News24.com | LIVE | All the latest coronavirus and lockdown updates

LIVE | All the latest coronavirus and lockdown updates

2020-05-06 09:30

News24 team

Stay up to date with the latest news, views and analysis as the number of coronavirus cases in SA increases.

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CORONAVIRUS IN SA | All the confirmed cases

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Last Updated at 13:43
13:18
12:22

White House readies to scrap task force, Johnson faces MPs in parliament and Australia to begin plasma therapy research

- In the latest sign that the Trump administration no longer considers the coronavirus pandemic its top daily priority, the White House is set to disband the emergency task force handling the outbreak.

- Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Wednesday make his first appearance in parliament since being hospitalised for coronavirus, the day after Britain became the European country worst hit by the global pandemic.

- Research into using blood plasma from recovered coronavirus patients as a therapy for those who become infected is set to begin in Australia, the latest country to investigate the possible treatment.
11:24
Repatriation chaos: Hundreds finally heading back to SA after plane in Qatar does U-turn on runway

More than 200 South Africans, who were on board a Qatar Airways flight from Doha Hamad International Airport and had been left stranded after the aircraft had to turn around on the runway on Tuesday, are finally on their way to South Africa. 
10:38
10:36
We must be able to maintain a balance. It is a battle we face every day. Covid-19 may be here for another two years, he says.
10:33
Mkhize says all mine workers must be screened, and where necessary, must be tested. It is more helpful to be proactive. We can save staff and the whole mine if we screen miners. We encourage all mining companies to work with the provincial government on this.
10:31
Our health workers are like soldiers who go to war. They must be well trained, well armed and well protected. We want them to be confident that they are well trained, that they understand how they don’t get infected, and how they protect others, says Mkhize. 
10:29
A total of 511 health workers have tested positive. 
09:48

Russian medics fall from windows as cases rise, Wuhan students return to school and more than 15 000 deaths in Latin America

- Russia has reported the largest number of new daily cases of the coronavirus in Europe with the total number of infections now exceeding 150 000 and deaths nearing 1 500.

- Chinese youngsters in the global virus epicentre of Wuhan filed back to class on Wednesday, wearing masks and walking in single file past thermal scanners.

- More than 15 000 people have been killed by the novel coronavirus in Latin America and the Caribbean as of 02:30 on Wednesday, according to an AFP tally based on official reports.
09:39
Radical economic transformation best for SA post-Covid-19, says Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday that South Africa was witnessing the “total destruction” of its economy due to the Covid-19 coronavirus, and that radical economic transformation must be central to plans to rebuild and repurpose.
09:03
SA's largest cigarette company drops proposed legal action against tobacco ban

British American Tobacco South Africa, the largest player in the country's cigarette market, says it will not be pursuing legal action in an attempt to force the state to permit the sale of cigarettes. 

BATSA said it has received a response to a letter sent at the end of April to the National Command Council, and was "convinced that by working together we can find a better solution that works for all South Africans and removes the threat of criminal sanction from 11 million tobacco consumers in the country".
09:02

Do you know someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 who would be willing to talk to News24 on camera?

Drop us a mail at feedback@news24.com and we will get in touch. 
07:45
Airlink ready to make 'new SAA' deal...if it makes sense

Privately-run regional airline Airlink would be open to getting involved in a public-private partnership with a "new" or restructured airline that replaces South African Airways - provided it makes sense, says CEO Rodger Foster.
07:10
Collins Khosa: State failed to correctly instruct SANDF and SAPS, says lawyer

Damning arguments were heard by the North Gauteng High Court on Tuesday as lawyer for the family of deceased Alexandra township resident Collins Khosa, Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, made his submission.

Khosa, a father of three, died on April 10 and the “preliminary medical opinion is that the cause of death is directly related to the assault by the members of the SANDF”, said a letter written to President Cyril Ramaphosa by the family.
06:50
Living and breathing Covid-19: Interview with a Cape Town doctor on the front lines

Since January, Dr Arifa Parker has served at the coalface of South Africa’s fight against Covid-19. Biénne Huisman chats to her about what life is like in the eye of the storm.
06:49
Manufacturers behind SA’s struggle to access adequate Covid-19 test materials

Like many other countries, South Africa is struggling to access adequate testing materials to scale up the Covid-19 coronavirus testing.

A key challenge faced by laboratories in South Africa and elsewhere is that most of our diagnostic infrastructure requires the use of proprietary test materials – including reagents, consumables and cartridges.
06:16
OPINION: WHO’s catalogue of failures shines a light on an organisation that has lost its way

Unfortunately, while both the WHO and Trump have been hasty, irresponsible and wrong with their health advice, only Trump will be accountable in November – the WHO, it appears, will never be held accountable, writes Quentin Wray.
06:14

The US coronavirus death toll climbed by 2,333 in the past 24 hours, a tally by Johns Hopkins University showed Tuesday, more than twice as many as the day before.

The Baltimore-based university said as of 00:30 GMT Wednesday that the country had suffered a total of 71,022 deaths.

On Monday, the United States recorded its lowest daily balance in a month, with 1,015 fatalities.
05:43

Coronavirus morning update: President says no agenda over cigarettes, and warning from SARS boss

The president has rubbished claims there is an agenda from the government in banning of tobacco products during the Level 4 lockdown; and the SARS commissioner says impending joblessness and business closures would hammer revenues even harder.
22:29
The coronavirus death toll in SA continues to rise as 10 more lives have been claimed, taking the death toll to 148. Meanwhile, the number of cases now sits at 7 572, an increase of 352 from Monday.

Here are the top stories of the day

The Department of Public Works, which is responsible with housing repatriated expats for mandatory quarantine, believes it was the victim of a scam after a group which returned from the US were wrongly put up in a dilapidated and dirty facility. They have been moved, and the department is now investigating how the group ended up there.

The Electoral Court has postponed by-elections scheduled for June in a bid to reduce the possible spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The court feared a possible widespread of Covid-19 if the by-elections had been allowed to go ahead as planned. By-elections were set to be held in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West.  

The Presidency has responded to a letter in which two advocates questioned the validity of a government body set up to respond to the coronavirus, saying the advocates’ questions are putting South Africans’ lives in jeopardy.

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu says grant recipients who received double payments this month because of an administrative “glitch” will have to pay back the money. It is estimated that about 435 000 people in the Western Cape received double payments, while more than 450 000 in KwaZulu-Natal received nothing at all. 

Surfers in Cape Town were arrested at the Muizenberg beach for violating lockdown regulations by standing still during the 06:00 to 09:00 exercise window, in protest of not being allowed to hit the waves. Protesters waved placards as members of the public looked on.




The coronavirus pandemic is starting to take its toll on the SA economy. SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter says the lockdown plus the stalled economy could lead to a shortfall of up to R285 billion in tax. Economies globally have been left bloodied and bruised by the virus, which threw a spanner in the works of most industries.

Kulula owner Comair has gone into business rescue, a decision brought on by the current strict flight restrictions. Meanwhile, The Passenger Rail Authority of SA has proposed job cuts due to its deteriorating financial position brought on by the coronavirus. 

Yet another magazine publisher has announced its closure - this time Caxton says it is withdrawing from magazine publishing, due to declines in readership and other difficulties which have been compounded by the coronavirus outbreak. Magazines affected include Food & Home, Garden & Home, and People. Last Week, Associated Media Publishing, the publisher of the SA version of Cosmopolitan closed down.

A Nigerian court sentenced a man to death in the country's first ever virtual ruling during its five-week coronavirus lockdown. Olalekan Hameed was sentenced to death by hanging for murdering a 76-year-old woman. Stay informed with News24

Beware | A fine during the lockdown means a criminal record
Get involved | Here’s how you can help those in need
The workplace | Here’s how the new office set up should be
Eat | Here are the fast food outlets that will be open during Level four
Transport | Level 4 lockdown rules for cars and taxis
The numbers | Covid-19 in South Africa statistics
FAQs | News24 answers all your questions
Checklist | These are the first symptoms
21:40
10 more Covid-19 deaths, as cases rise by 352

The coronavirus death toll in SA continues to rise as 10 more lives have been claimed, the Health Department says. 

Seven of those deaths have come from the epicentre, the Wetern Cape, while one each came from the Eastern Cape, KZN, and Gauteng. 

The national death toll is now 148. 

Meanwhile, the number of cases now sits at 7 572, an increase of 352 from Monday. 

More to follow
20:51
Coronavirus' effects beginning to take serious strain on the economy

Fin24 has reported on the serious financial position of local entitles 

The owner of airline Kulula, Comair, has gone into business rescue, a decision brought on by the current strict flight restrictions.

Meanwhile, The Passenger Rail Authority of SA has proposed job cuts due to its deteriorating financial position brought on by the coronavirus. 

Yet another magazine publisher has announced its closure - this time Caxton says it is withdrawing from magazine publishing, due to declines in readership and other difficulties which have been compounded by the coronavirus outbreak. Magazines affected include Food & Home, Garden & Home, and People.
20:13
NGO recruits influencers to battle misinformation, chaos in India as alcohol allowed to be sold again - international Covid-19 update

The Red Cross has launched what it said was the first global network of social media influencers to battle misinformation about the coronavirus and spread lifesaving content about the pandemic.

In India, police swung batons on Monday to beat back thirsty Indians jostling to buy alcohol for the first time in 40 days as the government eased further the world's biggest coronavirus lockdown.

And Uganda began slowly easing coronavirus measures, allowing a number of businesses to re-open, even as its five-week lockdown was extended for another two weeks.
19:28
Struggling without live sport? Well there may be something to satisfy your craving...

As the rest of the sporting world takes a break from competing, the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) industry has soldiered on in quite bizarre fashion. 

Even as the United States entered its own lockdown period, WWE was somehow signed off as an "essential service" by the city of Miami and allowed to continue filming. 

No fans have been allowed inside the performance centre during taping, though, and it has made for a testing few weeks for a business that normally feeds off the energy of its live audiences. 

Pictured is legendary wrestler The Undertaker (left) doing battle with Bam Neely. (Gaye Gerard/Getty Images)
19:07
Dept of Basic Education ready to forge ahead with reopening plan after court victory

The Department of Basic Education has welcomed the dismissal of an application in the high court which sought to block the government from resuming teaching at schools under Level 4 of the nationwide lockdown.

The Limpopo High Court struck the matter from the roll on Tuesday, ruling that it did not have the jurisdiction to hear the case brought by the Tebeila Institute of Leadership, Governance and Training and the African Institute for Human Rights and Constitutional Litigation on an urgent basis.

The department reiterated that a final reopening date has not been set yet. 
18:53
UK now has second-highest death toll

The UK's death toll from the coronavirus has topped 32 000, according to an updated count released today by the country's Office for National Statistics.

The figures pushed UK past Italy to become the second-most affected country after the US. The new toll has not yet been incorporated into the official daily figures, which record the current number of deaths as 29 427.

The health ministry had previously announced only the deaths in hospitals of those who had tested positive for the virus.

- AFP 
18:34
Western Cape roads get busier over travel 'grace period'

Road travel in the Western Cape picked up during this week's grace period for a once-off movement of people to go home as the lockdown was eased slightly to Level 4.

In terms of changes to nationwide lockdown regulations, a once-off movement of people is allowed this week to accommodate those who were not at home when the lockdown began, or for people who need to move between provinces or metropolitan areas to get home or to work. 

People have until 7 May to make use of this once-off grace period.
18:10
Tobacco ban heats up - now Ramaphosa weighs in

President Cyril Ramaphosa has rubbished claims there is an agenda from the government in banning of tobacco products during the Level 4 lockdown.

"No one is trying to pursue any interests. The only interests we are pursuing is the health of our people, finish and klaar," the president said.

This comes after the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association had launched a legal challenge to South Africa's ban on the manufacture, export and sale of cigarettes.
17:09
More woes for repatriated South Africans, by-elections get postponed, surfers in a tussle with cops and the President sends a warning....

Here are some of the top stories of the day you may have missed:

The Department of Public Works, which is responsible with housing repatriated expats for quarantine, believes it was the victim of a scam after a group which returned from the US were wrongly put up in a dilapidated and dirty facility. They have been moved, and the department is now investigating how the group ended up there.

Surfers in Cape Town were arrested at the Muizenberg beach for violating lockdown regulations by standing still during the 06:00 to 09:00 exercise window, in protest of not being allowed to hit the waves. Protesters waved placards as members of the public looked on.



The Electoral Court has postponed by-elections scheduled for June in a bid to reduce the possible spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The court feared a possible widespread of Covid-19 if the by-elections had been allowed to go ahead as planned. By-elections were set to be held in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the worst of the coronavirus is still to come. He said the important thing was to lessen the pace at which the virus spreads. He was speaking in Durban today. 
 
16:59
Big virus outbreak among medical staff in Spain, Congo prison records more than 100 cases - international Covid-19 news

More than 70% of new virus cases detected in Spain over the past 24 hours have been among medical staff, its health ministry said on Tuesday.

And the DR Congo government fears a "large-scale" spread of the Covid-19 pandemic after around 100 inmates of a military prison tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, Lesotho has announced that a coronavirus lockdown would be tentatively lifted, in the only country in Africa yet to report a single case of Covid-19.

And in the US, exports plunged 9.6% in March - the biggest monthly decline on record - increasing the trade deficit to $44.4 billion as the coronavirus pandemic disrupted global commerce.
16:35
Urgent court application to stop schools reopening struck off roll

The Polokwane High Court in Limpopo has struck an urgent application off the roll that sought to prevent the Department of Basic Education from reopening schools under Level 4 of the national lockdown.

The application was lodged by the Tebeila Institute for Leadership, Education, Governance and Training and the African Institute for Human Rights and Constitutional Litigation.

- Russel Molefe
15:54
Electoral Court postpones by-elections to curb Covid-19 spread

City Press reports that the Electoral Court has postponed by-elections scheduled for June in a bid to reduce the possible spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Citing a possible widespread of Covid-19 if the by-elections had been allowed to go ahead as planned, the court ruled that the elections be postponed to a later date regardless of a possible infringement to the 90 days legislated period for the filling of councillor vacancies.

By-elections were set to be held in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West. 
15:25
Govt department investigating alleged 'scam' after repatriated expats suffer in 'unhygienic' quarantine facility 

A group of South Africans who were repatriated from the United States on Sunday have endured a nightmare, after they were taken to a facilities that they were not meant to be sent to in what the Minister of Public Works, Patricia de Lille, believes to be a scam.

Speaking to News24, de Lille said the department was investigating an incident where 180 repatriates from the US were taken to different quarantine sites that the department had not signed off on. 

Here is a related video of expats being stranded:
14:54
The new rules about cars, taxis – including a ‘grace period’ when you travel at night in lockdown

The new transport regulations for lockdown Level 4 have just been published, and includes new rules about when you are allowed on the road.
14:14
South Africans may own a big stake in Oxford’s promising Covid-19 vaccine – eventually

Oxford University has already started trials as part of a fast-track vaccine testing process that, as of late April, has global pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca behind it.
05 May 13:34
05 May 13:29
05 May 13:16
Prisons, overcrowding and preventing transmission

More than 163 000 people are in correctional facilities in South Africa. Outbreaks of Covid-19 in these prisons can have catastrophic consequences for both prisoners and the public healthcare system. Professor Lukas Muntingh unpacks the issues at stake.
05 May 12:54
Virus deaths top 250 000 as billions pledged for vaccine push

The global death toll from the coronavirus pandemic topped a quarter of a million on Tuesday, with the US government predicting a further surge in fatalities as an international vaccine drive garnered $8 billion in pledges.
05 May 12:31
05 May 12:31
05 May 12:30
Ralph Mathekga | Tobacco, booze, grilled chicken: triple threat to government's lockdown authority

Because stubbornness is mistaken for strategy in some quarters, chances are that government would aim to defend the cases in court instead of opting to engage with groups and find a workable solution.
05 May 12:15
05 May 12:05
05 May 12:05
Covid-19 wrap | Russia's cases rise by over 10 000, India embarks on 'massive' repatriation and Spain adds 280 000 jobless during April lockdown

Keeping you up to date on the latest novel coronavirus (Covid-19) news from around the world.
05 May 12:04
Sassa glitch: Recipients of double payments will have to pay back the money - Lindiwe Zulu

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu says South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant recipients who received double payments because of a technical glitch will have to pay back their accidental windfall.
05 May 12:02
05 May 12:01
05 May 12:01
05 May 12:01
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