Children are silent spreaders of Covid-19 virus, new research suggests

A comprehensive study of Covid-19 paediatric patients paints a different picture to previous research suggesting that children are unlikely to catch or spread SARS-CoV-2.

In a comprehensive study of Covid-19 paediatric patients by the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Mass General Hospital for Children (MGHfC), in the United States, researchers in the study found that children may play a larger role in community transmission of the virus than initially thought.

The research team analysed the viral load, immune response and hyperinflammation in 192 paediatric patients between the ages of 0–22. Their paper was published in the Journal of Pediatrics.

Local CEO shares her insights on how lockdown has impacted working moms

For many South Africans, lockdown has meant mastering the fine art of juggling competing priorities: the personal and the professional.

For working moms, who often carry the bulk of childcare responsibilities in the home, the adjustment has not been easy.

"These are not normal work-from-home conditions," local CEO Phillipa Geard tells Parent24, likening lockdown to "an extreme social experiment".

What it's like to be back at the gym: it's eerily quiet and sweat towels are banned

- Virgin Active reopened on Monday for the first time in almost five months. 

- According to government regulations, only 50 members are permitted in a gym at any time, which leaves the vast exercise spaces almost eerily deserted.

Despite not being able to book, I went to my local gym in Wembley Square, Cape Town on Monday afternoon. Fortunately, there wasn't a waiting list or queue.On arrival, I had my temperature checked and hands sanitised.

Usain Bolt tests positive for coronavirus: report

Usain Bolt was in quarantine on Monday as Jamaican media reported the sprint legend had tested positive for the coronavirus, just days after he celebrated his 34th birthday with a lavish party.

The retired 100m and 200m world-record holder didn't confirm his test result, but he urged anyone who had been in contact with him to go into quarantine.

"I did a test on Saturday to leave (Jamaica) because I have work," Bolt said in a video posted on Twitter. "I am trying to be responsible so I am going to stay in and be safe.

Gauteng health MEC says SIU will clear his name in PPE procurement corruption probe

Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku has again denied his involvement in irregular personal protective equipment (PPE) deals.

In a lawyer's letter, dated 24 August 2020, which News24 has seen, Masuku placed it on record he had appeared before the ANC's Provincial Integrity Committee (PIC) in Gauteng and Special Investigative Unit (SIU) in his respective capacities as a provincial executive committee (PEC) member of the ANC in Gauteng and health MEC.

"Our client has in the said forums, categorically denied any involvement in the procurement processes of the department and further confirmed that neither did he instruct any official to do so in his name," the letter read.

Covid-19: 27 000 health workers infected, Mkhize expresses his 'deep appreciation'

Mkhize expressed his appreciation for health professionals when he spoke at an engagement attended by doctors and health professionals in Gauteng on Monday.

More than 27 000 healthcare professionals have been infected with Covid-19 and 240 have died, according to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize.

"It is our duty to honour their sacrifice by committing fully to the safety and well-being of our healthcare workers," Mkhize said, adding that the issue was critical.

A cumulative total of 611 450 confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa have been recorded with 1 677 new cases identified.

There have been 100 more Covid-19 related deaths: 14 from KwaZulu-Natal, 36 in Mpumalanga, 12 from Gauteng, 8 from Limpopo, 11 from Eastern Cape and 19 from Western Cape. This brings the total number of Covid-19 related deaths to 13 159.

Our recoveries now stand at 516 494, which translates to a recovery rate of 84%

Here’s what made the headlines on Monday

Accidents, arrests and deaths are seen to have surged since the alcohol ban was lifted under lockdown Level 2. Government ministers have condemned unruly behaviour by citizens, their comments coming after three police officers died over the weekend while chasing an alleged drunk driver.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape government says at least 48 people have been killed on the road since Level 2 was introduced. A spokesperson said speeding and reckless driving were contributing factors, and investigations were ongoing to see if alcohol was a player.

Education union Sadtu wants the start of the matric exams delayed until 26 November, on the basis that disadvantaged schools may not have enough time to prepare for exams due to intermittent closures during the pandemic.

A top National Institute of Communicable Diseases expert says a second Covid-19 is likely - but it is difficult to predict when it will happen. Professor Adrian Puren also said messages around interventions like hand washing and wearing of masks needed to be strengthened.

Looking abroad, a Hong Kong man has been re-infected with Covid-19, in the first documented case of its kind. The 33-year-old was cleared of the virus and discharged from a hospital in April, only to test positive again in August.

Stay informed with News24

Special report | We remember those who died of Covid-19.
Hygiene | Masks, laundry, living space - the best ways to disinfect
Stay safe | Advice for keeping safe in supermarkets, schools and on public transport
FAQs | News24 answers all your questions
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- Compiled by Kerushun Pillay

Hong Kong man gets re-infected with virus, Italy begins vaccine trials - International Covid-19 news

A Hong Kong man who recovered from Covid-19 was infected again four-and-a-half months later in the first documented instance of human re-infection, researchers at the University of Hong Kong said on Monday.

Some 172 countries are engaging with the WHO-led COVAX plan designed to ensure equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines, the World Health Organisation said on Monday, but more funding is urgently needed and countries should now make binding commitments.

An Italian hospital said on Monday it had innoculated a first volunteer with an anti-Covid-19 vaccine as part of human trials expected to last six months.

Spain diagnosed 2 060 coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said on Monday, below the levels seen last week and bringing the cumulative total to 405 436.

The Syrian Constitutional Committee, which began its first session in nine months in Geneva on Monday as part of efforts to find a political solution to end Syria's war, was swiftly put "on hold" after three members tested positive for Covid-19, the United Nations said.

Covid-19: Hong Kong man re-infected in first documented case

A Hong Kong man who recovered from Covid-19 was infected again four-and-a-half months later in the first documented instance of human re-infection, researchers at the University of Hong Kong said on Monday.

The findings indicate the disease, which has killed more than 800 000 people worldwide, will continue to spread amongst the global population despite herd immunity, they said.

The 33-year-old male was cleared of Covid-19 and discharged from a hospital in April, but tested positive again after returning from Spain via Britain on 15 August.

Zoom users are reporting significant outages that are preventing people from joining or creating meetings

The outages were a disruption for people who rely on Zoom to do their jobs remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic, including teachers at schools that have moved to remote learning.

Thousands of users reported that they were unable to sign in to Zoom or join video calls, according to Down Detector. The problems started appearing shortly after 8 a.m. EDT.

A popular travel company in South Africa just went bust - and clients are worried about refunds

STA Travel, a popular travel business among South Africans, has closed its almost twenty stores in South Africa.

The Swiss-owned business announced at the weekend that it has ceased trading across the world. The BBC reports that the firm's parent company, Diethelm Keller Holding (DKH), said the pandemic had "brought the travel industry to a standstill".

Sadtu's NEC wants the start of matric exams to be delayed

The national executive committee (NEC) of the SA Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) wants the start of the final National Senior Certificate examinations to be delayed until 26 November. 

During a virtual meeting on Friday, 21 August, the NEC discussed this and other matters, including personal protective equipment (PPE) budgets, the state of the economy and the reopening of schools.

In a statement issued after the meeting, it said it noted that matric pupils, especially those from disadvantaged areas, would not be able to prepare for the exams because of intermittent school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic.

WHO says 172 countries engaging with global Covid-19 vaccine plan

Some 172 countries are engaging with the WHO-led COVAX plan designed to ensure equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday, but more funding is urgently needed and countries should now make binding commitments.

"Initially, when there will be limited supply (of Covid-19 vaccines), it's important to provide the vaccine to those at highest risk around the globe," the WHO's director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a media briefing.

- Reuters

China says it has been injecting key workers with a coronavirus vaccine candidate for a month

China says it has been giving essential workers shots of an experimental coronavirus vaccine since late July.

Zheng Zhongei, the head of the National Health Commission (NHC) science and technology center, told the state-run CCTV broadcaster on Sunday that "emergency use" of a vaccine was green-lit on 22 July.

Zheng did not say how many workers had been inoculated, or which vaccine candidate was used, but said that the recipients included health workers and border officials.

Covid-19 wrap: Global cases cross 23.5m, New Zealand extends lockdown and Bali bans foreign tourists

More than 23.5 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 808 476 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

New Zealand will extend the current coronavirus restrictions in its largest city of Auckland until Sunday night, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday.

An abrupt resurgence of Covid-19 about two weeks ago in Auckland prompted Ardern to put the city's 1.7 million residents in a lockdown, forcing businesses to close and schools to shut.

The lockdown was due to expire on Wednesday.

PLUS:

- India's coronavirus cases surge to 3.1 million

- China reports 16 new Covid-19 cases, 8th day without local infections

Cyril Ramaphosa | 'Critical issue' of climate change must not be relegated due to Covid-19 crisis

Dear Fellow South African, 

The coronavirus pandemic has had a dramatic impact on the social, economic, business and industrial landscape of our country and countries around the world.

As we count the devastating cost the coronavirus pandemic has had on our economy, we must resist the temptation to relegate the critical issue of climate change to the back-burner.

Lockdown got you fuming? How to understand your anger and deal with it

We've all been going through a whirlwind of emotions like anxiety, depression and grief during the Covid-19 pandemic – but many of us are now seeing the frustration caused by the situation boiling over into anger.

One global study analysed more than 20 million English tweets and found that the fear at the start of the pandemic eventually gave way to anger – a common emotion when suffering from loss. And as a result of the pandemic, people have lost job security, stability, health, social interactions and even loved ones.

Covid-19: We are over the surge; now we must be responsible - Zweli Mkhize

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says South Africa is "over the surge" of Covid-19 infections, but warns that a resurgence might be on the cards if people neglect precautionary measures.

Mkhize released the latest coronavirus statistics and numbers late on Sunday.

A cumulative total of 609 773 confirmed Covid-19 cases have been recorded in South Africa. 

SA’s Covid-19 death toll tops 13 000 with 72 new fatalities. There have been 2 728 new infections, bringing the total number of cases to 609 773.

The number of recoveries is 506 470 - a recovery rate of 83%.

Coronavirus morning update: EC dept denies PPE tender claim, president talks tough on corruption

A provincial department has dismissed reports alleging that it awarded a PPE tender to a businessman who had died; and president reads ANC members riot act over corruption.

13 crushed to death as police storm Peru party, India cases top 3 million - International Covid-19 news

India's confirmed coronavirus cases crossed the three million mark Sunday with nearly 70 000 new infections, as the disease continues to surge in the world's second most-populous nation.

At least 13 people were crushed to death or asphyxiated as playgoers tried to flee a Lima nightclub raided by police because it was open in violation of restrictions imposed to fight the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.

Russia expects to produce between 1.5 million and 2 million doses per month of its potential Covid-19 vaccine by the year end, gradually ramping up production to 6 million doses a month, the RIA news agency cited industry minister Denis Manturov as saying on Sunday.

Germany should temporarily ban private parties, several lawmakers suggested on Sunday, after the number of coronavirus infections in Europe's largest economy reached a four-month high.

Global Covid-19 death toll tops 805 000

Covid-19 has killed at least 805 470 people since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.

At least 23 263 670 cases have been registered in 196 countries and territories. Of these, at least 14 686 200 are now considered recovered.

- AFP

Coronavirus morning update: Harsh 'repercussions' for SA economy, and shock findings on PPE tenders

G-20's "least-resilient" nations such as SA are set to have "harsh" economic consequences; and a businessman, who has been dead for two years, allegedly scored a PPE tender.

As of today, a cumulative total of 607 045 confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa have been recorded with 3 707 new cases identified.

There have been 144 Covid-19 related deaths: 25 from Eastern Cape, 37 from Gauteng, 46 from Mpumalanga, 31 from KwaZulu-Natal, and 5 from Western Cape. This brings the total Covid-19 related cumulative deaths to 12 987.

The recoveries now stand at 504 127 which translates to a recovery rate of 83%

South Africa, India and Brazil face 'harshest' economic hit from the coronavirus, report finds

India, South Africa, and Brazil can expect the "harshest repercussions" from COVID-19 on their economies among G-20 members, according to a report released this week.

These three economies lie at the very bottom of risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft's "Recovery Capacity Index" when it comes to the coronavirus.

Dead business man scores PPE contract in Eastern Cape - report

An East London businessman, who had been dead for two years, allegedly scored a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) tender worth close to a R1 million during the Covid-19 pandemic.

WATCH | SANEF honours South African journalists with Nat Nakasa Award for work on Covid-19 frontline

The South African National Editors Forum decided to confer the 2020 Nat Nakasa Award to the entire South African journalism fraternity for their valiant efforts during a global health crisis. 

The forum announced the award with a documentary featuring reporters and editors on the 22 August.

In it, editors and reporters from some of the country's biggest media houses shared their insights on managing newsrooms during the pandemic.

'The MEC wants his people' - This is how Diko scored R120m PPE tender, SIU contends

"The MEC wants his people."

This is what the former chief financial officer of the Gauteng health department, Kabelo Lehloenya, said before she irregularly signed off on two Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) tenders amounting to R120 million to Royal Bhaca - a company owned by Madzikane II Thandisizwe Diko.

A court bid to freeze the proceeds of this irregular tender had blown the lid off the Special Investigating Unit's (SIU) probe.

Covid-19 wrap | Death toll tops 800 000, Germany spike in daily cases

The pandemic has killed at least 800,004 people worldwide since surfacing in China late last year, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at around 11:00 GMT on Saturday.

More than 23 million cases have been registered in 196 countries and territories.

The United States has recorded the most deaths with 175,416, followed by Brazil with 113,358, Mexico with 59,610, India with 55,794 and Britain with 41,403 fatalities.

Our little fighter is home: Premature baby beats Covid-19

The tiny baby is peacefully asleep in his mother’s arms, blissfully unaware of all the tears shed over him in his short life.

Levin Brown is perfect, from his little nose to his dimpled chin and long dark lashes. Aged just two months, Levin has been through a lot. Not only was he born premature, weighing less than a kilogram at birth, he’s also battled Covid-19.

And now, having spent his first 67 days in hospital, he’s finally home.

'A good feeling' - Tour guides excited as they return to work under safe Covid-19 protocols

After four months of being at home, worried about their jobs and what the future holds for them amid the Covid-19 pandemic, tour guides are excited to be back on the job - however in a much safer one.

'SA democracy in ER': We lost money, frontline workers and trust to Covid-19 graft - Thuli Madonsela

Thuli Madonsela said the country has lost money and probably some of its frontline workers, as well as the trust of its people, because of corruption.

Following a community health worker for a day: It’s incredible what she does

Thousands of community health workers deliver life-saving medicine and support for patients at their homes across the country. Covid-19 has made their work much harder, but they persevere. We accompanied Katrina Jacobs on her rounds.

German trial concerts to probe virus infection risks

A German university launched Saturday a series of pop concerts under coronavirus conditions, hoping the mass experiment with 4 000 people can determine whether large events can safely resume.

Well-known singer Tim Bendzko agreed to give three separate performances over the course of the day in eastern city Leipzig, allowing researchers from nearby Halle University to try out different configurations for the gigs.

Only young, healthy volunteers were allowed to attend in a bid to limit infection risks.

As the audience arrives at the Leipzig Arena concert hall, they will submit to a temperature check.

All the participants will wear masks meeting the high-protection FFP2 standard, as well as an electronic device allowing tracking of their movements within the space.

Using fluorescent disinfectants, the researchers will also be able to see which surfaces concert-goers most often touch with their hands.

And the scientists will even track the trajectories of tiny aerosol particles breathed out by attendees, believed by experts to play a role in infections.The ultimate aim of the experiments is to find out whether concerts and other large events could be allowed to resume while avoiding contamination risks.

Data collected on Saturday will flow into a mathematical model to help judge risks of the virus spreading in a large concert venue, with results expected in the autumn.

With most concert organisers and workers in the entertainment and cultural sector jobless in recent months, hopes for the final report are high.

But for now, large gatherings remain forbidden in Germany until at least November.Chancellor Angela Merkel recently warned that she sees no room to slacken infection control restrictions, given a recent rise in new coronavirus cases.

Over the past 24 hours, Germany identified 2 000 infections, a level last seen in late April at the height of the pandemic.

- AFP

India coronavirus cases jump by record as tally nears 3 million

India reported a record daily jump of coronavirus infections on Saturday, bringing the total near 3 million and piling pressure on authorities to curb huge gatherings as a major religious festival began.

The 69 878 new infections - the fourth straight day above 60 000 - take India's total cases to 2.98 million, behind only the United States and Brazil. Covid-19 deaths increased by 945 to 55 794, data from the federal health ministry showed.

For most of western India, especially the financial capital Mumbai, the 11-day festival of Hindu elephant-headed god Ganesh is usually celebrated with big public gatherings.

Cases have plateaued in Mumbai, which now averages just above 1 000 a day and has recorded more than 134 000 in total. But strict pandemic regulations have meant the festival season, which begins this month, has been lacklustre.

- Reuters

More than 23.04 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 798 558 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

Coronavirus morning update: 'Worst over' in Gauteng, PPE a 'dire necessity' for healthcare workers

The Gauteng provincial health department says the "worst is over" in the province; and concern over healthcare workers, many who are on "front line".

The Covid-19 death toll has hit 12 843, while the number of cases now sits at 603 338.

 The total number of recoveries is now 500 102 - a recovery rate of 82%.

  Here’s what made the headlines on Friday

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said alcohol consumption is having a massive impact on the health system. In his guest column, Mkhize said the lockdown and alcohol ban had decreased the number of trauma cases in the Western Cape. According to Mkhize, the lockdown and alcohol ban saw a decreased of about 40-50% in trauma cases at five Western Cape facilities.

Government said it cannot give an undertaking that the cigarette ban will not be reinstated in the future. In a letter to the Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) the state attorney said Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma could not guarantee that the tobacco ban will not be reinstated. The tobacco ban, which lasted for five months, was lifted this week as the country entered level two of the national lockdown.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigations Unit has obtained a court order to freeze the accounts of 40 entities linked to Gauteng’s irregular PPE tender . Among these were accounts linked to Ledla Structural Development, Royal Bhaca Projects and Mediwaste. SIU Special Tribunal Judge Billy Mothle issued an order to freeze R38.7 million that is due for recovery.

The National Education, Health and Allied Worker’s union (Nehawu) has threatened to down tools next month if its demands to protect workers from Covid-19 are not met. Among others, the union is demanding adequate provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The union said it will start pickets next week ahead of a full-blown strike if its demands are not met.

Plans to build a field hospital in Tshwane have been cancelled due to the decline in daily Covid-19 infections and hospital admissions in Gauteng . Gauteng Department of Health COO Lesiba Malotana said he was of the view that the peak had now passed.

-Compiled by Nokuthula Khanyile      

WHO hopes Covid-19 pandemic will end in 'less than two years'

"We hope to finish this pandemic before less than two years," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters from the WHO's headquarters in Geneva, insisting that it should be possible to tame the novel coronavirus faster than the deadly 1918 pandemic.

Compared to back then, the world today is at a disadvantage due to its "globalisation, closeness, connectedness", which has allowed the novel coronavirus to spread around the world at lightning speed, Tedros acknowledged.

But the world also now has the advantage of far better technology, he said. By "utilising the available tools to the maximum and hoping that we can have additional tools like vaccines, I think we can finish it in a shorter time than the 1918 flu."

Covid-19 in Gauteng: The 'worst is over', says provincial health department

Daily Covid-19 infections have consistently dropped since the middle of July. On 9 July, the province recorded its highest daily increase of 6 531 new Covid-19 cases - and, by 19 August, 944 cases were recorded.

Malotana said, while the daily infections and hospitalisations have been declining, there has not been a decline in the number of Covid-19 tests performed in the province.By mid-July, when infections started increasing sharply, the province had conducted 817 655 tests.

By 6 August, 1 069 171 tests were done in Gauteng and, by 20 August, a total of 1 161 954 tests had been conducted.

Covid-19: Planned Tshwane field hospital cancelled due to declining infections, hospital admissions

Due to the decline in daily Covid-19 infections and hospital admissions in Gauteng, the planned field hospital at the Tshwane events centre will no longer be built.

This was revealed by Gauteng Department of Health COO Gauteng Lesiba Malotana during the Provincial Command Council's weekly Covid-19 briefing on Friday.

According to the data from the council, the highest number of hospital admissions was recorded in the middle of July.

On 22 July, a total of 7 193 patients were hospitalised for the virus, of which 1 863 of them needed to be on oxygen.

PPE a 'dire necessity' - HPCSA's concern after 240 healthcare workers die of Covid-19

HPCSA spokesperson Priscilla Sekhonyana said healthcare workers selflessly put their lives at risk and, as a result, were vulnerable to the virus.

The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is concerned that 240 healthcare workers have died of Covid-19 since the beginning of the outbreak.

Nationally, 27 360 healthcare workers, from both the public and private sector, are reported to have been infected, according to the national health department.

"It is our obligation to ensure that we preserve our assets and work together to assist our healthcare workers by not overwhelming the healthcare system," the council said.

Mboweni: We will keep working on the Covid-19 scheme

National Treasury said on Thursday it had met with the Reserve Bank and the Banking Association of South Africa to discuss the R200 billion loan guarantee scheme.

Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni has said with the help of banks, National Treasury's loan guarantee scheme was positioned to assist businesses and spur economic recovery as lockdown conditions imposed on the country’s economy continued to ease.

Also present at the meeting were South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago, deputy SARB governor Kuben Naidoo, deputy minister of finance David Masondo and representatives of various registered banks.

Covid-19 corruption: SARS investigating 17 'politically exposed persons'

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is investigating 17 tenders, involving "politically exposed persons", worth R1.2 billion, or 60% of the R2 billion it is probing, the tax collector's commissioner Edward Kieswetter told the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa).

On Friday, Scopa was briefed on the inter-ministerial committee (IMC) appointed to deal with Covid-19 related corruption, and allowed short briefings by the heads of law enforcement agencies, like SARS.

The WHO urge parents to prioritise their children's routine vaccinations amid Covid-19

With the novel coronavirus overburdening our already strained health-care system, other medically necessary services have been disrupted.

Maternal and neonatal health has been identified as particularly at risk during the pandemic, and in some instances, new mothers have even been denied vital services including vaccination for their babies. 

Issuing a warning against such actions the World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging countries to priorities this service especially in instances where children have missed routine vaccinations due to lockdown restrictions.