19 tests at some branches

Pharmaceutical retailer Dis-Chem says it will be launching drive-through Covid-19 Testing sites in shopping centre parking lots this week.

Drive-through testing sites went live today at their Olympus and Athol Oaklands (Blue Bird) branches in Centurion, Gauteng. While from Thursday 9 April more sites will come online at the Ballito Lifestyle Centre and the Pavilion in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as Canal Walk in the Western Cape. 
17:51
UK reports a new record of 786 new Covid-19 deaths in just one day 

The country's health ministry has tweeted this grisly figure, adding that the death toll is at 6 159. 

- AFP 
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