New Zealand reports first new virus cases in 25 days

New Zealand reported its first new cases of coronavirus in almost a month on Tuesday when two recent arrivals from Britain tested positive after being released early from quarantine to visit a dying relative.

The South Pacific nation, which has recorded only 22 deaths among a population of five million, declared last week it had eliminated community Covid-19 transmission - allowing it to relax social distancing measures and rely on strict border controls.One of the two women - who travelled from Britain via Doha and Brisbane - showed mild symptoms after landing at Auckland airport on 7 June, but her symptoms were ascribed to a pre-existing condition, local media reported.

The pair were allowed to leave two-week isolation early on 13 June on compassionate grounds and drove by car to Wellington, making contact with no one on the way, health department director-general Ashley Bloomfield said.

He said they tested positive after arriving in Wellington and were in isolation, along with the only relative they had contact with in the capital.

Officials immediately began tracking anyone that came in contact with the pair, aged in their 30s and 40s.

Bloomfield said he was not fearful the cases could lead to a fresh outbreak because systems were in place to trace their movements.

"A new case is something we hoped we wouldn't get, but it's also something we expected and have planned for," he told reporters.

AFP

Covid-19 wrap: International news

More than 8 million confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide: AFP tally

More than 8 million cases of novel coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide, with more than half in the United States and Europe, according to an AFP tally from official sources at 22:00 GMT on Monday.

At least 8 000 202 infections including 435 176 deaths, mostly in Europe, have been registered since the pandemic first emerged in China late last year.

Europe has 2 417 902 cases with 188 085 deaths. The USA has 2 110 182 cases and 116 081 deaths.

The number of confirmed cases has doubled since 10 May and another one million new cases have been detected in the last eight days.

That likely represents only a fraction of the real number of infections because most countries are only testing the most serious cases or only have limited testing capacity.

AFP

Latin America and Caribbean pass 80 000 Covid-19 deaths: AFP tally

Latin America and the Caribbean on Monday passed 80 000 Covid-19 deaths, more than half in Brazil as the virus accelerates across the region, according to an AFP count based on official figures.

Since the disease first spread in Latin America in March, a total of 80 505 deaths have been recorded, of which 43 959 occurred in Brazil, the second country in the world in number of fatalities after the United States.

AFP

Beijing reports 27 new virus cases as WHO warns of cause for 'concern'

China on Tuesday reported another 27 domestically transmitted coronavirus cases in Beijing, where a fresh cluster linked to a wholesale food market has sparked WHO concern and prompted a huge trace and test programme.

The new cases bring the number of infections confirmed in the Chinese capital over the last five days to 106, as city officials locked down more than 20 communities in the city and tested tens of thousands of people.

The National Health Commission also reported four new domestic infections in Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing, plus another in southwestern Sichuan province.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the new cluster was a cause for concern, given Beijing's size and connectivity.

"A cluster like this is a concern and it needs to be investigated and controlled - and that is exactly what the Chinese authorities are doing," WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan said.

AFP

Less than 400 US virus deaths in 24 hours for 2nd day: Johns Hopkins

The United State recorded less than 400 coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours for the second day in a row, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

There were 385 new deaths at 00:30 on Tuesday, the tracker run by the Baltimore-based university showed, after a 24-hour toll of 382 the day before.This is the lowest daily death toll since the end of March.

AFP

Fears of a Covid-19 second wave, DA and govt back in court over lockdown, 'nauseating' conditions at some hospitals

Here are today’s top stories

The WHO has warned countries to remain on high alert after more than 100 cases were recorded in Beijing, China, amid concern around a fresh outbreak. No new deaths have been recorded, however.

Top attorney Comfort Ngidi has written to KwaZulu-Natal’s three top universities threatening them with legal action if they don’t produce a plan to reopen. Ngidi, who is a father of four children at three different universities, claims he has tried to engage with universities on their reopening plans, to no avail.

The government has responded in court to an application filed by the DA to challenge the constitutionality of the Disaster Management Act, and wants the court to dismiss the application with costs.

Medical staff at some Eastern Cape hospitals have complained of unhygienic working conditions. Some staff members at one hospital have engaged in a go-slow because of a shortage of protective gear. 

Meanwhile, Eastern Cape health workers have complained of having to wait up to a month to get Covid-19 test results. In comparison, a province like Western Cape waits just a few days. Gauteng, meanwhile, is resorting to using private labs to process tests.

As members of the beauty industry continue to suffer being unable to work, one hairstylist has begun writing protest slogans in his hair. Onele Cembi has begun using his dreadlocks to write slogans in protest of not being able to work.

Stay informed with News24

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- Compiled by Kerushun Pillay

Over 100 cases in new Beijing Covid-19 outbreak: WHO

More than 100 cases of the novel coronavirus have been officially recorded in the fresh outbreak in Beijing, the World Health Organisation said on Monday.

As lockdown restrictions ease and countries in Europe lifted their borders, the WHO warned countries to stay on alert for a possible resurgence of COVID-19 infections.

The UN health agency said it understood no new deaths have been reported thus far in the Chinese capital but added that given Beijing's size and connectivity, the outbreak was a cause for concern.

Woman dies at Cape Town retirement village hit by Covid-19 despite precautions

One woman died at Bellville's Oude Westhof retirement facility and more than 40 residents and staff have contracted Covid-19, village manager Gerhard van der Merwe said on Monday.

This was despite the strict safety measures the facility introduced even before the lockdown was implemented at the end of March.

In spite of all the village's efforts, the numbers of people who contracted the coronavirus grew and last week, one of the residents died.

Covid-19: Medical student who died in Cuba to finally be buried on after his body arrives home

Medical student Sibusiso Qongqo who died in Cuba, will be buried on Youth Day alongside his grandfathers at his ancestral Cofimvaba home in the Eastern Cape, his family told News24 on Monday. 

News24 previously reported that Qongqo died on 29 April - 15 days after celebrating his 28th birthday, following a short illness.

Driving with J9: The 90-day grace period does NOT apply to all expired licences

•The 90-day grace period is not for ALL expired licences.

• Renew your expired vehicle or driver's licence as soon as possible.

• There are no penalties, but there are arrears fees to be paid.

Lockdown travel update: Gautrain airport service opens, FlySafair starts new Lanseria route

On Monday, FlySafair and Mango become the latest airlines to take to the skies on domestic routes, while the Gautrain finally also resumed its airport service.

ANALYSIS | Here's who has been hit hardest by SA's lockdown

In trying to limit the spread of Covid-19, policymakers globally have the difficult task of balancing the positive health effects of lockdowns against their economic costs, particularly the burdens lockdowns impose on low-income and food-insecure households.

Low-income workers have been hit hardest, and the biggest shocks were to mining, service and non-essential industries.

Western Cape, Gauteng and Eastern Cape hint at reinstating alcohol ban

Premiers of the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng have warned its citizens against the abuse of alcohol during the lockdown.

Of the three, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has stated that he wants the ban on liquor reinstated.

Covid-19 wrap: Indian city to reimpose lockdown, virus impact could kill 51 000 children in MENA

- A lockdown will be reimposed on Friday on some 15 million people in the Indian city of Chennai.

- UN agencies warned that the coronavirus pandemic could lead to the deaths of an additional 51 000 under-fives.

- Norway's health authorities said they had suspended an app designed to help trace the spread of the new coronavirus.

Lockdown: Trust in Ramaphosa down by almost 10%, while 63% say no to booze sales - survey

Trust in President Cyril Ramaphosa's leadership is declining, and fewer people agree that Ramaphosa is taking the lead in managing the Covid-19 pandemic, research by Ask Afrika has shown.

The survey also shows that many people are experiencing financial difficulties and food insecurity.

UIF coronavirus payouts: Some employers may have stolen cash meant for workers

Amid reports of companies stealing Covid-19 payouts meant for workers, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has appointed auditors to "follow the money trail".

"It is alleged that there are companies that have not paid the workers what is due to them. We are aware of some companies allegedly loaning employees the money and that is not legal. We are also aware of other companies that are allegedly paying part of the money and not the full amount, as well as companies using the money for something else other than the intended purpose,” said the Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi in a statement.

More than 100 000 matrics are in line for free TVs, thanks to a coronavirus plan

On Monday the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (Usaasa) published a fast-track tender for local manufacturers that can supply 32-inch HD LED TVs for indigent grade 12 pupils across the country.

Usaasa anticipates that the TVs will be delivered over a period of two months. 

Covid-19 wrap: Paris restaurants reopen, coronavirus changing the way Londoners get to work

- Restaurant and cafe owners in Paris get back to business.

- Getting to work will be even more of a challenge following the United Kingdom's coronavirus lockdown.

- British energy giant BP will take a hit of between $13-17.5 billion in the second quarter on "sustained" coronavirus fallout.

Motshekga taken to court for 'backtracked' promise to reinstate feeding programme

The urgent application, brought in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria by Equal Education and supported by the Equal Education Law Centre and SECTION27, describes the struggles of pupils and their families in their own words, GroundUp reported.

In some households, it's a choice between buying food or the data they need to continue studying online.

'It is dirty, nauseating': Doctors work under terrible circumstances

Floors covered in human waste, bags full of medical waste in the corridors, beds without sheets and naked patients covered in sheets being wheeled into theatres.

This was the scene at Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth this week, supposedly a key institution in the fight again the Covid-19 coronavirus in the Eastern Cape.

"It’s a dirty place at the best of times, but now you get nauseous if you’re in there," said a doctor at the hospital.

Civil society steps in to monitor complaints against cops and army

The Anti-Repression Working Group is one of many working groups established by the Covid-19 People's Coalition, reports GroundUp.

The working group consists of hundreds of monitors across the country, who have been on the ground, reporting back on how lockdown rules have been implemented.

Covid-19 wrap: Chile's toll to include suspected virus deaths, China reports 49 more cases

- Chile's official death toll will include suspected cases, which could double the current figure.

- Britain recorded 36 new deaths of people testing positive for the new coronavirus, the lowest daily toll since 21 March.

- Peru has freed 1 500 inmates over the past two months to ease overcrowding in prisons.

Forget the banks, insurers are more vulnerable to Covid-19

Fortunes differ for insurers as they navigate the uncharted Covid-19 territory. The question is: who seems to be on the right path and who appears vulnerable?

Why the Eastern Cape's lobby to have alcohol ban reinstated is likely to fail

The Eastern Cape's poor response to the Covid-19 pandemic is part of the reason why the Cabinet would not consider its request to have the alcohol ban reinstated, two party leaders in the province told News24. 

Hospital in QwaQwa in breach of Covid rules

The department of employment and labour in the Free State is investigating Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Hospital in QwaQwa for contravening Covid-19 regulations.

Coronavirus morning update: Testing strategy questioned, latest on obesity and Covid-19

Scientists "cannot fathom" why health authorities are sticking to a testing strategy which isn't producing the necessary results; and what experts say on Covid-19 and obesity.