News24.com | LIVE | New regulations cut public transport hours\, staffer at Presidency tests positive

LIVE | New regulations cut public transport hours, staffer at Presidency tests positive

2020-05-07 05:30

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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Last Updated at 07:46
07:40

You can order a 5-course meal from some of SA’s top restaurants – at cut-rate prices

Some of SA's best restaurants are now offering deliveries. The tasting menus on offer are much cheaper than what you would pay in a restaurant.
07:21

SA expats' hopes to return to work in Saudi Arabia dashed

While most countries across the globe remain on coronavirus alert, there is simply nothing that can be done to facilitate the return of more than 100 South African healthcare workers to Saudi Arabia.

This according to the Saudi embassy, which said the kingdom was doing this in the interest of its own citizens.
07:13
News24 is looking for SA's Covid-19 Everyday Heroes

As South Africa prepares for the peak of the coronavirus outbreak, News24 is looking for everyday heroes who will help their communities survive this crisis.

Aside from frontline healthcare workers, and essential workers, South Africans are playing an increasingly important role to take care of their communities every day, and to improve their circumstances.

Help us by nominating an Everyday Hero in your community today.
06:40
INFOGRAPHICS | Covid-19 infection rates accelerate amid ‘uncertainty’ about biology, lockdown interventions

Scientists have repeatedly warned there will be an increase in South Africa’s Covid-19 infection rate. Reported data shows early signs that it is starting to happen.
05:37

Coronavirus morning update: Concerns over schools plan, top companies get UIF money, and 'Covid toes'

 

Your latest coronavirus news: Fears around the planned, phased re-opening of schools; the UIF has released a list of employers which have received a special grant to pay staff, including prominent companies; and the virus can also cause frostbite-like patches on the hands and toes - dubbed "Covid toes".
05:36

Think bike: Vehicle sales might have taken a knock, but people will always need to move

 

Lockdowns have been instituted in countries across the world, limiting the movement of people, and raising the question of the future of motor vehicles. Individuals may not be driving much for now, but when lockdown restrictions lift, they will find reasons to move around again. The need for transport will remain, but the need to own cars might not, a futurist suggests.
05:34

Lockdown | SMME owners and employees fear Level 5 will be reintroduced

 

Fears that the government will introduce more stringent regulations or reintroduce the Level 5 lockdown are mounting, according to some small business owners and employees. 

22:43
Five more people have died from the coronavirus, bringing the death toll to 153. Two deaths came from the Western Cape, two from KwaZulu-Natal, and one from Limpopo. The total number of cases now sits at 7 808.

Here are the top stories of the day

The government has gazetted new regulations regarding transport which stipulate that public transport can only operate between 05:00 and 19:00. Previously, public transport could run from 05:00 until 20:00, with a “grace period” until 21:00 to complete a journey.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has said that two health workers have died from Covid-19, while 26 have been hospitalised for the virus. A total of 511 health workers have contracted Covid-19. Addressing media in Gauteng today, Mkhize added that the country may battle with the virus for as long as two years.

A staff member at the Presidency has tested positive for Covid-19, and access to the union buildings has been limited. The Presidency said President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy, David Mabuza, have been working remotely during the lockdown, suggesting they have not come into contact with the employee.

There has been yet more repatriation chaos, and this time more than 200 South Africans who were set to return from an airport in Doha, Qatar, were left stranded. The plane had begun heading to SA, but made a U-turn while still on the runway because of delays in securing the quarantine facilities for the expats to be housed in once they reach the country.

In another incident, 37 immigrants escaped from a repatriation centre in Gauteng. Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi believed the escape was an inside job involving the centre’s security guards. South African Breweries - owner of Castle Lager, Hansa, and Black Label – may be forced to destroy more than 130 million litres of beer if it is not allowed to transport the brew to its depots. The transport of alcohol – apart from alcohol for export – is currently illegal under South Africa’s lockdown regulations. All consumption of alcohol is also prohibited.

International news at a glance

Relatives of Senegalese nationals who have died from Covid-19 abroad may turn to the country's courts because its government is refusing to allow for the bodies to return for burials and religious ceremonies.

Swedish officials on Wednesday said the country, which has taken a softer approach to curbing the spread of the new coronavirus, was nearing 3 000 deaths from Covid-19. The country has not imposed the kind of extraordinary lockdowns seen elsewhere in Europe, instead opting for an approach based on the "principle of responsibility".

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday he could begin to ease a nationwide coronavirus lockdown next week, but warned he would do nothing that would risk a new surge of cases.

Germany is planning an almost complete return to normality in May, with schools and shops reopening and the return of top-flight Bundesliga football matches, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday.

And finally, France will discard 10 million litres of beer - four Olympic-sized swimming pools full - due to expire, which could not be consumed because people are in lockdown, a brewers' association said.

Stay informed with News24

Talking point | Can a person contract Covid-19 more than once?
Fake news | No, Covid-19 traces haven’t been found on fruit
Get involved | Here’s how you can help those in need
The workplace | Here’s how the new office set up should be
Hungry? | Here’s the latest on fast food restaurants’ reopeningsr
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
22:12
5 more die from Covid-19

Five more people have died from the coronavirus, the Health Ministry has said. Two deaths have come from the Western Cape, two from KwaZulu-Natal, and one from Limpopo. 

The total number of cases now sits at 7 808. 

The Western Cape remains the epicentre with 3 760 cases, followed by Gauteng with 1 720 and KZN with 1 189.

There have, however, been 3 153 recoveries.
20:50
Bodies of Senegalese citizens who died abroad barred from returning for burial, people turn to gaming while under lockdown - international Covid-19 news

Relatives of Senegalese nationals who have died from Covid-19 abroad may turn to the country's courts because its government is refusing to allow for the bodies to return for burials and religious ceremonies. 

And Spain's parliament on Wednesday voted to extend the country's state of emergency, allowing stringent coronavirus lockdown measures to remain in place for at least two more weeks.

People are beating the lockdown boredom with gaming, with game publishers reporting a massive increase in players since the start of the lockdowns. 

Pictured: The Nintendo Switch has grown in popularity during the coronavirus lockdown. (Getty Images)
20:18
SAB may be forced to destroy 400 million bottles of beer

Yes, you read that correctly.

SA Breweries (SAB) – owner of Castle Lager, Hansa, and Black Label – says it may be forced to destroy more than 130 million litres of beer - equals roughly about 400 million bottles of beer - if it is not allowed to transport the brew to its depots. 

The transport of alcohol – apart from alcohol for export – is currently illegal under South Africa’s lockdown regulations. 
19:25
Gauteng prepares for 'worst-case scenario' by adding more hospital beds, wards

Due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Gauteng and the winter season fast approaching, the provincial government has added more hospital beds and wards in a bid to be prepared for the "worst-case scenario" during the pandemic.

To date, the province has inspected eight construction sites, which have special Covid-19 quarantine wards in various health facilities across the province, in anticipation of the expected severe cases needing hospitalisation and self-quarantine.
19:00
Kenya to cordon off some places, France to discard 10 million litres of stale beer - international Covid-19 news

Kenya's health minister announced on Wednesday that one suburb of the capital Nairobi, as well as a part of the port city of Mombasa, will be cordoned off due to skyrocketing cases of coronavirus in those areas. 

France will discard 10 million litres of beer - four Olympic-sized swimming pools full - due to expire, undrunk, with consumers in coronavirus lockdown, the national brewers' association said Wednesday. 

And Germany is planning an almost complete return to normality in May, with schools and shops reopening and the return of top-flight Bundesliga football matches, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday.
18:00
New transport regulations, a Presidency staffer tests positive, and an escape from a repatriation centre 

Here are stories from today you may have missed

The government has gazetted new regulations regarding transport which stipulate that public transport can only operate between 05:00 and 19:00. Previously, public transport could run from 05:00 until 20:00, with a “grace period” until 21:00 to complete a journey.

Meanwhile, a staff member at the Presidency has tested positive for Covid-19, and access to the union buildings has been limited. The Presidency said President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy, David Mabuza, have been working remotely during the lockdown, suggesting they have not come into contact with the employee.

In another incident, 37 immigrants escaped from a repatriation centre in Gauteng. Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi believed the escape was an inside job involving the centre’s security guards.
17:22
Sweden, which did not impose restrictions, nears 3 000 deaths, UK may ease lockdown soon - international Covid-19 news

Swedish officials on Wednesday said the country, which has taken a softer approach to curbing the spread of the new coronavirus, was nearing 3 000 deaths from Covid-19. The country has not imposed the kind of extraordinary lockdowns seen elsewhere in Europe, instead opting for an approach based on the "principle of responsibility".

And UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday he could begin to ease a nationwide coronavirus lockdown next week, but warned he would do nothing that would risk a new surge of cases.

Uber says it was cutting 3 700 jobs amid a huge slump in its ride-hailing operations during the pandemic.

Pictured: Visitors wearing protective face masks walk through the 'Fantastische Frauen' ('Fantastic Women') exhibition at the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt art museum in Germany. This as the country eased its lockdowns. (Alex Grimm/Getty Images) 
16:29
BREAKING | Presidency staffer tests positive for Covid-19

A staff member at the Presidency has tested positive for Covid-19, and access to the union buildings has been limited.

The Presidency said President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy, David Mabuza, have been working remotely during the lockdown, suggesting they have not come into contact with the employee.
16:13
SA economy could shrink by up to 17% in 2020 despite government's stimulus, warns business alliance

South Africa's GDP could shrink by between 10% and 16.7% this year despite stimulus efforts due to a sharp plunge in economic activity, according to Business for South Africa.

This plunge would be six to eleven times as severe as the economic contraction that followed the 2008 financial crisis, when SA's GDP fell by 1.5%. The SA Reserve Bank, by contrast, expects SA's economy to contract by a more modest 6.1% for 2020. 

Pictured is a long queue outside the UIF offices in Cape Town on Monday
15:15
More repatriation chaos, another case of Covid-19 fake news, and medical staff are suffering with Covid-19

Here are some of our top stories from today that you may have missed:

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has said that two health workers have died from Covid-19, while 26 have been hospitalised for the virus. A total of 511 health workers have contracted Covid-19. Addressing media in Gauteng today, Mkhize added that the country may battle with the virus for as long as two years.

There has been yet more repatriation chaos, and this time more than 200 South Africans who were set to return from an airport in Doha, Qatar, were left stranded. The plane had begun heading to SA, but made a U-turn while still on the runway because of delays in securing the quarantine facilities for the expats to be housed in once they reach the country.

Tobacco giant, British American Tobacco South Africa, has decided that it will not be pursuing legal action against the government for its surprising reneging on the sale of tobacco during lockdown Level 4. Instead, the company will look at holding further discussions with the government.

Saw the messages about a KwaZulu-Natal hospital finding traces of Covid-19 on fresh food items? It’s fake. The Netcare group has dismissed that one of its hospitals in Umhlanga, Durban, found Covid-19 traces on fruit and vegetables, and a message was circulated by a Dr Sanjay Lundlal, who does not exist.





14:06
Morocco launches fleet of drones to tackle virus from the sky

Morocco has rapidly expanded its fleet of drones as it battles the coronavirus pandemic, deploying them for aerial surveillance, public service announcements and sanitisation.
13:54

ICYMI: WATCH | The only interests we're pursuing is our people's health, finish and klaar - Ramaphosa
13:53
Hunger stalks villagers as they struggle to survive in face of Covid-19

The heart-rending downcast faces of the peckish villagers at his door and the disheartened voices on the other end of the phone – all making desperate pleas for food – have been overwhelming for Chief Livhuwani Matsila.
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. 
06 May 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.
06 May 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 May 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 May 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 May 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 May 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.
06 May 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.
05 May 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
05 May 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
05 May 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.
05 May 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.
05 May 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)
05 May 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. 
05 May 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 
05 May 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.
05 May 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.
05 May 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. 
 
05 May 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.
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