Cape Town will soon have a "Mass-Fatality Temporary Facility" to refrigerate and store hundreds of patients who succumb to Covid-19.

This was announced on Thursday by the Western Cape provincial government, which is building the site in partnership with the City of Cape Town.

The makeshift morgue will be able to hold up to 770 dead bodies - at full capacity - and will be located at the Tygerberg Hospital's sprawling estate in Cape Town's northern suburbs.

"The facility will include offices, 12 refrigerated containers and the required sewer and electrical services to operationalise the facility," reported Dr Saadiq Kariem, chief of operations at the provincial health department.

#WesternCapeCovidUpdate

A new "Mass Fatality" facility is being built in Cape Town to deal with mass-deaths.

At Tygerberg Hospital.

Including "12 refrigerated containers" for COVID-19 corpses.@News24 @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/sSXM9BM0tE

— MURRAY WILLIAMS (@MurrayRSA) June 25, 2020

The surge was expected - Gauteng health MEC as positive cases rise to 26 156

Gauteng Health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku says the surge of cases in the province was expected after it recorded the second highest number of Covid-19 positive cases in the country.

As of 25 June, the province had recorded 26 156 positive cases, with 6 627 recoveries and 147 deaths.

"Gauteng is the highest in terms of active cases. We are worried about this as our recoveries are slowing down. They are only the 10% of the country," Masuku said at a virtual briefing on Thursday.

If one subtracts the recoveries, this means the province has 19 529 active cases.

"The surge was expected, especially with the changing levels of lockdown. The virus will spread with increased activity - therefore as a society we need to limit unnecessary activity.

"We see people organising parties and gatherings. That is something we discourage as that is how the spread can continue," he added.

The stats were presented by the provincial government during a command council update meeting with the media.

The presentation showed that during Level 4 (1 to 31 May), cases recorded were 2 557, with 1 166 recoveries and 22 deaths but during the period of 1 June until present (Level 3 lockdown), 22 123 cases were recorded, with 4 513 recoveries and 114 deaths.

Two nurses died of Covid-19 at Groote Schuur Hospital, the Western Cape Department of Health said on Thursday.

Sister Eva Isaacs had worked at Groote Schuur Hospital for 20 years. Sister Patricia Coetzee had worked for 34 years, including in the intensive care unit.

"We express our sincere condolences to their family, friends and colleagues. They were both well respected members of the nursing team. 

"Their hard work and commitment will always be remembered and missed by their colleagues."

Two Groote Schuur Hospital nurses with 54 years of years of experience between them, have died of Covid-19. The hospital said they were both well-respected members of the nursing team | @itchybyte https://t.co/zRLssXccpN

— News24 (@News24) June 25, 2020

58 learners, 188 educators tested positive for Covid-19 in Gauteng

176 schools in Gauteng have been affected by Covid-19 in the province, MEC Panyaza Lesufi revealed during the weekly Provincial Command Council update on Thursday.

"Of those schools, 58 learners and 188 educators tested positive.

"We are working very hard to ensure that the affected schools are reopened," Lesufi said.

Lesufi was providing an update on the status of schools since they opened their doors to Grade 7 and 12 pupils on 8 June under Level 3 of the lockdown.

In addition, 95% of the schools in the province remain operational, with 2 045 out of the 2 161 reopening.

The department has received close to 1 000 applications from teachers who claim to be living with co-morbidities asking to be able to teach from home. The majority of these emanated from Ekurhuleni South. Close to 500 pupils living with co-morbodities have also made applications. The majority of these also came from Ekurhuleni South.

SA’s biggest cigarette maker is now accepting orders – and some stores hope for 1 July delivery

British American Tobacco has confirmed it is accepting "holding orders" from customers, so cigarettes can get to stores quickly once the ban on their sale is lifted.

It did not comment on when that may be.

Some stores are betting on the tobacco prohibition being lifted on 1 July, and are preparing for a rush when it does.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says they have had 98% attendance since schools opened. She said it means parents trust them. They are looking at how they can assist the 2%.

PICS | 'It's not the right time' - Cape Town teachers protest for schools to close amid Covid-19 peak

Teachers from several Cape Town schools protested in morning traffic on Thursday - demanding schools be closed to protect pupils and teachers' lives.

Covid-19 wrap: US infections soar to near record, Gulf passes 400 000 cases and Eiffel Tower reopens

Keeping you up to date on the latest novel coronavirus (Covid-19) news from around the world.

'We are only here a short while' - grieving brother of Cape Town doctor who died of Covid-19

Dr Fuad Jakoet was a doctor from a well-known family of physicians, who plied their trades in many Cape Town communities. Jakoet died of Covid-19 on Youth Day, with Salt River in mourning for the beloved doctor.

'There isn’t much merit from a scientific perspective in banning smoking' - top scientist

One of the country's top scientists has argued that, from a scientific perspective, there isn't merit in banning smoking but allowing the sale of alcohol.Professor Shabir Madhi says the damage caused by smoking does not occur overnight, and says the discussion around the sale of cigarettes has become unmanageable.

Coronavirus morning update: Warning from top scientist, and the latest on Western Cape

SA will probably experience 3 to 4 spikes into 2022, says a top scientist; and almost 1 000 people are in strict quarantine as Covid-19 "peaks" in the Western Cape.

South Africa's Covid-19 death toll has surged pass the 2 000 mark as of Wednesday, according to Health Minister Zweli Mhkize.

"Regrettably, we report a further 103 Covid-19 related deaths - 15 from Eastern Cape, 25 from Gauteng and 63 from Western Cape. This brings the total deaths to 2 205."

The cumulative number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is 111 796 with 5 688 new cases identified.

1 416 894 tests have been completed in total of which 34 122 new tests are reported.

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Here are some of our top stories of the day in 7 tweets:

https://t.co/By0KBr5HQV | Madonsela and co: Govt should have considered social impact of Covid-19 regulations https://t.co/VzfxkSLLlc

— News24 (@News24) June 24, 2020

High Court judgment which declared some lockdown regulations invalid, needs to be assessed by a higher court irrespective of whether it is correct or not, Dlamini-Zuma's legal representative has argued in her leave to appeal application. | @AlexMitchley https://t.co/g3mVukpkSN

— News24 (@News24) June 24, 2020

Covid-19: Should more grades return to school amid spike in cases? Here's what unions think | @Sesona_Ngqaks https://t.co/tGeOma6GG2

— News24 (@News24) June 24, 2020

https://t.co/By0KBr5HQV | EC education dept denies over 200 Covid-19-positive pupils, staff were left stranded outside hotel https://t.co/Z4BTEifSS4

— News24 (@News24) June 24, 2020

https://t.co/By0KBr5HQV | Covid-19: We are fighting 'a biological warfare war' - SANDF https://t.co/ZJV8qfYGyF

— News24 (@News24) June 24, 2020

https://t.co/By0KBr5HQV | Almost 1 000 people in strict quarantine as Covid-19 'peaks' in the Western Cape https://t.co/fwnem9PmLc

— News24 (@News24) June 24, 2020

City hairstylists and beauticians have reported an overwhelming response to their reopening after lockdown restrictions | @WitnessKZN https://t.co/cjkMeLVvkw

— News24 (@News24) June 24, 2020

Stay informed with News24

Special report | We remember those who died of Covid-19
New Level 3 regulations | Here’s what will be allowed going forward
Stay safe | Advice for keeping safe in supermarkets, schools and on public transport
FAQs | News24 answers all your questions
Checklist | These are the first symptoms
Rolling coverage | All the latest Covid-19 news in one place

Covid-19: Cape Town principals call on Ramaphosa to close schools

Principals, teachers, and parents plan to picket in Cape Town on Thursday against the "premature reopening of schools" which they say is compromising the safety of pupils during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A group of high and primary school principals wrote a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Cabinet a week ago, appealing to the government to review its decision to reopen schools.

The letter - compiled by principals from Heathfield High, Steenberg High, Floreat High and Athlone High - said "the decision to reopen primary and high schools on 1 June was the wrong one. We contend that the timing is bad as wintry weather brings with it seasonal illness such as influenza … suffering and death due to Covid-19 are rising".

"As concerned principals, we are invoking constitutional, revolutionary and spiritual values in reaching out to you our country's leaders…

"As principals who care, we have to consider and fight for the right to life of human beings under our watch. Our children and teachers are terrified of contracting the coronavirus… Personal protective equipment, such as masks, is no guarantee against infection.

"We ask that schooling be suspended countrywide… We are willing to meet with a Department of Basic Education delegation to discuss a postponement of the external matric examinations and a trimming of the subject lesson content," said the principals.

Govt outlines measures to prevent, mitigate spread of Covid-19 when ECDs reopen

Early childhood development centres (ECD) might be reopening soon. 

Although the reopening date has not been announced, the Department of Social Development released a circular this week regarding the preparation and planning for the centres and partial care facilities.

Several ECD owners have been calling for the department to allow them to reopen, arguing that the centres serve as places of safety for children.

Trade union Solidarity's Occupational Guild for Social Workers and their School Support Centre (SCC) have also taken the department to court regarding the reopening of private nursery schools, but the case has been postponed to next Tuesday, News24 reported.

Almost 1 000 Western Cape residents are in quarantine, Premier Alan Winde announced on Wednesday.

The province has 41 quarantine and isolation facilities - comprising both public and private facilities - housing 948 people.

Transport to and from these sites has been provided by the Red Dot transport service which the provincial government pioneered.

It consists of a 100-strong fleet of specially sterilised minibus taxis.

Dlamini-Zuma on lockdown: Right or wrong, regulation challenge needs to be heard in higher court

The High Court judgment which declared some Level 3 and 4 lockdown regulations invalid, is of profound importance and needs to be assessed by a higher court irrespective of whether it is correct or not.

This was one of the arguments put forward by senior counsel Wim Trengove, acting on behalf of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in her leave to appeal application before the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.

Madonsela and co: Govt should have considered social impact of Covid-19 regulations

Professor Thuli Madonsela, as part of the Social Justice and Covid-19 Policy and Relief Monitoring Alliance (SCOPRA), has highlighted shortfalls in the implementation of the Disaster Management Act (DMA) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Department of Basic Education is two weeks away from phasing in other grades but teacher unions are still worried, given what transpired when some grades returned earlier this month.

According to gazetted regulations, Grades R, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 11 are expected to return to school from 6 July followed by Grades 4, 5, 8 and 9 on 3 August. Autistic pupils under the age of 13, as well as final-year students who are 18 and older will also return on 6 July.

But teacher unions say an assessment is needed because some schools, mostly in rural and disadvantaged areas, are still experiencing challenges they encountered when pupils in Grades 7 and 12 went back to school.

The unions say this is evident in the number of reported cases among pupils and teachers which led to school closures across the country for sanitising purposes.

Why vaccines need to be tried and tested in different populations across the world

We cannot only have vaccine development in developed countries, says Professor Helen Rees, as this will put the rest of the world at a great disadvantage.

The race to develop a Covid-19 vaccine continues, and positive news has been doing the rounds this week as the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) is set to embark on the Ox1Cov-19 vaccine trial – the first clinical trial in Africa for a Covid-19 vaccine, Health24 reports.

Speaking at the virtual webinar hosted by the university on Tuesday, Professor Helen Rees, executive director of the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Unit professor spoke about the importance of Covid-19 vaccine development needing to be a global effort, and stressed that the opportunity to participate in trials must ensure that Africa is not left behind like it was in the past.

EC education dept denies over 200 Covid-19-positive pupils, staff were left stranded outside hotel

The Eastern Cape Department of Health has denied social media reports that 204 pupils and staff - who tested positive for Covid-19 at Makaula Secondary School - were left stranded outside a hotel on Tuesday night.

Department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said the reports were a gross exaggeration and deliberate attempt to agitate the public.

Covid-19 wrap: 477 570 worldwide deaths, crisis sinks global economy and UK experts warn of second wave

- Coronavirus toll at 11:00 GMT Wednesday

- Covid-19 crisis sinks global economy in 2020, collapsing GDP 4.9% - IMF

- Call for mandatory masks as Iran virus toll nears 10 000

SA economy to contract to worst level in 90 years

South Africa will record its worst economic performance since the Great Depression with Treasury projecting a contraction of 7.2% because of the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the already weak economic environment.

During the tabling of the special adjustment budget on Wednesday, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni spoke frankly about the negative impact of the pandemic on the world economy that is set to contract by 5.2% with millions of workers losing their jobs. 

Covid-19: Yet another Eastern Cape school closes after pupil, staffer test positive

West Bank Senior Secondary School in King William's Town closed on Tuesday after a staff member and a Grade 12 pupil tested positive.

The closure was announced by the school's deputy principal KL Biko in a letter to parents on Tuesday.

Since the reopening of schools on 8 June, the provincial government was forced to shut 196 schools due to Covid-19.