RESOURCES
04 July 21:50
The World Health Organisation reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases on Saturday, with the total rising by 212 326 in 24 hours.
The biggest increases were from the United States, Brazil and India, according to a daily report. The previous WHO record for new cases was 189 077 on June 28. Deaths remained steady at about 5 000 a day.
Global coronavirus cases exceeded 11 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, marking another milestone in the spread of the disease that has killed more than half a million people in seven months.
04 July 21:03
The World Health Organisation said that it was discontinuing its trials of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and combination HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir in hospitalised patients with Covid-19 after they failed to reduce mortality.
The setback came as the WHO also reported more than 200,000 new cases globally of the disease for the first time in a single day. The United States accounted for 53 213 of the total 212,326 new cases recorded on Friday, the WHO said.
"These interim trial results show that hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir produce little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalised Covid-19 patients when compared to standard of care. Solidarity trial investigators will interrupt the trials with immediate effect," the WHO said in a statement, referring to large multicountry trials that the agency is leading.
The UN agency said the decision, taken on the recommendation of the trial's international steering committee, does not affect other studies where those drugs are used for non-hospitalised patients or as a prophylaxis.
Another branch of the WHO-led trial is looking at the potential effect of Gilead's antiviral drug remdesivir on Covid-19.
The European Commission on Friday gave remdesivir conditional approval for use after being shown to shorten hospital recovery times.
04 July 19:35
Low risk for pregnant women diagnosed with Covid-19 to pass disease to babies
Pregnant women concerned about the risk of transmitting Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, to their baby, don’t need to panic.
According to a new report from the University of Nottingham in England, transmission of the disease from mother to baby during pregnancy is uncommon.
The researchers also found that babies born vaginally, are breastfed, or allowed contact with their mother were also not at a greater risk of infection.
The paper was published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
Maternal transmission of Covid-19 to baby during pregnancy uncommon | @Health24com https://t.co/td9aEkkdCD pic.twitter.com/uRwPpWnQA2
— News24 (@News24) July 4, 2020
04 July 18:18
More than 11.15 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 526 088 have died, according to a Reuters tally.
Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.
- Reuters
04 July 13:22
'You will rest in eternity together' - daughter bids farewell to parents who died of Covid-19
"I love you, Mommy. I love you, Daddy... I love you endlessly and you will always be in my thoughts, in my heart and in my prayers.
"This was the moving farewell given to Barry and Heidi Volkwijn by their 19-year-old daughter, Amy. The Cape Town couple died of Covid-19 on the same day.
04 July 09:57
Joint funeral service held for Cape Town couple who died hours apart of Covid-19
Barry and Heidi Volkwijn died on Saturday, 23 June, hours apart.
Barry, 48, a driver at Alexandra Psychiatric Hospital, died in the early hours of the morning.
Heidi, 43, a respected motivational speaker and manager of services for youth and adults at the League of Friends for the Blind, died in the afternoon.
You can watch the funeral in the video above
04 July 09:19
Family buries stranger after Covid-19 body mix-up
Retired nurse Nomsa Noda, 67, who worked at the same hospital where her husband died, said she was shocked when an undertaker, accompanied by her pastor, visited her on Wednesday to tell her she had buried the wrong person.
Her husband Vukile Noda, 79, died of Covid-19 on 22 June after he was admitted to the hospital seven days earlier.
04 July 09:16
04 July 07:43
04 July 07:17
SATURDAY EDITION | Before day 100
Tomorrow will be day 100 of lockdown.
The momentous milestone reminds us that we've lost a lot, but also provides a moment to pause and reflect.
We wanted to know what our readers have had on their minds during this unprecedented time in our history.
So we asked: "What have you learnt during lockdown?"And we received 100 answers back.
04 July 07:16
04 July 07:15
Coronavirus morning update: Latest on Covid-19 treatments in SA, and lost test samples
A dexamethasone producer in SA has sold out its stock; a generic of remdesivir is coming to SA; and NHLS fires courier company after losing Covid-19 samples.
03 July 20:43
The total number of recoveries is now 86 296 - a recovery rate of 48.7%.
Here’s what made the headlines today
Demand for the Covid-19 drug dexamethasone appears to be on the rise, with producers of the medication having cleared its stock. Fresenuis Kabi, a German pharmaceutical company which manufactures in the Eastern Cape, has sold out all its stock. Another manufacturer, Aspen, has run out of stock. The medication has been hailed as a breakthrough, and the health department has begun administering it to some Covid-19 patients.
As Gauteng prepares for a Covid-19 storm, some 1 600 residents in hotspot areas in Johannesburg are due to be relocated. The City will move people from wards 108 and 109 to safer places.
The National Health Laboratory Service has fired Gibela Trade and Invest, a courier company, after it had lost samples of Covid-19 tests in transit while travelling on the N2 in the Eastern Cape. The company was said to have behaved negligently.
As schools prepare to welcome more grades, there has been pushback in KwaZulu-Natal, whose provincial education department is not allowing the return of Grade R pupils on Monday. On Thursday, the government announced that Grades R, 6 and 11 will be allowed back from next week.
Meanwhile, an independent schools body has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa asking to allow all pupils to return to its member schools. The body says it has devised a plan for this kind of reintroduction, including physical distancing measures and temperature screenings.
The cigarette war continues, with tobacco association Fair Trade Independent Association lodging an application for leave to appeal a court ruling which dismissed its challenege to overturn the government’s ban on the sale of tobacco.
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
03 July 19:53
Global coronavirus cases exceeded 11 million on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, marking another milestone in the spread of the disease that has killed more than half a million people in seven months.
The World Health Organisation should soon get results from clinical trials it is conducting of drugs that might be effective in treating Covid-19 patients, its Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says.
The European Commission said on Friday it had given conditional approval for the use of antiviral remdesivir in severe Covid-19 patients following an accelerated review process, making it the region's first therapy to be authorised to treat the virus.
Saudi Arabia passed the grim milestone of 200 000 confirmed novel coronavirus cases, the health ministry said Friday, weeks ahead of an annual hajj pilgrimage drastically cut back because of the pandemic.
And finally, people who recovered from coronavirus infections in Argentina have volunteered to donate plasma as part of a national clinical trial to test its effectiveness as a treatment for patients who are still sick with Covid-19.
03 July 19:08
Saudi Arabia passed the grim milestone of 200 000 confirmed novel coronavirus cases, the health ministry said Friday, weeks ahead of an annual hajj pilgrimage drastically cut back because of the pandemic.
The Gulf's worst-hit country has now 201 801 confirmed infections including 4 193 new cases on Friday alone, and 1 802 deaths.
More than 140 000 of those infected have recovered.Amid tight restrictions to rein in the pandemic, the kingdom has said it would only allow around 1 000 worshippers already present in the kingdom to take part in the annual hajj pilgrimage later this month.
In 2019, the rite attracted over 2.5 million Muslim pilgrims from around the world.This year's hajj will take place under strict hygiene protocols, with access restricted to pilgrims under 65 years old and without any chronic illnesses.
Pilgrims will be tested on their arrival in the holy city of Mecca, and following the ritual they will go into quarantine in their homes.Saudi Arabia has seen an uptick in both confirmed infections and deaths from the Covid-19 illness since easing movement restrictions in late May.It has yet to restore international air links.
- AFP
03 July 18:20
Plans to relocate 1 600 Johannesburg residents in Covid-19 hotspots to safer areas are officially underway, with residents set to move in the next four months.
As Covid-19 cases spike in Gauteng, especially in Johannesburg, Mayor Geoff Makhubo says the programme must be implemented quickly, adding that he has been given a time frame of four months.
On Friday, Makhubo revealed the land which would be used to relocate residents from Wards 109 and 108 (made up of Marlboro, Eastgate, Kelvin, Wendywood, Morningside Manor and Alexandra).
03 July 17:23
The Auditor-General will help the government keep an eye on the R500 billion Covid-19 relief fund which has become the subject of a corruption probe.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government would work closely with the AG to ensure the money is spent responsibly.
Ramaphosa made the announcement in response to a written parliamentary question from DA MP Alf Lees who wanted details on the government's measures to ensure that the Covid-19 relief funds are not mismanaged.
03 July 16:15
A local manufacturer of dexamethasone has temporarily run out of stock amid strong demand for the medicine.
The cheap steroid, which is available from R149 an injection in South Africa, has been hailed as a breakthrough treatment to reduce fatalities among severely ill Covid-19 patients.
Since a study by the University of Oxford showed that dexamethasone can reduced deaths by one-third in patients on ventilators, demand for the medicine – which is also crucial in the treatment of cancer patients in South Africa – has surged.
03 July 15:06
As schools prepare to welcome more grades, there has been pushback in KwaZulu-Natal, whose provincial education department is not allowing the return of Grade R pupils on Monday.
Meanwhile, an independent schools body has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa asking to allow all pupils to return to its member schools. The body says it has devised a plan for this kind of reintroduction, including physical distancing measures and temperature screenings.
On Thursday it was announced that Grades R, 6 and 11 will return to school next week, 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.
03 July 13:44
Coronavirus mortality in Italy is highest among poor, study shows
Poor Italians are significantly more likely to die of the coronavirus than higher-income groups, the country's first significant study into the disease's disproportionate social impact showed on Friday.
03 July 13:34
NHLS fires courier company for risking human life by losing Covid-19 samples
The courier company that lost a cargo of Covid-19 samples in transit on the N2 in the Eastern Cape has been fired for negligence and risking human life, the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) said in a statement.
03 July 13:27
03 July 13:24
03 July 13:13
'Thousands of children at risk': Government urged to announce opening dates for early childhood development centres
In response to the desperation of many businesses and families who need childcare, the Western Cape Provincial Minister of Social Development, Sharna Fernandez, has called on the DSD Minister Lindiwe Zulu to announce a reopening date for Early Childhood Development centres as a matter of urgency.
03 July 13:11
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03 July 10:57
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03 July 10:21
03 July 10:20
Covid-19 wrap | US hits new daily coronavirus case record, UK relaxes traveller quarantine rules
Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis.
03 July 10:06
OPINION | 'It is not working' - an open letter from the principal of Aloe High School
Remember the fiasco of 1 and 8 June and how the Western Cape was "ready"? And prior to that how they were "ready" to welcome back principals and support staff, then SMTs and subsequently entire staffs.
The truth is, we were never ready; we are still not ready as we prepare to phase in the next grades next week.
03 July 10:04
03 July 09:50
03 July 09:48
KwaZulu-Natal education department says no to return of Grade R pupils on Monday
In a circular which provincial education department head Enock Nzama signed, parents were advised that Grade R pupils should stay at home for the time being.
03 July 09:47
03 July 09:45
03 July 09:43
03 July 09:42
Gauteng health department probes businessman Shonisani Lethole's death at Tembisa Hospital
Before he died at Tembisa Hospital in Ekurhuleni on Monday, Lethole told his family that he had been deprived of food at the hospital. He even wrote to national Health Minister Zweli Mkhize to say that he had not received any food for 48 hours.