The Covid-19 death toll has risen to 2 844, while the number of cases is now at 168 061.

Here are today's top stories

President Cyril Ramaphosa has written to National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise and National Council of Provinces Chairperson Amos Masondo to inform them of the decision to extend the employment of 20 000 army members until 30 September. These SANDF members are working alongside police and other law enforcement to maintain order during the coronavirus lockdown. SANDF members will be deployed across the country. 

Grades R, 6 and 11 will return to school on Monday, the Department of Basic Education has said. This comes after a meeting between the department and Education MECs from all provinces. Already, matrics and Grade 7s have returned to school.

Gauteng fears hospitals will soon be overcrowded, as it forecasts as many as 300 000 Covid-19 cases by the end of August. The province expects about 120 000 cases by the end of July. The province is soon to be hit by its peak period of cases.

The Special Investigating Unit is probing a number of allegations related to possible corruption of the government’s massive R500 billion Covid-19 relief fund. To date, 20 allegations of maladministration, fraud and orruption have been reported.

The rand has strengthened to its best level in weeks - R16.93/$ - amid promising news surrounding a possible Covid-19 vaccine. The University of Oxford is putting a vaccine through trials, and trials are being done at Wits University.

Yet another Eastern Cape hospital is facing Covid-19 challenges - this time, Frontier Hospital in Queenstown is said to have a lack of protective gear for staff and sanitiser, and physical distancing is not being adhered to.

Stay informed with News24

Special report | We remember those who died of Covid-19.
Talking point | Are lockdown divorce applications on the rise?
Back to school | Should you let your little one back to preschool before the pandemic is over?
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

- Compiled by Kerushun Pillay

Restaurants reopen in Brazil, Jordan extends smoking ban - International Covid-19 news

The father of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has flown to Greece, despite current advice for British nationals to avoid all but essential international travel. Stanley Johnson had arrived, likely via Bulgaria, in the northern region of Pelion, where he has a holiday home, but authorities said there was nothing untoward in his arrival.

Rio de Janeiro's bars and restaurants reopened Thursday after more than three months of coronavirus lockdown, despite criticism by health specialists in Brazil, one of the world's worst-hit nations.

Jordan has extended a ban on cigarettes in closed public spaces to all forms of smoking, citing the fight against Covid-19 in a country with one of the world's highest smoking rates. 

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Thursday Poles should not be afraid to vote in the second round of a presidential election due on 12 July because the novel coronavirus has become a disease "like any other".

Eight migrants who disembarked in Sicily this week after being rescued in the Mediterranean by a charity boat are in quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus, the group Mediterranea said. 

Gauteng now has highest number of active Covid-19 cases in SA - Makhura

The densely populated province of Gauteng now has the highest number of active Covid-19 cases in South Africa, at just over 30 000.

"The month of June has seen a sharp spike in the number of confirmed cases on a daily basis. Gauteng now has the largest number of active cases," Premier David Makhura said in a virtual presentation on Thursday.

This comes as Gauteng recorded 45 944 cases, with 12 957 recoveries and 244 deaths as of Thursday, 2 July.

R500bn social relief fund: SIU probing a number of serious allegations of corruption

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says fraudulent and corrupt tendencies have been creeping in, with the intention to illegally benefit from the R500 billion social relief and containment fund allocated to ease the impact of Covid-19.

To date, 20 allegations of serious maladministration, fraud and corruption have been reported to the Health Sector Anti-Corruption Forum (HSACF), SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said in a statement on Thursday. 

The HSACF's responsibility is to fight fraud and corruption in the health sector, in collaboration with various stakeholders, such as civil society, health sector regulators, law enforcement agencies and government departments.

40 SANDF soldiers deployed to Limpopo test positive for Covid-19

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed that 40 soldiers deployed to Limpopo tested positive for Covid-19.

According to a statement by the SANDF, the battalion identified to be deployed to Limpopo is an infantry battalion from Cape Town. 

After the battalion arrived in Lephalale on 13 June, they were immediately placed under the 14-day quarantine period at the South African Military Health Services Training Centre in Lephalale.

Grades R, 6 and 11 will return to school on Monday

The Council of Education Ministers has decided that only pupils in Grades R, 6 and 11 will return to school on Monday, 6 July. This after Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga met with Education MECs on Thursday.

The meeting, which was also attended by Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule, along with the heads of education departments, considered five reports which focused on key areas in the sector amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the department said in a statement.

They also spoke about examinations and assessments for the rest of the year. 

UIF corona payouts to end – as most workers have not yet been paid for June due to tech problems

As it battles massive tech problems that have delayed payments for June by more than week, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) confirmed on Thursday that the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) is coming to an end.

Companies who couldn’t afford to pay salaries could claim TERS payouts on behalf of employees in April, May, and June. Government initially said it may consider extending the scheme, but the UIF says no payments will be made for July.

Payments for April, May and June will still be processed, though.

Covid-19: 'Why did he not eat for 48 hours?' - father wants answers after son dies in hospital

These are the words of a heartbroken father whose son died at the Tembisa Hospital in Ekhuruleni on Monday.

Shonisani Lethole, 35, was admitted after experiencing breathing problems two weeks ago.

'Gauteng health facilities have reached maximum bed capacity' - department

As Covid-19 cases have started to spike in Gauteng, all government hospitals in the province have reached maximum bed capacity. This was confirmed by the Gauteng Department of Health on Thursday.

Covid-19 wrap | New Zealand 'idiot' health minister quits, India death spike

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis.

Dr Keith Cloete, Head of Health for Western Cape gov says diabetics with Covid-19 the most vulnerable to death - by far.

So: Obese people with Covid now to be tested for diabetes - to assess vulnerability.

School cleaners in the Eastern Cape share their experience of heading back to work

The Covid-19 lockdown and school closures have had a devastating impact on people around the country, as many lost jobs or were forced to accept salary cuts. 

Covid-19: 'It'll be overcrowded in hospitals' - Gauteng MEC predicts 300 000 cases by end of August

Residents in the economic powerhouse of Gauteng can expect Covid-19 cases to reach 120 000 by the end of July, the province's Health MEC revealed to News24.

"Our predictions tell us that we will be reaching 120 000 by the end of July. We will be getting closer to 250 000 to 300 000 by August, [and in] September which is expected to be the peak, we will be having more than that," Dr Bandile Masuku told News24 on Wednesday.

US virus cases smash daily record as global infections soar

New daily coronavirus cases in the United States soared past 50 000 for the first time Wednesday, as the World Health Organisation delivered a grave warning that the global pandemic is accelerating.

Global infections have hit their highest level in the past week, WHO data showed, with chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus saying new cases topped "160 000 on every single day".

Municipalities vs. Covid-19: How much more can buckling councils take?

In the 2018/2019 financial year, fruitless and wasteful expenditure by municipalities again increased.

Ongoing governance and financial failures have many ramifications – but at present, municipalities meant to fight Covid-19 on the frontlines cannot curb irregular spend or collect revenue.

How will this impact service delivery? In the supplementary budget, additional funds were allocated to municipalities. But in light of the poor audit outcomes, this is a concern.

Another hard lockdown ‘may become necessary’: Here’s what that looked like the first time

South Africa faces the possibility of going back to a "hard" lockdown, health minister Zweli Mkhize believes.

Once it was in the rearview mirror, government described what we now know as Level 5 to have been an exercise in buying time to prepare the healthcare system.

With cases actually spiking, the thinking may be changing – though President Cyril Ramaphosa struck a cautiously optimistic note on Wednesday, with no hint of hardening rules.

This is what hard lockdown looked like the first time around.

Covid-19: 'She had so much life' - Daughter wants answers from Cape Town hospital after mom's death

When Clara Solomons was admitted for surgery at Gatesville Melomed Hospital last month, she was a lively and independent 77-year-old grandmother, who had been diagnosed with the early stages of cancer, her daughter says.

Now, a bereaved Bernita Smith is demanding answers on why her mother was carried out wrapped in plastic, infected with Covid-19, despite testing negative at the time of her admission over two weeks earlier.

Coronavirus morning update: Cigarettes not banned forever, and latest on 'dumped' test samples

We won't be in lockdown forever, the president says - so the cigarette ban will be lifted at some point; and latest on test samples found along an Eastern Cape road.

The Covid-19 death toll has hit 2 749, while the number of cases now sits at 159 333.

The total number of recoveries is now 76 025 - a recovery rate of 47.7%.

Here’s what made the headlines today

The Eastern Cape’s hospitals are overwhelmed by Covid-19 cases, and the province has now asked national government for support by way of the army’s medical team. The Eastern Cape is hitting its peak period for Covid-19 cases, and the province’s own projections show it may need as many as 10 000 beds to cope with a surge in cases.

Meanwhile, the province estimates it will need 3 000 intensive care beds to deal with expected increases in demand over the next three months.

A court has dismissed Mmusi Maimane’s One South Africa Movement’s bid to stop the reopening of schools. The organisation turned to the courts to get an order to make the government to return to lockdown Level 4, and to have the Level 3 regulations set aside.

South Africans are suffering porn addiction and are under a weight of anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic, workplace councillors have said. Uncertainty about the future coupled with the strain of working at home is taking its toll, with many people also suffering financial problems under a strained economy.

How did Covid-19 jump from animals to people? How many people have actually contracted the virus? What makes it so contagious? Six months after the first case was reported, several crucial questions remain about Covid-19.

Major casinos are now open - but only for members. New regulations for the reopening of casinos stipulate that casinos can only allow in patrons whom the casino would be able to keep track of through their addresses and ID numbers, which would mean that only registered members can hit the slots again.

Stay informed with News24

Special report | We remember those who died of Covid-19.
Talking point | Are lockdown divorce applications on the rise?
Back to school | Should you let your little one back to preschool before the pandemic is over?
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

- Compiled by Kerushun Pillay

Global tourism industry 'could lose trillions', EU opens borders - International Covid-19 news

The coronavirus crisis could cost global tourism and related sectors from $1.2 trillion to $3.3 trillion in lost revenue, the United Nations said Wednesday.

And, the European Union reopened its borders on Wednesday to visitors from 15 countries. The final list of nations safe enough to allow residents to enter the EU did not include Russia, Brazil or the US.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum reopened to the public on Wednesday after nearly four months under a coronavirus lockdown that forced it to appeal for funding as revenues from visitors dried up.

Luxury British department store Harrods said on Wednesday it plans to cut up to 672 jobs because of the coronavirus crisis, which kept its flagship branch in central London closed for nearly three months.

Oxford University's Covid-19 vaccine trials 'showing promise'

A leading scientist behind the University of Oxford's potential Covid-19 vaccine said on Wednesday the team has seen the right sort of immune response in trials but declined to give a firm timeframe for when it could be ready.

Speaking at a parliamentary hearing, Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the university, said 8 000 volunteers had been enrolled for the Phase III of its trial into the vaccine, AZD1222, which was licensed to AstraZeneca.

"We're very happy that we're seeing the right sort of immune response that will give protection, and not the wrong sort," Gilbert said.

The project has started Phase III of the human trials to assess how the vaccine works in a large number of people over the age of 18, and how well the vaccine works to prevent people from becoming infected and unwell with Covid-19.

The race is on to develop a working Covid-19 vaccine, with fears that the pandemic could re-intensify towards the end of the year, in the northern hemisphere's winter season.Kate Bingham, chair of the UK Government Vaccine Taskforce, said that, excluding the Oxford vaccine programme, she hoped there would be a breakthrough by early 2021. Gilbert said she hoped that her Oxford vaccine would make progress earlier, but was not more specific as she said the timeline for when the vaccine might be ready depends on the results of the trial.

John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, said that Britain should prepare for not having a Covid-19 vaccine for the winter and encourage people to get their flu vaccinations to avoid "pandemonium" in hospitals. "This whole epidemic has relied too heavily on assumptions that have turned out not to be true," he said."So my strong advice is to be prepared for the worst."

- Reuters

Ramaphosa was asked about the cigarette ban in the very first question. Ramaphosa says South Africans should "accept" the ban on cigarettes, saying it will eventually be lifted. 

Answering another question about allowing the phased returning of schools and possible risks that brings, Ramaphosa says the decision was taken after extensive consultation. He says it was a calculated risk taken to not lose the academic year. 

In concluding remarks, he called on South Africans to be responsible and to practise good hygiene, which he said there were people who were not adhering to. He also called on people to observe social distancing. 

He said the country was still working on strengthening the healthcare sector. He said it was assuring that South Africa's death rate was lower than the global average. 

The President has concluded his imbizo, saying that he expects there to be more in the future. 

Ramaphosa's virtual imbizo begins...

In some opening remarks, Ramaphosa says the number of infections is rising at a fast rate. He says the country is facing a new surge of infections, in line with what scientists had predicted months earlier. He says the lockdown has allowed the government to upscale screening and testing efforts and to strengthen the healthcare system.

But the President also expressed concern that South Africans were seen to be getting complacent around adhering to regulations and sensible hygiene practices. He called on the public to take the same precautions as they did in the early days of the lockdown.

Ramaphosa again spoke of the scourge of gender-based violence in the country, saying that the government was working to build a "more just society". 

You can ask Ramaphosa a question by calling the toll free line 0800 142 446 or use the social media hashtag #PresidentialImbizo.

Ramaphosa to engage with the public in virtual imbizo at 18:00

If you ever wanted to personally ask President Cyril Ramaphosa a question about the Covid-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown, now is your chance.

The imbizo will be aired on TV, more than 80 community radio stations and social media from 18:00. It will also be live on News24. 

Those who wish to ask Ramaphosa questions can call the toll free line 0800 142 446 or use the social media hashtag #PresidentialImbizo.

Vaccine trial showing 'right sort of immune response'

A leading scientist behind the University of Oxford's potential Covid-19 vaccine said on Wednesday the team has seen the right sort of immune response in trials, which have entered the Phase III clinical stage.

Speaking at a parliamentary hearing, Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the university, said the trial has enrolled 8 000 volunteers for the Phase III of its trial into the vaccine, AZD1222, which was licensed to AstraZeneca.

She said she couldn't give a timeline for when the vaccine might be ready as it depends on the results of the trial.

- Reuters 

How did Covid-19 jump from animals to people? How many people have actually contracted the virus? What makes it so contagious?

Six months after the first case was reported, several crucial questions remain unanswered.

As hospitals around the world care for Covid-19 patients with blood clots, strokes, and long-lasting respiratory failure, scientists are racing to study the coronavirus, spread life-saving information, and combat dangerous misunderstandings.

There are still 11 important questions which remain unanswered...

Hospitals in disarray, a lack of bedspace, a plea to the army

Eastern Cape is bracing itself for its peak Covid-19 case period. Here's everything you need to know about their challenges so far.

The Eastern Cape’s hospitals are overwhelmed by Covid-19 cases, and the province has now asked national government for support by way of the army’s medical team. The Eastern Cape is hitting its peak period for Covid-19 cases, and the province’s own projections show it may need as many as 10 000 beds to cope with a surge in cases.

Meanwhile, the province estimates it will need 3 000 intensive care beds to deal with expected increases in demand over the next three months.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality had earlier this week called on the national government to consider imposing a Level 4 lockdown on the metro. Its acting mayor, Thsonono Buyeye, says residents have not been adhering to rules surrounding Covid-19, and that hospitals were being overwhelmed by an apparent increase in patients.

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. 

We also revealed the shocking state of an isolation unit at Settlers Hospital in Makhanda. Patients reported going hungry for hours, having to reuse bedpans and being ignored by hospital staff. 

Eastern Cape needs 3 000 ICU beds for Covid-19 storm, peak expected over next 3 months

The Eastern Cape Department of Health is racing against time to increase its number of general beds to 10 000 and intensive care unit beds to 3 000 in order to meet the demands of Covid-19 during its peak period.

FACT CHECK | No, Nigeria has not found Covid-19 vaccine - but the hunt is on

Several publications in recent days have published that Nigeria discovered a vaccine for the coronavirus, a claim shared widely. This was based on a news conference by a group of scientists in the country.

But the researchers say they have a potential candidate vaccine that will still need to go through a lot of trials.

Ramaphosa to engage with the public in virtual imbizo on Wednesday evening

If you ever wanted to personally ask President Cyril Ramaphosa a question about the Covid-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown, now is your chance.

The Presidency announced that Ramaphosa will on Wednesday evening interact with communities across the nation through a virtual presidential imbizo on the coronavirus.  

Covid-19: 'Overwhelmed' Eastern Cape asks for SANDF medical team's help

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has admitted the province's hospitals are "overwhelmed" in the fight against Covid-19, and has asked national government for the support of the South African National Defence Force medical team.

11 critical questions about Covid-19 that remain unanswered, 6 months after the first cases were reported

Here are 11 of the biggest questions surrounding the coronavirus and Covid-19, and why answering each one is critically important.

Covid-19 wrap | Australia to lock down over coronavirus, Greece re-opens islands

- Authorities will lock down around 300 000 people in suburbs north of Melbourne for a month from late on Wednesday to contain the risk of infection after two weeks of double-digit rises in new coronavirus cases in Australia's second most populous state.

- Greece on Wednesday reopened flights to its flagship island destinations as it raced to salvage a portion of the annual tourism season that is vital to its economy.

The United States broke another Covid-19 record reporting the highest single-day number of coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. It is the fourth time in the last seven days that this has happened.

According to data from The New York Times, states across the US announced 48,000 positive tests on Tuesday. (Johns Hopkins University's daily cases data was only available through June 29.)

Soon enough, the US could see that number double, Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress earlier in the day.