Africa could have a Covid-19 vaccine in the first quarter of 2021 if human trials underway in South Africa succeed, a university professor heading the trials said on Thursday.

The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 experimental vaccine is one of 19 being tested on humans globally in a race to find vaccines to stop a pandemic that has killed more than half a million people so far.

Court agrees to hear bid by tobacco group for leave to appeal ruling that kept cigarettes banned

The High Court in Pretoria will next week hear an application by the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association for leave to appeal a ruling that kept cigarettes banned. 

"We’ve just received confirmation from the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria that our application for leave to appeal the ruling of 26 June 2020 dismissing our cigarette ban challenge will be heard on the 15th of July 2020,"said Sinen Mguni, chairperson of FITA, in a WhatsApp message to Fin24 on Thursday. 

Covid-19: This is the role traditional medicine practitioners can play - health dept

The Department of Health says the message to traditional health practitioners (THP) is to refer patients to the next level of care if they present symptoms of the novel coronavirus.

"The message to THPs is to refer patients presenting with symptoms of coronavirus infection to the next level of care," health department spokesperson Popo Maja told News24.

The department has further placed on record that it values the contributions of THPs in the fight against Covid-19.

Mkhize does a U-turn on Eastern Cape medical scooters

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has admitted medical scooters in the Eastern Cape - at a cost of R10 million - do not meet the basic criteria for "patient transport as an ambulance".

Mkhize announced this in response to a written Parliamentary question from DA MP Siviwe Gwarube who wanted details on whether the scooters were suitable for patient transport.

SA cinemas still closed - amid a lack of new movies, uncertainty about new rules

While government gazetted the long-awaited rules this week that allow cinemas to reopen, there is no indication of when Nu-Metro and Ster-Kinekor will resume operations.

And there is still some uncertainty about how many people will be allowed in.

According to the new government regulations, cinemas and theatres are only allowed 50 people at a time (excluding staff).

But some in the industry say it is not clear whether this means per auditorium or in the whole cinema – across screening rooms.

Global coronavirus cases surge past 12 million

More than 12 million coronavirus infections have now been recorded across the world, over half in the United States and Latin America, according to an AFP tally on Thursday.

At least 12 063 425 cases and 549 451 deaths have been recorded, with the number of infections doubling since 31 May.

About half of those who caught the virus have recovered.

EXPLAINER | Why Covid-19 is called a pandemic and why it’s not just the typical flu

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic on 11 March 2020.

But WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the declaration does not change how the organisation will deal with the threat the virus poses. 

Announcing the declaration in March, Ghebreyesus said the WHO did not use the word pandemic lightly or carelessly because if it was misused, it would lead to unreasonable fear. 

OPINION | It is time for leadership in the battle against Covid-19

More restrictions are needed as Gauteng, once more, becomes the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic, writes Mbhazima Shilowa.

I do not know why the national government abandoned its initial proposal of opening up the economy while keeping stricter restrictions in areas which are considered hotspots.

Maybe the noise from various premiers, trade unions and business gave them cold feet.

It is time to revisit that decision.Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize seems to have also given up on that idea. He hardly speaks about it. It is not enough to say the numbers are to be expected as we are fast approaching the peak.

A day-by-day breakdown of Covid-19 symptoms shows how it goes from bad to worse

As doctors observe a growing number of coronavirus patients, they've identified a few patterns in how typical symptoms progress.

The majority of coronavirus cases are mild, but about 20% of cases become either severe or critical, according to data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control.

Most patients develop fever, a dry cough, and shortness of breath - the three most common symptoms of Covid-19.

But they can also experience fatigue, muscle or body aches, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, and diarrhea.

Most SA houses are now worth less due to Covid, but these are selling at above asking price

In a new report, FNB predicts that property prices will fall by around 5% this year – but properties that cost less than R750 000 should be more resilient.

FNB analyst Siphamandla Mkhwanazi says while prices of houses above R750 000 should fall, relative resilience in the affordable market is expected.

In the past three months, only 39% of properties below R750 000 were sold below asking price – compared to a whopping 92% of pricier houses, an FNB survey among estate agents shows.

EXPLAINER | Is the lockdown still valid after court rulings?

The Liberty Fighters Network (LFN) said the lockdown was effectively over when a judge compelled Cogta Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to amend certain lockdown regulations, even though he granted her leave to appeal.

But legal experts say the lockdown regulations remain in place now that Dlamini-Zuma has been granted leave to appeal.

80% of South Africans who contracted Covid-19 at work are women

Female workers represent more than 80% of all Covid-19 claims received by the Compensation Fund from employees who contracted the disease on the job, the department of employment and labour said in a statement.

Many of these were nurses and other medical staff.

Head of Department among positive cases in Gauteng's Covid-19 war room

The Gauteng Department of Health on Thursday announced that six members of the provincial health Covid-19 war room have tested positive for the virus.

"Among the positive [cases] includes the Head of Department, Professor Mkhululi Lukhele," the department announced via a press release. 

"All the colleagues are doing well and are self-isolating at home." 

Grave concern: Gauteng prepares cemeteries as Covid-19 numbers surge in province

Burial sites around Gauteng have started preparing graves and assessing its capacity, in order to make provisions for any outcome as Covid-19 cases in the province increase sharply. 

Gauteng's Health MEC, Dr Bandile Masuku, visited the Honingnestkrans cemetery north of Pretoria on Wednesday, to assess the state of readiness should the burial site be needed.

City of Tshwane operations chief James Murphy told Masuku the Honingnestkrans cemetery has space for 24 000 single graves on the 30 hectare plot of land.

Gauteng overtakes Western Cape as SA's coronavirus hotspot

Gauteng has officially overtaken the Western Cape as the country's coronavirus hotspot with the highest number of cases cumulatively, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced late on Wednesday.

In the last 24 hours, 8 810 new infections have been confirmed, taking the total positive cases to 224 665.

100 new deaths bring SA's Covid-19 death toll to 3 602: 2 from Limpopo, 18 from KwaZulu-Natal, 15 from Mpumalanga, 18 from Eastern Cape, 47 from Western Cape. 

The number of recoveries is 106 842, which translates to a recovery rate of 47,5%.

Gauteng now has the most cases in SA with 75 015 cases.

Coronavirus morning update: Storm 'is now arriving', and Western Cape premier tests positive

The health minister says the Covid-19 storm is approaching; and the Western Cape premier is self-isolating after confirming he tested positive for the virus.

Extension tension – can President Ramaphosa afford to tighten lockdown rules?

With South Africa's Covid-19 cases having officially breached the 200 000 mark, everyone's eyes are on what President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration will do to get a grip on the health crisis and how it will feed into an economy in its deepest winter since the 1920s.

AmaRharhabe Kingdom Queen Noloyiso Sandile dies of Covid-19

AmaRharhabe Kingdom Queen Regent Noloyiso Sandile has died of Covid-19 at the age of 56.

Her spokesperson, Prince Zolile Burns Ncamashe, confirmed her death to News24 on Wednesday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his sadness and described the queen as "a bastion of traditional values and an inspiring and principled leader of her people".

Covid-19 storm is approaching - Mkhize

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced that the Covid-19 storm, which the government had consistently warned South Africans of, "is now arriving".

He said, as of Tuesday, South Africa had 10 144 new cases, which brought the cumulative confirmed cases to 215 855.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde tests positive for Covid-19

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde is self-isolating at home for the next 14 days after confirming he tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.

"I received a positive test result for Covid-19 this morning, and I am in self-isolation at home for 14 days," Winde said in a statement on Wednesday.

Science and innovation dept to research traditional medicine for Covid-19 fight

The Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation has reassigned R15 million from existing indigenous knowledge projects to support Covid-19 interventions, Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande said in a briefing on Wednesday.

"We are in the process of implementing multiple interventions including the use of African medicines as immune modulators and anti-coronavirus therapeutics," he said.

North West Premier Job Mokgoro checks into hospital for voluntary self-quarantine

North West Premier Job Mokgoro has chosen to go into voluntary self-quarantine on Wednesday after testing positive for Covid-19.

According to his spokesperson, Vuyisile Ngesi, Mokgoro "is in good spirits", but has taken the decision to limit his staff's exposure to Covid-19 by going into quarantine at a hospital facility.

Life Healthcare sends in more nurses as it battles spike in Covid-19 admissions

Hospital group Life Healthcare is recruiting staff and beefing up its equipment supplies, having been faced with a shortage of nurses as its hospital admissions for Covid-19 increased sharply.

In a letter to doctors last week, Adam Pyle, Life Healthcare South Africa CEO, said the group now has over 1 000 Covid-19 patients in its hospitals across the country.

Scooter tender: Investigation launched into R10m contract for Eastern Cape initiative

A R10 million tender awarded to a King William’s Town company to supply 100 ambulance scooters to the Eastern Cape Department of Health, is now under investigation.

The department confirmed that the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC) was reviewing the processes followed in the awarding of the deal.

North West Premier Job Mokgoro checks into hospital for voluntary self-quarantine

North West Premier Job Mokgoro has chosen to go into voluntary self-quarantine on Wednesday after testing positive for Covid-19.

According to his spokesperson, Vuyisile Ngesi, Mokgoro "is in good spirits", but has taken the decision to limit his staff's exposure to Covid-19 by going into quarantine at a hospital facility.

US Covid-19 cases surge past 3 million

The United States on Wednesday passed another grim coronavirus milestone with three million confirmed cases, as President Donald Trump downplayed the risks posed by the pandemic and aggressively pushed for schools to reopen.

Life Healthcare sends in more nurses as it battles spike in Covid-19 admissions

Hospital group Life Healthcare is recruiting staff and beefing up its equipment supplies, having been faced with a shortage of nurses as its hospital admissions for Covid-19 increased sharply.

In a letter to doctors last week, Adam Pyle, Life Healthcare South Africa CEO, said the group now has over 1 000 Covid-19 patients in its hospitals across the country.

This week South Africa’s Covid-19 cases passed the 200 000 mark.

2021 intake of first year university students will likely be later than usual - Nzimande

Intake of first-year university students in 2021 may be a bit later than usual, Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande has announced.

Nzimande made the announcement during an update to the nation on measures being taken by the sector amid Covid-19.

Mkhize: Model projections indicate that while the epidemic is predicted to peak nationally at a similar time to the previously projected optimistic curve (mid-August), it does so at a lower level. This means that fewer people were infected in May and June than was previously predicted even under the optimistic scenario.

Mkhize: 48% of confirmed cases have recovered from the virus.

Also, Mkhize says during Level 3 and 4 of the lockdown, there was an increase in psoitive cases across provinces. 

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde tests positive for Covid-19

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde is self-isolating at home for the next 14 days after confirming he tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.

"On Sunday, I started to develop mild flu-like symptoms. As I am diabetic (type 2) and over 55 years of age, I know I am at a higher risk of developing a more serious illness. I therefore went to be tested to determine the cause of the symptoms on Monday."

Western Cape municipal mayor dies from Covid-19

Langeberg mayor Henry Jansen has died due to Covid-19, the municipality in the Western Cape confirmed on Wednesday.

Jansen died on Tuesday afternoon after being hospitalised at the Mediclinic Worcester for more than a week, said municipal manager Soyisile Mokweni.

He was 64.

Covid-19: In Africa, lack of coronavirus data raises fears of 'silent epidemic'

African nations cannot carry out significant testing.

According to data by Reuters, Africa has over 493 000 coronavirus confirmed cases. Over 4 000 tests per million people have been carried out across the continent.

France rules out 'total lockdown' in case of new Covid-19 spike

The French government said on Wednesday it is preparing for a second wave of Covid-19 cases that could emerge in the coming months, but will not respond with another nationwide lockdown to contain the outbreak.

Trump: 'I disagree' with Fauci on Covid-19 in the US

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he disagrees with the assessment of the country's top immunologist, Anthony Fauci, on the dire situation the United States faces as cases of the novel coronavirus continue to spread.

It's adapt or die for small businesses battered by Covid-19

As large corporate companies look for ways for conserve cash in the wake of the devastating Covid-19 downturn, experts urge emerging enterprises to devise ways to future-proof their operations in case of later onslaughts.

Jeremy Lang, regional general manager at Business Partners, which provides lending solutions to SMMEs, says the current environment calls for enterprise owners to re-evaluate their operating model and adapt to changing business and customer needs.