Covid-19: Tsunami looms as Eastern Cape battles shortage of doctors and nurses, warns professor

A shortage of nurses and doctors, coupled with the health sector's failure to have a coordinated response in the Eastern Cape, has ensured a tsunami wave is on its way, the dean of the Department of Health Sciences at the Nelson Mandela University, Professor Lungile Pepeta, has told News24. 

Dlamini-Zuma filed an application for leave to appeal after the court declared various regulations governing Levels 3 and 4 as unconstitutional and invalid.

Her application will be heard in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria today at 10:00.

'Lockdown dictator' Dlamini-Zuma's reign to end very soon - LFN

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's "reign as the lockdown dictator will come to an end very soon", according to the Liberty Fighters Network (LFN) as it prepares to head to court over the constitutionality and validity of the lockdown regulations.

Trevor Manuel's tribute to his mom

Philma Manuel died of Covid-19 last week at the age of 94. Her son, former finance minister Trevor Manuel, delivered this tribute at her funeral.

Covid-19: Patients refuse to self-isolate or use state quarantine facilities - deputy health minister

The government said its biggest Covid-19 headache is patients refusing to self-isolate or use state quarantine facilities.Joe Phaahla said on average, out of every 100 positive tested people in the Western Cape, only between 15 and 20% agreed to go into quarantine.

PSL’s plans to resume training have been green-lighted

The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa published gazetted Directions relating to Covid -19 Level 3 Regulations on 28 May 2020, which cover the resumption of sport activities.

The plans of the Premier Soccer League have been approved, considering the mitigation strategies and plans in relation to the Level 3 risk adjusted strategy in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.

The plans have further been subject to analysis by Health authorities, who have recommended that the measures put in place by the organisation meet and in some instances exceed the required protocol for a safe return to training and to play in a Biologically Safe Environment.

OPINION | Brazil was a better version of SA – until it wasn’t anymore

Brazil could still happen to us. Yes, the lockdown may have slowed the tide. But nothing has changed about our immense vulnerability, writes BI editor Helena Wasserman.

Covid-19 temporarily paralyses Northern Cape doctor, a very rare symptom globally

Initially, Covid-19 had not made him that ill. On one day, he struggled with a nasal drip, a sore throat on another day, lost his sense of smell for three days and then experienced a loss of taste for two days.

According to neurologists who examined Dr Waltie Vermeulen, there are only a handful of cases where temporary spinal cord paralysis developed.

Here's what you can expect in Mboweni's emergency budget

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about an unprecedented turn of events, leaving the Mboweni-led Treasury to find the funds for a R500 billion economic stimulus package.

Covid-19 has had 'severe impact' on readers' personal finance, News24/Ipsos poll finds

A new Ipsos/News24 poll has revealed the dire effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on many News24 readers' finances, with thousands resorting to dipping into their savings to make ends meet and reporting a severe impact on their financial positions.

Coronavirus morning update: More than 2 000 deaths in SA, latest on vaccine trial, and schools

There are now more than 2 000 confirmed deaths in SA; what you need to know about the first SA Covid-19 vaccine trial; and what regulations say on the phased return of pupils.

Since the start of the #lockdown, much has been done to ramp up South Africa's healthcare system to respond to #COVID19. Here are some of the things that have been accomplished. #ECVisit23June pic.twitter.com/iGXJ3EmVNq

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) June 23, 2020

More than 6000 additional medical personnel have been employed to assist in the fight against #COVID19. #ECVisit23June pic.twitter.com/VE22Zp78Ql

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) June 23, 2020

Government has made significant roads in increasing the country's ventilator capacity for the fight against #COVID19. #ECVisit23June pic.twitter.com/hfYfzOLiyq

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) June 23, 2020

As at June 23, more than 4000 people are in hospital for #COVID19 and are receiving different levels of treatment. #ECVisit23June pic.twitter.com/ATKvkcEJNO

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) June 23, 2020

The latest statistics from the Gender-based Violence (GBV) Command Centre show that, as regulations were eased through a phased approach, the number of calls to the centre decreased.

As of 19 June, the centre had received a total of 57 660 telephone calls, 7 462 Please Call Mes and 3 110 text messages.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a risk-adjusted strategy earlier this year, which introduced a phased approach to five levels of lockdown that would allow for economic activity to continue while managing Covid-19.

School reopening: 2020 NSC exams to go ahead as planned

The 2020 National Senior Certificate exams will go ahead as planned in November and December this year, according to new directions gazetted on Tuesday which addresses the functioning of schools during Covid-19.

These exams will be subject to the realignment of the timetable for the 2020 revised school calendar, the directions say.

Schools reopening under lockdown: What regulations say on the phased return of pupils

The Department of Basic Education has gazetted regulations surrounding schools operating during Covid-19, including dates for the phased return of pupils, as well as guidelines for parents who will not be sending their children back.

Covid-19 wrap: 472 173 global deaths, Iran reports most deaths since April and UK eases restrictions

The novel coronavirus has killed at least 472 173 people since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 11:00 (GMT) on Tuesday.

PSL's long road back to the field remains unclear after 100 days without live action

Despite projections that the accelerating rate of new infections will only reach its peak in mid-July to September, restrictions have been eased with the country now on day 88 of a national lockdown.

The South African Football Association (SAFA), alongside the PSL, have set out in an effort to facilitate the safe return of local soccer, but it is beginning to look an increasingly tall order. 

A Joint Liaison Committee (JLC) including members from both football associations was assembled on 12 May with the task of formulating protocols for the safe return of football.

Two Kaizer Chiefs players test positive for Covid-19

A Kaizer Chiefs statement said: "Following a series of Covid-19 tests conducted last Friday, two Kaizer Chiefs players' results have come back positive from the laboratory.

"A total of 70 individuals, including players, members of the technical team and other club officials were tested for Covid-19 in preparation for the restart of the 2019/20 season."

6 things you need to know about the first SA Covid-19 vaccine trial

The South African Ox1Cov-19 vaccine trial is the first clinical trial in Africa for a Covid-19 vaccine and will begin this week at Wits University.

The number of Covid-19 cases continues to rise in many countries around the world, and vaccine development is widely seen as the last hope for a return to normality.

Covid-19: 'Nothing could have prepared us to deal with this virus' - Dlamini-Zuma tells NCOP

Tasked with formulating regulations to flatten the Covid-19 curve, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has said nothing could have prepared the country for the pandemic.

Dlamini-Zuma joined a debate on government’s Covid-19 response in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday.

She said although coronavirus infections have increased, government has done all it possibly can.

Wits announces SA's first Covid-19 vaccine trial, first participants to be enrolled this week

The University of the Witwatersrand has announced South Africa's first Covid-19 vaccine trial and its first participants will be enrolled this week.

The trial aims to find a vaccine that will prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is the virus that causes Covid-19.

"We began screening participants for the South African Oxford 1 Covid-19 vaccine trial last week and the first participants will be vaccinated this week," Professor of Vaccinology at Wits University and Director of the South Africa Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Shabir Madhi, said in a virtual briefing on Tuesday.

As we looked at the different parts of the country we have been able to implement a strategy to effectively deal with each area. We then resolved to embark on what is called the differentiated approach, says Mkhize.

He says now that we have reduced the restrictions and started opening up, we are seeing that the numbers have started to increase. We are moving towards a devastating and decimating storm. 

Paper menus and no pouring of drinks: Here's how Ocean Basket restaurants will change

As restaurants wait for government to give them a date - and rules - to re-open, eateries like Ocean Basket have already put in place new measures to fight the spread of Covid-19. 

This includes disposable paper menus and a ban on waiters pouring drinks.

"We are ready, all of us are ready. If they say open today, we can open tomorrow," said CEO of Ocean Basket Grace Harding. 

Covid-19 wrap: Virus cases top nine million, Saudi Arabia to hold 'very limited' hajj

Global coronavirus infections have topped nine million as the World Health Organisation (WHO)  warned the pandemic was accelerating. 

Europe has steadily eased its travel lockdowns in recent weeks, and France on Monday took its biggest step back to normality by allowing millions of children to return to school.

OPINION | Standing with refugees during these challenging times