Expect 'lengthy' coronavirus pandemic WHO warns

The World Health Organization on Saturday warned the coronavirus pandemic was likely to be "lengthy" after its emergency committee met to evaluate the crisis six months after sounding the international alarm.

The committee "highlighted the anticipated lengthy duration of this Covid-19 pandemic", the WHO said in a statement, and warned of the risk of "response fatigue" given the socio-economic pressures on countries.

The panel gathered Friday for the fourth time over the coronavirus crisis, half a year on from its January 30 declaration of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) - the WHO's highest level of alarm.

Here's when the school year will end: Education dept releases revised calendar dates

The Department of Basic Education has revised the 2020 school calendar for the second time this year. The revised calendar see 153 days of learning for pupils in public schools for the rest of the year.

ANC MP Zamuxolo Joseph Peter has died after testing positive for Covid-19 earlier on 11 July.

After testing positive, he was admitted to hospital and ultimately succumbed to the virus on Friday, 31 July. Peter had previously served as the executive mayor of the Makana Municipality during 2011 to 2015.

Lockdown tax losses exceed value of two virus loans

SA has lost more in tax revenue since the lockdown began than the loans it got from two multilateral development agencies.

SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, says there was a need to raise R40 billion more in the February budget but that gap has widened significantly because of Covid-19.

Tax Relief measures and the ban of tobacco products and alcohol sales have led to an under-recovery of about R47 billion in tax collections.

Ace Magashule's sons join list of ANC family members linked to Covid-19 govt tenders - report

Ace Magashule's sons, Tshepiso and Thato, have been awarded tenders to the value of R2.7 million, according to a Daily Maverick report.

The award was made after the provincial treasury decided to centralise Covid-19 supply procurement, to support local businesses.

Earlier this week, presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko took a leave of absence following an investigation into a tender for Covid-19 supplies awarded to her husband's company.

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 17.61 million, death toll at 679 094

More than 17.61 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 679 094 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

Philippines confirms nearly 5,000 new coronavirus cases, largest single-day increase

The Philippines on Saturday reported 4 963 additional coronavirus infections, the largest single-day jump on record.In a bulletin, the health ministry said total infections have reached 98 232, while deaths increased by 17 to 2 039.

In the region, the Philippines is second only to Indonesia in coronavirus deaths and cases.

Reuters

Egypt reports lowest coronavirus daily figure since 3 May

Egypt reported 321 new Covid-19 infections on Friday, the health ministry said, the lowest figure since 3 May.

Covid-19 wrap: US records over 25 000 deaths in July, recovered Bolsonaro says nothing to fear

President Jair Bolsonaro said nearly everyone will probably end up catching the new coronavirus, saying there was nothing to fear.

Mexico's confirmed coronavirus deaths rose to 46 688, placing the country's death toll from the pandemic at third highest in the world.

China reported 45 cases of the new coronavirus in the mainland for 31 July, down sharply from 127 cases a day earlier.

Coronavirus morning update: SA on brink of hunger crisis, and smoking soldiers face disciplinary

SA is facing a hunger crisis as millions face worsening economic conditions; and SANDF members caught smoking at Andrew Mlangeni funeral face internal disciplinary process.

The Covid-19 death toll has hit 8 005, while the number of cases now sits at 493 183.

The total number of recoveries is now 326 171 - a recovery rate of 66%.

Here’s what made the headlines today

The Hawks have raided the Nkomazi Municipality in Mpumalanga over allegations of Covid-19 tender fraud amounting to R27 million. This comes amid allegations of procurement fraud. No arrests have yet been made.

Schools could close on 15 December, while matriculants may have to wait until February to get their results, a leaked proposal says. The proposal recommends that the schooling year should not be taken into 2021.

South Africa’s economy could contract by 8.2% if there is a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in October and November, according to a new report. But if a second wave can be avoided, growth in 2021 may be 2.5%.

SANDF members caught on camera smoking at the funeral of Andrew Mlangeni this week will face disciplinary action, Police Minister Bheki Cele says. Cele reminded the public, however, that smoking is not banned, just the sale of tobacco products. He added that police have seized 1.8 million cigarettes so far.

A KwaZulu-Natal hospital building built to treat Covid-19 patients was partially burnt, allegedly by members of the community who were upset that part of the hospital was converted into a Covid-19 facility. The hospital is in Amatikulu, near Eshowe. A security guard was injured in the incident.

Stay informed with News24

Special report | We remember those who died of Covid-19.
Back to school | Should you let your little one back to preschool before the pandemic is over?
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- Compiled by Kerushun Pillay

Vietnam records second virus death, Namibia to close schools as cases rise - International Covid-19 news

Vietnam's Health Ministry reported the country's second Covid-19 death shortly after announcing the first death.

The World Health Organisation reported a record increase in global coronavirus cases on Friday, with the total rising by 292 527.

Namibian schools will be suspended for the second time in four months next week, while limits on public gatherings will be tightened further to 100 from 250 amid surging cases, President Hage Geingob said.

Masked and socially distanced to fight the coronavirus, Muslims around the world held prayers on Friday to mark the festival of Eid al-Adha, with mosques at reduced capacity and some praying in the open air.

And, the coronavirus crisis has pulverised Spain's economy, triggering its worst recession since the civil war, with collapsed tourism numbers boding ill for hopes of a swift rebound.

Pictured: Muslims attend prayers outside Essalam mosque during Eid al-Adha in Rotterdam.

Possible second virus wave will cause further economic pain for SA, warns OECD

South Africa's economy risks contracting by 8.2% this year if the country is hit by a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in October and November, according to a new report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Under this "double-hit scenario", economic recovery in 2021 will remain limited, with GDP only growing by 0.6%. If a second wave of the virus can be avoided, growth in 2021 may tick up to 2.5%. 

The OECD on Friday released its annual economic survey on South Africa, with a focus on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has resulted in a collapse of global growth.

Hawks raids Nkomazi Municipality over alleged R27m Covid-19 tender fraud

Members of the Hawks in Mpumalanga have raided the Nkomazi Municipality over alleged Covid-19 tender fraud to the tune of R27 million.

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said officers had conducted a search-and-seizure operation at the municipality on Thursday.

"The operation follows investigations in relation to alleged Covid-19 procurement fraud wherein the appointment of contractors and service providers were inconsistent with the requisite procurement regulations," he said.

Young children carry higher levels of coronavirus, says study

Children under the age of five have between 10 to 100 times greater levels of genetic material of the coronavirus in their noses compared to older children and adults, a study in JAMA Pediatrics said Thursday.

Its authors wrote this meant that young children might be important drivers of Covid-19 transmission within communities - a suggestion at odds with the current prevailing narrative.

The paper comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump is pushing hard for schools and daycare to reopen in order to kickstart the economy.

Schools could close on 15 December, matric results to be released in February, leaked proposal shows

The new school calendar may see the academic year ending by 15 December, a leaked document from a Heads of Education Departments Committee (Hedcom) workshop has shown.

The document, dated 28 July, recommends the year should be completed by 15 December for grades R to 11 and it should not be carried over to the first quarter of 2021.

It also recommends the Grade 12 National Senior Certificate examinations be completed by 15 December and marked in January.

Smoking soldiers will face SANDF disciplinary, reveals Bheki Cele

Internal disciplinary processes are under way against South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members caught smoking at the funeral of Andrew Mlangeni on Wednesday, according to Police Minister Bheki Cele.

At a media briefing on Friday, Cele also referred to the police's investigation into the ANC's event held to mark the arrival of Mlangeni's body at his family's home in Dube on Tuesday.

Three soldiers were caught on camera standing closely together, lighting cigarettes and smoking during Mlangeni's funeral on Wednesday.

Vietnam, Fiji report first deaths as China rejects vaccine hacking attempt accusations

Vietnam recorded its first coronavirus death Friday, state media reported, as the pandemic rebounds in a country previously praised for controlling the initial outbreak.

Fiji announced its first coronavirus death Friday, but health officials assured people in the Pacific island nation that it was not the precursor to a major outbreak.

Meanwhile China rejected on Friday charges that hackers linked to its government targeted biotech firm Moderna Inc, a leading U.S.-based coronavirus vaccine research developer, to steal data. 

US counts nearly 1 400 deaths in 24 hours - Johns Hopkins

Washington – The United States counted 1 379 new deaths from the coronavirus in the 24 hours leading up to 20:30 on Thursday (00:30 GMT Friday), according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.

It was the third day in a row with more than 1 200 deaths, according to the Baltimore-based school.

The US has tallied a total of 151 826 deaths from Covid-19, making it the hardest-hit country in the world.

There were also 72 238 new infections officially recorded on Thursday, meaning the US has seen a total of nearly 4.5 million infections since the beginning of the pandemic, with at least 1.4 million of them having recovered.

After seeing an apparent improvement in the spread of the virus in late spring, the US has seen a resurgence of high daily cases loads since the end of June, especially in the southern and western parts of the country.

Beach destination Florida has been hit particularly hard, with a record 253 deaths there on Thursday.

The "Sunshine State" has recently overtaken the case numbers of New York – which had long been the hardest-hit area in the country since the beginning of the pandemic.

California leads in total case count, with a population twice the size of Florida at nearly 40 million.

Meanwhile, Florida is also bracing for the arrival of a tropical storm over the weekend, which forced the closing of some virus testing centres.

 - AFP

Eastern Cape records highest death toll as SA's Covid-19 fatalities rise to 7 812 

The Eastern Cape has recorded the most coronavirus deaths in the country in the past 24 hours of reporting. 

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced late on Thursday that 315 new Covid-19-related deaths had been registered: 121 from the Eastern Cape, 96 from Gauteng, 55 from KwaZulu-Natal, 34 from the Western Cape and nine from the North West. This brings the cumulative number of coronavirus-related deaths to 7 812.

Looking at the figures, 69% of new fatalities occurred in two of the country's nine provinces: The Eastern Cape and Gauteng, which is currently the country's Covid-19 hotspot with a total of 171 574 cases recorded, making up 35.6% of the country's total.

Limpopo civil servants skipping work behind 'cloak of Covid-19', says PCCC

The Limpopo Provincial Coronavirus Command Council says a large number of civil servants are dodging work under "the cloak of Covid-19" which is having a predictable negative impact on service delivery in the province - but also revealing the redundancy of some positions.

Why can Covid-19 be so dangerous where patients are obese?

It is established that obesity can increase the risk of severe Covid-19. Now, new research points to a hormone that regulates the appetite and immune system.

Covid-19 is accelerating 4IR - but SA may not be ready

Banks and insurers say the majority of their employees aren't going back to their headquarters. Private and suburbia schools have transitioned to online learning for most of their grades and more people can perform government-related transactions online, thanks to the zero-rating of more essential websites.

Covid-19 has accelerated the digitisation of the South African economy, but does this mean the country is now ready to fully embrace the Fourth Industrial Innovation (4IR)?

Nine million hungry children: We ask Section27 five questions about school feeding scheme

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, in the middle of July, ordered the Department of Basic Education to reintroduce the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) to all pupils.

Medical scheme representative questions doctors' request for financial aid

A proposal by doctors for financial assistance from medical schemes, as they grapple with the impact of Covid-19, appears to have hit a wall after a scheme representative body raised technical and legal questions about it.

The department of health recorded 315 new death as a result of Covid-19, with 121 from the Eastern Cape, 96 from Gauteng, 55 from KwaZulu-Natal, 34 from the Western Cape, and nine from North West.

Total deaths in SA are now 7 812.

There are 309 601 recoveries which translate to a recovery rate of 64%.

SA has recorded 11 046 new cases of coronavirus, resulting in a national total of 482 169 cases

10 000 Cape Town informal traders to get sanitisers, masks, 1.5m mats to trade safely

Aimed at helping traders and their customers do business in a safe environment, compliant with protocols, the City of Cape Town has started distributing a free toolkit to those registered on its database in possession of Covid-19 permits and concession letters.

Coronavirus morning update: More than 5 400 hospitalised in Gauteng, and latest on alcohol ban

More than 5 400 patients are currently hospitalised in Gauteng, with close to 1 900 in intensive care; and government will re-evaluate the alcohol ban regularly.

Changes to nighttime curfew, world rugby releases new resumption dates

Here are Wednesday’s top stories

The nighttime curfew has been extended by an hour, and it will now run from 22:00 to 04:00, Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane says. Hotels and guest houses will be able to open for leisure travellers within their own province. The new regulations will be gazetted soon.

Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku has been placed on special leave amid allegations he is involved in corruption related to tenders awarded for providing materials to treat Covid-19. He is alleged to be involved with awarding an R125 million tender for PPEs to a business belonging to the husband of Presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko.

World Rugby says international rigby is set to resume in October, after a temporary calendar for 2020 was approved. The temporary global window will accommodate the completion of the 2020 men's and women's Six Nations championships on 24 and 31 October, a rest weekend on 7 November and four consecutive rounds of international matches.

Cogta Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says the government will regularly evaluate the alcohol ban. She says the government is aware that some business sectors are hit hard by the ban. The government had lifted the ban previously, only to then enforce it again because alcohol-related trauma incidents were said to be adding an unwanted burden on hospitals.

After a few scares, Western Cape old age homes have noticed an increase in Covid-19 recoveries among occupants. As of 27 July, 953 people have recovered, while 172 are still infected with the virus. Western Cape is said to have passed its peak of cases, and despite once having nearly two thirds of all cases, it now has less than 20% of total cases.

Stay informed with News24

Special report | We remember those who died of Covid-19.
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
A New era | Like our Covid coverage? News24 is launching a premier subscription service

- Compiled by Kerushun Pillay

3 more police stations in Mpumalanga closed temporarily

Three more police stations in Mpumalanga have had to temporarily close due to a member testing positive for Covid-19.

"The community service centre [for Nelspruit] will now be operated from a mobile caravan, which is placed at the front entrance of Nelspruit SAPS," police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said.

In addition, the community service centre for Elukwatini will be operating from Elukwatini Community Hall, situated next to the sports field near the police station.

Former US Presidential candidate dies of virus, 'careless' young people driving virus spikes - International Covid-19 news

The World Health Organisation on Thursday warned that spikes in coronavirus transmission in a number of countries were being driven by young people "letting down their guard".

And, Herman Cain, a 2012 Republican presidential candidate, has died after contracting Covid-19, according to a statement on his website and Facebook page.

Libya will impose a full lockdown in areas of the country it controls, it said on Thursday, after a sharp rise in coronavirus cases.

Several French cities on Thursday announced new face mask requirements and other measures to contain the coronavirus as the number of new cases continues to increase after a long lull, officials said.

As most of the world either orders or recommends the use of face masks, with even US president Donald Trump seen wearing one, Nordic nations are the remaining holdouts.

World economies battered as 17 million global Covid-19 cases recorded

Economies around the world reported record slumps on Thursday and companies from banks to car makers warned of losses in the latest fallout from the pandemic that has infected more than 17 million people across the globe.

Six months after the World Health Organisation declared a global emergency, countries around the globe are struggling to control infections even as they seek to restart damaged economies.

Even nations that appeared to have largely curbed the disease are being gripped by resurgences, with Australia on Thursday reporting a record number of new infections and its deadliest day of the pandemic.

Despite efforts in place to contain the virus, Covid-19 has killed more than 667 000 people around the world and total infections have passed 17 million since the disease first emerged in China late last year.

As governments try to weigh lockdown measures against the need to revive economies, the United States said its economy had contracted 32.9%  in the second quarter - the worst on record since 1947.

Germany said its GDP had shrunk a record 10.1% during the same period although experts saw a recovery already on its way.

Belgium and Austria also said their economies shrank by 12.2% and 10.7%.

Mexico's economy - Latin America's largest after Brazil - suffered its worst recorded contraction in the second quarter after being ravaged by the pandemic.

Across the globe, companies were also taking a hit with Airbus, VW, oil producer Shell, UK bank Lloyds and Japanese consumer electronics giant Panasonic all reporting losses.

Britain's biggest tour operator Tui said it will close 166 stores due to a collapse in foreign travel and shift towards online booking, accelerated by the pandemic.

Global daily cases are now approaching the 300 000 mark, with the curve showing no sign of flattening - it took just 100 hours for one million new cases to be recorded.

The United States -- the world's worst-affected nation - crossed a grim milestone as virus deaths passed 150 000.

Meanwhile, the EU updated its list of countries approved for travel to the European bloc, which it reviews every two weeks. The United States was not on the list and it also removed Algeria.

The EU's safe list does, however, include Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.

Several European countries have slapped restrictions on travel to and from Spain, while officials elsewhere bicker over the seriousness of the current outbreak.

- AFP

Herman Cain, former Republican presidential candidate, dies after Covid-19 diagnosis

Herman Cain, a 2012 Republican presidential candidate, has died after contracting Covid-19, according to a statement on his website and Facebook page.

Cain was diagnosed with the disease in late June after attending a Tulsa, Oklahoma, rally for President Donald Trump, an event where many attendees crowded close together without wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

"We're heartbroken, and the world is poorer: Herman Cain has gone to be with the Lord," the statement on his website said.

- Reuters

Gauteng MEC steps aside, govt regularly revising alcohol ban, Western Cape old age homes seeing recoveries

Here are stories from earlier you may have missed

Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku has been placed on special leave amid allegations he is involved in corruption related to tenders awarded for providing materials to treat Covid-19. He is alleged to be involved with awarding an R125 million tender for PPEs to a business belonging to the husband of Presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko.

Cogta Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says the government will regularly evaluate the alcohol ban. She says the government is aware that some business sectors are hit hard by the ban. The government had lifted the ban previously, only to then enforce it again because alcohol-related trauma incidents were said to be adding an unwanted burden on hospitals.

After a few scares, Western Cape old age homes have noticed an increase in Covid-19 recoveries among occupants. As of 27 July, 953 people have recovered, while 172 are still infected with the virus. Western Cape is said to have passed its peak of cases, and despite once having nearly two thirds of all cases, it now has less than 20% of total cases.

Covid-19: SAHRC set to probe Gauteng health spending amid corruption claims 

Following allegations of corruption in government's healthcare procurement processes to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) intends to launch its own investigation into claims levelled against the Gauteng administration.

Speaking during a tour to the Nasrec field hospital in Johannesburg on Thursday, the commission's Gauteng manager, Buang Jones, said the Chapter 9 institution would be launching a probe into government from when it started its Covid-19 response.

"The commission's probe will look from when government started their response to Covid-19. We will be looking at alleged procurement irregularities through the human rights lens. We will also be looking at the impact of public procurement and alleged irregularities on the right to health."

Gauteng ANC tells Makhura to explain Covid-19 tender processes, as integrity commission takes over 

The ANC in Gauteng says it asked its provincial leadership to give an account to the province's residents of how Covid-19 tenders were procured.

The party held a media briefing on Thursday following a special provincial executive committee (PEC) on Wednesday to discuss the R125 million personal protective equipment tender awarded by Gauteng Health to the Amabhaca King Madzikane II Diko.

The king is married to PEC member and President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson Khusela Diko and scored the tender from the department headed by family friend, Health MEC Bandile Masuku.

JUST IN | World Rugby approves temporary 2020 Covid-19 calendar 

International rugby is set to resume in October after the World Rugby Council approved a temporary 2020 calendar following the disruption caused by coronavirus, it was announced on Thursday. 

The temporary global window will accommodate the completion of the 2020 men's and women's Six Nations championships on 24 and 31 October, a rest weekend on 7 November and four consecutive rounds of international matches.

The Rugby Championship 2020, involving southern hemisphere nations, will take place over a reduced six-week period between 7 November and the second weekend in December.

New lockdown rules: Cabinet approves changes to curfew, leisure travel 

Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane announced on Thursday that Cabinet has decided to extend the national curfew to 22:00, from 21:00.

This is to accommodate restaurants, which have had to cut their dinner services short.

According to the industry, restaurants do the majority of their business after 17:00. If restaurant staff need to be in their homes by 21:00, that means they need time to travel, and to clean and close the restaurant.

Covid-19 tender saga: Jacob Mamabolo acting Health MEC as Bandile Masuku placed on special leave

Gauteng Transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo has been appointed acting Health MEC by Premier David Makhura.

The premier made the announcement on Thursday during the provincial command council's media briefing.

He told journalists he had placed Bandile Masuku on leave pending an investigation into tender corruption at the Gauteng health department. Makhura also confirmed that he had placed Masuku on leave for four weeks.