Under new rules, medical aids don’t have to pay for tests on babies born to mothers with Covid-19

South African medical schemes don't have to automatically pay for Covid-19 tests of babies born to mothers known to have the disease, the Council for Medical Schemes said on Thursday.

Beijing lambastes Harvard coronavirus study as 'disinformation'

Beijing on Thursday criticised a preliminary study by US researchers suggesting the coronavirus may have been circulating in China since August 2019, calling it proof of a disinformation campaign.

The virus first emerged late last year in the central city of Wuhan, but the US has repeatedly accused China of a lack of transparency about the outbreak and its origins.

The new paper by researchers at Boston University and Harvard - which has not been peer-reviewed - analysed photos of parking lots at Wuhan hospitals and search trends on the Chinese search engine Baidu.

The team led by Elaine Nsoesie at Boston University said they found "a steep increase in volume starting in August 2019" at Wuhan hospital parking lots, "culminating with a peak in December 2019".

The authors said that while they could not definitively confirm that the data they documented was linked to the virus, it supported conclusions reached by other research suggesting that the virus began circulating earlier than the first reported cases at the end of 2019.

But China's foreign ministry criticised the paper as "full of holes" and "crudely manufactured".

- AFP

Lockdown: Cabinet wants scientists to weigh in before any new decisions are taken

Cabinet has deferred taking any decisions related to amending regulations under alert Level 3 of the national lockdown pending a full health assessment report from the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19.

Advocacy Comment: AmaBhungane fights for media access to courts under lockdown

As vital as it is to a well-functioning democracy, the principle of "open justice" is probably not something that most ordinary South Africans think about every day. But as investigative journalists, we are obsessed with it.

Harvard health expert predicts an additional 100 000 US Covid-19 deaths by September

A Harvard health expert said he expects an additional 100 000 deaths in the US by September.

Confusion over decision-making powers of NCCC understandable, Dlamini-Zuma concedes

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said given the numerous public statements that attributed government decisions to the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), it was understandable there was confusion around it.

Have nationwide protests led to a spike in US coronavirus cases?

Since the killing of George Floyd, tens of thousands of people across the United States and abroad have taken to the streets demanding justice for Floyd and an end to systemic racism.

With such large crowds, by now, you could possibly expect to see an increase in the number of registered coronavirus infections - but that has not been the case so far.

UN General Assembly will be virtual for the first time

This year's UN General Assembly will be held virtually for the first time in history because of the coronavirus pandemic, its president announced on Wednesday.

Private hospitals will take Covid-19 patients from public sector, even at a financial loss

Private healthcare groups told both houses of Parliament's health committees that the rate the state will pay to take patients from the public sector is less than the cost to them – but they will take these patients.

WATCH | Hout Bay hotspot: 'When we sailed out, there was no virus here' - life in a Covid-19 red zone

When Jose de Barros sailed out to sea on 3 February, there wasn't a Covid-19 case in sight.

But when he stepped back onto dry land in Hout Bay, he walked back into one of South Africa's viral hotspots. And he has been fearful ever since.

Covid-19 | 2 Gauteng health officials test positive, including spokesperson

The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed that two officials in the office of Health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku have tested positive for Covid-19.

A SA designer made R2 000 Swarovski-embellished masks – and they sold out

South African fashion designer Rich Mnisi's R1 999 face masks have sold out, despite a social media outcry about the price tag.

Rich Mnisi's R1 999 face mask. (Business Insider)

Covid-19: Radio personality Rob Vember remembers his dad: 'The saddest part is that he died alone'

Former KFM presenter Rob Vember has described his father, Ralph, as a proud and passionate man, who was "addicted" to cooking and loved choral and orchestral music as well as gardening.

Rob Vember with his father, Ralph. (Twitter/@Rob_Vember)

ANALYSIS | Here's how the state justified the tobacco ban in court. Will it be enough?

Can the government justify its decision to ban the sale of tobacco products based on a few inconclusive studies, especially when people have not stopped smoking and its good intentions are mostly proving to have created a breeding ground for the black market?

This is the question the Pretoria High Court judges were left to apply their minds to after the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association tore into the state's argument that banning sales will reduce smoking in the country - and has, in fact, already done so.

Coronavirus morning update: Court bids - latest on cigarette ban challenge, and lockdown regulations

The cigarette ban is both legal and supported by science, the State has argued, while Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma asks for leave to appeal a lockdown regulations ruling.

• There are 55 421 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in SA as of 10 June.
• A total of 1 210 Covid-19 related deaths have been recorded.
• 998 400 tests have been conducted to date.

Here is a wrap of some of our top stories of the day:

Dlamini-Zuma asks for leave to appeal lockdown regulations ruling

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has filed an application for leave to appeal against a High Court judgment that declared various regulations governing levels 3 and 4 as unconstitutional and invalid.

"The regulations drastically affect the lives of all South Africans on a daily basis. If they are in breach of the Constitution, that needs to be determined as a matter of high urgency," Dlamini-Zuma's lawyers argued.

Cigarette ban is both legal and supported by science, state argues in court

The government has maintained in court that Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, acted legally and rationally in banning the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products under the nationwide lockdown, saying the Disaster Management Act affords the minister broad powers to safeguard the health of SA citizens.

Why 'Covid-19' is written on death certificates in spite of other ailments

The Ministerial Advisory Committee is recommending making a distinction between patients who have died as having Covid-19 present, Covid-19-related, or Covid-19 caused, as debate over why no other cause of death is registered on death certificates of people who die with other serious conditions besides the virus.

Western Cape Covid-19 testing backlog drops dramatically

The Western Cape's Covid-19 testing backlog has decreased after setting new parameters that limit who gets tested. Once it has caught up with all its testing, the province might be able to expand who gets tested again.

Is it safe to send your kids to school? The experts weigh in

News24, in collaboration with Parent24 and Health24, hosted an exclusive Q&A session with a panel of five experts with the aim to provide some clarity on whether or not it’s safe for parents to send their children to school.

'My father died alone': Muslim funeral rites restricted due to Covid-19

Like Muslims across the world, South African Esa Alexander could not pray by his father-in-law's hospital bed or customarily wash and shroud the body after he succumbed to Covid-19 last week.

"We could see the body but it was wrapped in plastic so we couldn't touch him," said Alexander, 52, a photographer in Cape Town.

Payment holidays and your credit score

The financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic and related lockdowns have had a major financial impact on South Africans, individually and on many businesses.

One way many are trying to see it through until economic activities start picking up again, has been to ask their bank, landlord or other lender for a so-called payment holiday.

The aim is to help ease the financial pressures experienced during the pandemic, whether on their business or due to their working circumstances having changed.

Western Cape Covid-19 testing backlog drops dramatically

The Western Cape's Covid-19 testing backlog has decreased after setting new parameters that limit who gets tested. 

Once it has caught up with all its testing, the province might be able to expand who gets tested again.

City of Cape Town tears down tents erected by Observatory resident for the homeless

The City of Cape Town has removed two large marquees put up by an Observatory resident to house homeless people ahead of the cold front, which made landfall on Wednesday, because he did not have a permit, GroundUp reported.

The two 6x9 marquees were set up by Observatory resident Terna Gyuse and a few volunteers on Tuesday afternoon on the Village Green. The space where the structures were set up belongs to the City.

Dis-Chem is taking heat for charging staff for some Covid-19 tests, but says it’s complicated

Pharmaceutical retailer Dis-Chem is being criticised for offering free Covid-19 testing to South Africans who may not be able to pay for it themselves, but not providing free testing for its employees unless they turn out to actually have Sars-CoV-2.

Two buildings at the Gauteng Department of Education's head offices have been closed after two staff members tested positive for Covid-19.

In a statement, the department said affected employees along with their families were receiving support and World Health Organisation protocols were being followed.

The offices will be disinfected from Thursday and staff will be able to return to their workstations on Monday.

 Cigarette ban is both legal and supported by science, state argues in court

The government has maintained in court that Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, acted legally and rationally in banning the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products under the nationwide lockdown, saying the Disaster Management Act affords the minister broad powers to safeguard the health of SA citizens.

A month after President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the parole of 19 000 inmates as a measure to combat the spread of Covid-19 in prisons, over 1 800 parolees have been released.

Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed to News24 on Tuesday that a total of 1 894 parolees as of 10 June, have been placed out under the under Covid-19 parole dispensation.

Dlamini-Zuma asks for leave to appeal lockdown regulations ruling

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has filed an application for leave to appeal against a High Court judgment that declared various regulations governing levels 3 and 4 as unconstitutional and invalid.

In the application, her lawyers argued Judge Norman Davis had erred in striking down the disaster regulations on the basis that a number of Level 3 regulations were irrational and unconstitutional.

Mabuyane wants alcohol ban until Level 1 in Eastern Cape, hits back at 'irresponsible' critics

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has fired back at people criticising him for petitioning for an alcohol ban in the province until Level 1 of the lockdown.

Mabuyane's scathing statement comes after criticism this week, mainly from liquor traders and alcohol consumers, for lobbying the national government to reinstate the liquor ban in the Eastern Cape.

UK PM Boris Johnson defends country's efforts to fight virus, global death toll climbs

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday defended what he called Britain's "astonishing" efforts to tackle coronavirus, rejecting accusations that with Europe's worst death toll, his government has nothing to be proud of.

More than 40 000 people are confirmed to have died from Covid-19 in Britain's outbreak so far, although the figure rises to more than 50 000 when suspected cases are include

SA hit as hackers target hospitals during Covid-19 crisis - here's what Life may be facing

The cyber attack that has rocked Life Healthcare hospitals across the country is most likely a form of ransomware, according to cyber-security experts.

Alexandra residents say they are losing faith in the law after Collins Khosa's death

Alexandra residents have rejected a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) report which found no wrongdoing by its soldiers in the death of Collins Khosa.

Schools reopening: High Court strikes EUSA bid to have decision overturned off the roll

An urgent application by the Educators Union of South Africa (EUSA) to interdict the reopening of schools was struck off the roll by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.

'Days of Our Lives' star Judi Evans in hospital battling Covid-19, shares she nearly needed her legs amputated

Judi Evans is currently in hospital battling Covid-19.

The actor, best known for her role as Adrienne Johnson Kiriakis in Days of Our Lives, contracted the virus in May after being initially hospitalised following a horse-riding accident, reports Variety.

Judi Evans has been in hospital for 23 days. (Gregg DeGuire, Getty Images)

Lockdown: Spike in murder rate since alcohol sales ban lifted - Bheki Cele

Since the alcohol sales ban was lifted at the beginning of the Level 3 lockdown in June, there has been a surge in murders after a lull between March and May.

Air Namibia cancelled repatriation flights out of Joburg and Cape Town - and won't say why

Air Namibia has "discontinued" all its charter flights – including special repatriation flights that had been due to take Namibians home from Johannesburg and Cape Town.

SA business confidence drops to lowest in 45 years

In the second quarter of this year, business confidence in South Africa fell to its lowest level ever recorded on the RMB/BER Business Confidence Index, which started in 1975.

Summary of school readiness interaction  

Professors Eugene Weinberg and Heather Zar agree that there is a low risk of children contracting Covid-19 at school. And even if they do, they are likely to have mild symptoms.  

NMU education lecturer Nadeema Musthan says that the school system in SA perpetuates inequality and schools run on the backs of teachers.  

She argues that infrastructure in the Eastern Cape is poor – even before the impact of coronavirus.  

Joseph Gerassi of Redhill School acknowledges that there is a big disparity between private and public schools and says that private schools are in a much better financial and social position to continue with teaching and learning.  

Gerda Kriel is concerned about the mental health of school pupils and advises parents to engage with their children to ensure that they are able to cope with the pandemic.  

She encourages parents to monitor their children's browsing on social media.

No indemnity form can protect you against negligence, says Gerassi.  

Says that there was communication with parents and staff. We take the safety of our students very seriously

Three or more cases in a class would constitute an outbreak in a school, says Prof Zar.  

We are going to get more cases. Parents should not get alarmed.  

This virus is going to be here for months.

Gerassi says schools should not close if one student or teacher gets infected.  

Notes that the school is being prepared to cope with the impact of coronavirus.  

Parents have informed the school if students have come into contact with the virus

Education and schooling should not be conflated, says Musthan.  

The system is set up to reproduce inequality.  

She highlights the appropriateness of teachers for the subject and grade

Visors are second best to masks says Prof Zar.  

Young children especially find masks difficult.  

Covid is an opportunity to restructure the inequality at schools

Children wearing masks all day is not a concern, says Prof Weinberg.  

Masks must be washed regularly.  

Some Vaseline behind the ears helps with irritation behind the ears.  

Not all schools are ready in terms of preparation

Gerassi says Redhill School put together a virtual music festival.  

The school has a radio station which broadcasts online the whole day.  

We're trying not to stop anything that they are used to doing