Gauteng will overtake Western Cape with most Covid-19 cases in coming days, says Mkhize

Gauteng will emerge with the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the coming days, overtaking the Western Cape, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.

In a statement on Sunday, the minister announced that the latest cumulative number of cases in the country was 138 134, with 43 new deaths taking the total to 2 456. 

Eastern Cape healthcare has collapsed: ‘Sick people are fighting each other’

The Eastern Cape healthcare system has collapsed, say doctors and healthcare workers who are employed in the province.

“We are sitting with a situation where patients are lying in the corridors of hospitals like Livingstone in Port Elizabeth and are dying, and there may soon be a similar situation Dora Nginza in Zwide,” a doctor told City Press’ sister publication, Rapport.

Limpopo's Provincial Coronavirus Command Council (PCCC) has accused some teachers of submitting fake doctor's certificates, on their vulnerability to Covid-19 because of comorbidities, to avoid returning to work on 6 July.

In a statement released after its meeting on Sunday, the council said education authorities had received more than 700 applications from teachers to be exempt from attending school due to comorbidities, but only 400 had been granted. 

It said they were still seeing suspicious medical certificates being provided with applications "from a certain section of doctors".

Taxis will resume transporting passengers at 100% capacity, Santaco said in a briefing on Sunday.

Its president, Phillip Taaibosch, said this decision was taken because the association had received no cooperation from government after scheduled meetings with Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula never materialised.

Taaibosch said they were aware that their taxis could be impounded but said that, should this be the case, they would be forced to park all their taxis until the impounded ones were released.

Santaco said they would still adhere to regulations on sanitising and that all passengers would wear masks.

It promised that there would be no violence.   

There are 34 285 confirmed coronavirus cases in Gauteng, with 8580 recoveries and 166 deaths.

A total number of 1332 of people are currently hospitalised in the public and private facility.

"The Gauteng Department of Health has seen an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases across the hospitals over the last 14 days which resulted to a high demand for oxygen and ventilators.

"As more Covid-19 cases are reported, number of admissions and bed occupancy rate for critical patients has increased which put more pressure on ventilators, oxygen points and oxygen supplies," the Gauteng health department said in a statement on Sunday.

European experts are alarmed by the botched response to the coronavirus crisis in the US

Experts in Europe are looking on in horror as the US coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen, in contrast to declines in their own countries.

As the pandemic first began to sweep across the world in the first few months of the year, many nations in Europe were caught off-guard, much as the US was.

Infection rates climbed steeply in both continents.

More than 10 million cases of the new coronavirus have been officially declared around the world, half of them in Europe and the United States, according to an AFP tally at 09:30 GMT on Sunday based on official sources.

At least 10 003 942 infections, including 498 779 deaths, have been registered globally.

Europe remains the hardest hit continent with 2 637 546 cases including 195 975 fatalities, while the United States has 2 510 323 infections including 125 539 deaths.

The rate of infections worldwide continues to rise, with one million new cases recorded in just six days.

The tallies, using data collected by AFP from national authorities and information from the World Health Organisation (WHO), probably reflect only a fraction of the actual number of infections.

Many countries are testing only symptomatic or the most serious cases and some do not have the capacity to carry out widescale testing.

- AFP

No more money for Covid-19

Provinces are running out of funds needed to create infrastructure to help cater for growing numbers of Covid-19 coronavirus patients.

WATCH | Covid-19: Inside a NMB hospital where dirt lines hallways, doctors clean wards

The crisis at some Nelson Mandela Bay hospitals has reached new lows as doctors are having to clean wards and wash bed linen, while dirt stands in hallways amid crippling staff shortages.

News24 readers adapting well to lockdown life despite frustration over regulations - poll

Despite unhappiness over lockdown regulations, most News24 readers appear to be adjusting well to lockdown life, adapting relatively to the demands of working from or studying at home, and accepting limitations on their freedoms.

New research offers details about the mysterious 'Covid toes' symptom - but raises questions, too

Dermatologists detected an usual symptom among coronavirus patients in April: purple, swollen toes that appeared frostbitten.

kykNET's eNuus impacted by Covid-19 case as eMedia shuts newsroom for deep-clean

eMedia's daily Afrikaans TV news bulletin eNuus produced for kykNET (DStv 144) and kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) on MultiChoice satellite pay-TV service was disrupted on Saturday after a colleague tested positive for Covid-19. The Hyde Park newsroom in Johannesburg has been shut down for deep cleaning.

OPINION | Pitting health against economy is a road to disaster

Across Africa there have been strident, apparently contradictory Covid-19 calls made to governments by concerned citizens, health care workers, economists and businesspeople.

GRAPHICS | Gauteng now recording more Covid-19 cases a day than the Western Cape has at any point

South Africa's most populous province, Gauteng, is now recording more Covid-19 cases every day than at any point during the Western Cape's outbreak.

WATCH | 'I don't sleep. I'm always getting Covid-19 calls' - PE undertaker called on to store bodies

One of Port Elizabeth's biggest funeral parlour services says the phone is constantly ringing as hospitals and families look for safe spaces to store the bodies of Covid-19 patients.

Covid-19: Apathy? Just 37% of News24 readers expect to be infected, News24/Ipsos poll finds

A News24/Ipsos poll has revealed what appears to be high levels of apathy among News24 readers toward Covid-19, and particularly among young people.

Coronavirus morning update: Nurse tells of Covid-19 'war', latest on UIF, and update on regulations

A Groote Schuur Hospital nurse describes Covid-19 as "a war"; UIF’s great struggle; and Level 3: you can visit friends and family at casinos, restaurants - but not at home.

As of today, the cumulative number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa is 131 800, with 7 210 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours. 

73 new deaths have been recorded.

3 from KwaZulu Natal, 13 from Eastern Cape, 17 from Gauteng Province and 40 from Western Cape. This brings the total deaths to 2 413.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States rose to more than 2.5 million on Saturday, according to a Reuters tally, as states including Arizona and Florida saw record rises.

More than 125 000 Americans have died of Covid-19, the highest known death toll from the disease in the world.

Schools: 523 pupils, 1 169 staff test positive for Covid-19 - Dept of Basic Education

The Department of Basic Education says 523 pupils and 1 169 school staff members have tested positive for Covid-19.In a statement on Saturday, the department said 775 schools across South Africa had been impacted.

Africa's unsung army of women wage war on Covid-19

Poorly paid or not at all, these unsung armies of mostly female community health workers have for years doled out advice and health services to families living in remote villages and urban slums who lack formal support.

Recruited and trained by government and charities - they are found from Kenya to Tanzania, Ethiopia to Malawi, Liberia to South Africa - the women go door to door, dispensing advice on everything from family planning to immunisations.

Covid-19 wrap: Nearly 10 million cases worldwide, WHO seeks to raise $31.3 billion for virus fight

A World Health Organization-led coalition fighting the Covid-19 pandemic is asking government and private sector donors to help raise $31.3 billion in the next 12 months to develop and deliver tests, treatments and vaccines for the disease.

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Gauteng as of 26 June 2020 sits at 31 344, with 7 712 recoveries and 149 deaths.

Out of a total of 26 649 contacts traced (these are individuals who were in contact with people who tested positive for Covid-19); 17 011 people have completed the 14 days monitoring period with no symptoms reported and therefore they are de-isolated.

A total number of 1240 of people are currently hospitalised in the public and private facility. 

- Gauteng Department of Health

WATCH | Coronavirus: The 11 countries where WHO Europe says Covd-19 is on the rise

Which 11 countries in WHO's European region have seen their Covid-19 outbreaks accelerate in recent weeks?

International news Covid-19 wrap: 

Brazil registers 46 860 additional coronavirus cases, 990 deaths 

Brazil registered 46 860 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours and 990 additional deaths, the Health Ministry said on Friday.

The nation has now registered 1 274 974 total confirmed cases of the virus and 55 961 deaths.

Reuters

Indonesia reports biggest daily rise in coronavirus infections with 1 385 cases      

Indonesia on Saturday reported its biggest daily increase in coronavirus infections with 1 385 new cases, taking the total to 52 812, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said.

Yurianto also said there had been 37 more coronavirus-related deaths, taking the total number of fatalities to 2 720.

Separately, local authorities said that nine people aboard a flight from Indonesia to Cambodia tested positive after reaching Cambodia. Of them, one was Indonesian and eight Cambodians.

Reuters

Hotels and ashrams repurposed for Delhi coronavirus surge     

Staff at the luxury Suryaa hotel used to wear bright saris as they welcomed guests. Now they must don medical suits and handle gurneys as New Delhi desperately prepares for a predicted surge in coronavirus cases in the coming weeks.

The pandemic is still raging in India with more than half a million cases. The capital, home to 25 million people, is the country's worst-hit city - its hospitals at breaking point and authorities reaching deep to confront the crisis.

The Delhi authorities have even started converting a spiritual centre or ashram into a coronavirus isolation facility and hospital with 10 000 beds, many made of cardboard.

AFP

Australia's Victoria struggles to contain coronavirus    

Australia's state of Victoria recorded 41 new confirmed cases of coronavirus on Saturday, double the daily rate seen a week ago, struggling to gain control over the pandemic while the rest of the country continues easing social distancing restrictions.

Victoria, the country's second-most-populated state, has now seen 11 straight days of double-digit new cases, most linked to known outbreaks in Melbourne's suburbs, health officials said.

Victoria has 204 of Australia's total of about 270 active cases. "We are very concerned," deputy chief health officer of Victoria, Annaliese van Diemen, said at a press conference.

Reuters        

Covid-19: Dirco closes OR Tambo Building after 2 staffers test positive

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has temporarily closed the OR Tambo Building in Pretoria after two staff members tested positive for Covid-19.

International Covid-19 wrap:

New US coronavirus cases hit 45 242 for biggest one-day increase of pandemic

The United States recorded 45 242 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, the largest single-day increase of the pandemic, according to a Reuters tally, bringing the total number of Americans who have tested positive to at least 2.48 million.

The new record for positive Covid-19 tests comes as several states at the centre of a new surge in infections took steps back from efforts to ease restrictions on businesses.

Covid-19 is the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus.

Governor Greg Abbott ordered bars across Texas to close by mid-day and required restaurants to limit indoor seating capacity to 50%, while Florida state officials told bars to immediately stop serving alcohol on their premises.

Reuters

India passes 500 000 coronavirus cases

India now has more than 500 000 confirmed coronavirus cases, according to government figures released Saturday that showed a record daily leap of 18 500 new infections.

Authorities said a total of 15 685 people had died after another 385 fatalities were added to the toll in 24 hours. The pandemic is not expected to peak in India for several more weeks and experts say the number of cases could pass one million before the end of July.

AFP

Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 687 to 193 243 - RKI The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 687 to 193 243, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Saturday.

The reported death toll rose by six to 8 954, the tally showed.

Reuters

Mexico reports 5 441 new coronavirus cases, 719 more deaths

Mexico's health ministry reported on Friday 5 441 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and 719 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 208 392 cases and 25 779 deaths.

The government has said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.    

Reuters      

Level 3: You can visit friends and family at casinos, restaurants - but not at home

With the new Level 3 lockdown regulations gazetted, you will soon be able to visit friends and family at restaurants, cinemas and casinos, but you are not legally allowed to visit them at home.

During President Cyril Ramaphosa's address on 17 June, he announced that Cabinet had decided to ease restrictions on a few more economic activities.

Coronavirus morning update: Lockdown regulations, cigarette ban court bids dismissed

The Western Cape High Court has ruled that lockdown regulations are justified; while a bid to have the cigarette ban overturned, has also been dismissed with costs.

There are 124 590 coronavirus cases in the country after 6 215 new infections were reported.

48 new deaths brings the total deaths to 2 340.

There are 64 111 recoveries.

Covid-19 wrap: Texas 'halts' reopening amid new surge, toilet paper hoarding back in Australia

The governor of Texas temporarily halted the state’s reopening as Covid-19 infections and hospitalisations surged and the United States set a record for a one-day increase in cases.

Texas’ rising numbers are part of a nationwide resurgence reported in states that were spared the brunt of the initial outbreak or moved early to lift restrictions on residents and businesses.

City of Cape Town pays tribute to firefighter who died of Covid-19

The City of Cape Town on Friday paid tribute to one of its firefighters after he died of Covid-19.

The 48-year-old divisional commander, Makosandile Mbhokhwe, died in hospital on Sunday, 21 June, the City said in a statement.

Five Nedbank employees are in 14-day quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19.

The bank confirmed this to News24 after an employee, who asked to remain anonymous, complained that staff at its offices in Meadowdale, Johannesburg, had been being forced to work despite colleagues testing positive."Of the five active cases at work, one of them is in hospital.

A few weeks ago when they cases started emerging we were told to leave because we were filled with anxiety.

In commemoration of Freedom Charter, Ramaphosa calls on private sector's assistance

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the private sector to display a spirit of social solidarity by making available facilities to assist the country in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said the reality in South Africa was that people living in densely populated informal areas would find it either difficult or impossible to self-isolate or quarantine.

Tshwane bus services suspended, depots closed after positive case

The City of Tshwane had to temporarily suspend its bus operations and close its depots on Friday following a positive Covid-19 case.

In a statement, the City said affected depots and the buses would be disinfected and that the suspension of operations was needed to lower the risk of the virus spreading further.

Holidays still banned: South Africans only allowed to take day trips

Government has decided not to relax travel rules in South Africa – no leisure travel will be allowed under “advanced” lockdown Level 3.

Only business travellers can stay over in accommodation like hotels and guest houses, as has been the case for some time now.You are still only allowed “self-drive” day trips, and these may be only within your province of residence.

Travel over provincial borders is only allowed under certain strict conditions, for example for work, medical procedures, funerals or university.

Western Cape High Court rules that lockdown regulations are justified, dismisses application

An application to have the lockdown regulations declared invalid, and the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) declared inconsistent with the Constitution and the Disaster Management Act, was dismissed in the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town on Friday.

Last month, Mpiyakhe Dlamini, Duwayne Esau, Tami Jackson, Lindo Khuzwayo, Mikhail Manuel, Neo Mkwane, Scott Roberts and Riaan Salie brought the application.

R200 million in relief fund is not enough and "that's why we've been appealing" to reopen the industry, says Kubayi-Ngubane.

Leisure activities aren't allowed, only business or permitted activities.

Self driving is allowed (depending on hotspots) within a province but accommodation is not allowed.

Alcohol regulations fall under the Trade and Industry department.

Current regulations state that alcohol should be consumed off site and that has not changed, says Kubayi-Ngubane.

2540 businesses have been paid through the relief fund, a total of R127 million.