Coronavirus research recap: Superspreader on a bus, who's most at risk, and damage to the heart 

Recap of the latest coronavirus research and science: A superspreader infected more than 20 people on a bus; the risks if you're older and male; and what happens to the heart.

On 19 January 2020, early in the Covid-19 outbreak, 67 Buddhist passengers and a driver boarded a bus in Ningbo, China, unaware of the risk of getting ill. Since Covid-19 was so new, no-one was wearing a mask.

But days later, 24 people who had been on the bus fell ill. A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that it took only one person infected with coronavirus to spread the virus to more than a third of the passengers during a trip that took one hour and 40 minutes.

According to the study, the infected person boarding the bus was not showing any symptoms, but had been in contact with four people from the Hubei province, where the virus had been spreading rapidly.

ICYMI: 

What Covid-19 is doing to the heart, even after recovery 

Experts are concerned that there may be individuals who get through the initial Covid-19 infection, but are left with cardiovascular damage and complications.

A growing number of studies suggest many Covid-19 survivors experience some type of heart damage, even if they didn't have underlying heart disease and weren't sick enough to be hospitalised. This latest twist has health care experts worried about a potential increase in heart failure.

"Very early into the pandemic, it was clear that many patients who were hospitalised were showing evidence of cardiac injury," said Dr Gregg Fonarow, chief of the division of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles. "More recently, there is recognition that even some of those Covid-19 patients not hospitalised are experiencing cardiac injury. This raises concerns that there may be individuals who get through the initial infection, but are left with cardiovascular damage and complications."

Fonarow said these complications, such as myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, could lead to an increase in heart failure down the road. He's also concerned about people with pre-existing heart disease who don't have Covid-19 but who avoid coming into the hospital with heart problems out of fear of being exposed to the virus.

Covid-19 death toll hits 14 889

There have been 110 more Covid-19 deaths, the health department says, taking the death toll to 14 889.

There have been 1 633 more confirmed cases. The number of cases currently stands at 638 517.

There have been 563 891 recoveries - equating to a recovery rate of 88%.

Global Covid-19 news roundup

Melbourne lockdown extended

Australian officials extend a strict lockdown of the country's second-biggest city by two weeks, saying new cases have not dropped enough to prevent another spike.

Melbourne residents had been due to exit a harsh six-week lockdown next weekend but they now face continued restrictions, with Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews saying the lockdown will remain in place until 28 September.

More than 880 000

The pandemic has killed at least 880 396 people worldwide since surfacing in China late last year.

More than 26.9 million cases have been registered worldwide.

France's high alert spreads

French authorities placed seven more departments covering major cities such as Lille, Strasbourg and Dijon on high alert as infections accelerate. Of France's 101 mainland and overseas departments, 28 are now considered "red zones".

Berlusconi 'responding well'

Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is responding well to treatment after he was taken to hospital with coronavirus, his doctor says, but warns the 83-year-old's condition is "delicate".

Transparent masks

The French government says pre-school teachers as well as those with deaf students will soon be given transparent masks to facilitate comprehension at a key education stage for children.

"More than 100,000 of these masks will be produced by the end of this month," the state secretary in charge of people with disabilities, Sophie Cluzel, tells the Journal du Dimanche.

Live football for Wuhan

Chinese Super League football fans of Wuhan Zall, the team from ground zero of the pandemic, travel to Suzhou, near Shanghai, to attend their first match since lockdown.

A US woman's body caught alight after she used an off-brand hand sanitiser and lit a candle in her home

A Texas woman's body ignited after she put on "off-brand" hand sanitiser before lighting a candle in her home on Sunday, KHOU reported.

Coronavirus science | Week in review: Life without a vaccine, face shields, and genetics

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What Covid-19 is doing to the heart, even after recovery

Experts are concerned that there may be individuals who get through the initial Covid-19 infection, but are left with cardiovascular damage and complications.

Covid-19: Leading US drug makers to issue joint pledge to put safety before speed in vaccine race

The race to develop a coronavirus vaccine has already shattered records.

As of today, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in SA is 636 884, the total number of deaths is 14 779 and the total number of recoveries is 561 204.

101 new deaths have been recorded and 1 806 new cases have been identified.

The recovery rate is 88%.

 India passes four million cases

India becomes the world's third country to pass four million coronavirus infections, setting a new record daily surge in cases as the crisis shows no sign of peaking.

The 86,432 new cases take India to 4,023,179 infections, third behind the United States which has more than 6.3 million and just trailing Brazil on 4.1 million.

India now has the world's fastest growing number of cases at more than 80,000 a day and the highest daily death toll at more than 1,000.

Mozambique to lift anti-coronavirus state of emergency

Mozambique will next week lift the state of emergency imposed in April to try limit the spread of coronavirus, President Filipe Nyusi announced in a television address on Friday.

Nyusi said the state of emergency would end on Sunday night as infections have not increased much compared to neighbouring countries in the region.

"We are proud of the measures we have taken that have allowed the spread of the disease to be contained," said President Nyusi.

Diagnosed coronavirus cases in Mozambique stood at 4 265 including 26 deaths, much lower than neighbouring South Africa which has topped 635 000 infections.

The southeastern country will also re-open its borders on Monday allowing international flights. Beaches will also re-open while religious services of up to 250 people will be permitted.

- AFP

Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 1 378 to 248 997 - RKI    

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 1 378 to 248 997, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Saturday.

The reported death toll rose by 2 to 9 324, the tally showed.

- REUTERS

South Korea posts fewest Covid-19 cases in three weeks after tightening distancing

South Korea recorded 168 new coronavirus cases as of midnight Friday, posting the lowest daily tally in three weeks after imposing stricter social distancing rules to blunt a second wave of infections.

The total infections rose to 21 010, with 333 deaths, according to the data published by the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday.

The measures included an unprecedented step of curbing the operation of eateries in the Seoul metropolitan area, where the current spread is concentrated, banning onsite dining after 21:00 and limiting coffee and bakery franchises to takeout and delivery all day.

But the government on Friday extended the rules until 13 September, saying more time is needed to induce sharper drops in new infections.

"The numbers are indeed on a downward trend but it's too early for us to be at ease," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo told a meeting on Saturday.

- REUTERS

Brazil reports 51 194 coronavirus cases, 907 deaths

Brazil recorded 51 194 additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, as well as 907 deaths from the disease, the Health Ministry said on Friday.

Brazil has registered nearly 4.1 million cases of the virus since the pandemic began, in the world's second worst outbreak after the United States.

But with initial signs that the spread of the virus may be easing in South America's largest country, third-ranked India could overtake Brazil in coronavirus cases within days.The official Brazilian death toll has risen to 125 521, according to ministry data.

The ministry reported lower figures earlier on Friday before revising them.

- REUTERS

Coronavirus morning update: 'Gaps' in UIF Covid relief scheme; and WHO tempers quick vaccine hopes

The UIF's Covid relief scheme is riddled with "gaps"; and the WHO says it does not expect widespread immunisation against the novel coronavirus until mid-2021.

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 26.58 million, death toll at 872 903

More than 26.58 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 872 903 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

- REUTERS

India, the United States and Brazil remain the three countries recording the greatest number of new cases over the past seven days, with 77 596, 40 875 and 40 035 cases respectively per day on average, according to an AFP count on Friday at 11:00 GMT.

While the number of cases was on the increase in India (15 percent more cases compared with the previous seven-day period), and Brazil (eight percent more), the situation is more or less stable in the United States with -1 percent.

South Africa has recorded 635 078 coronavirus cases, and 115 new deaths.

15 of the deaths are from KwaZulu-Natal, 43 from Gauteng, 12 from Eastern Cape, 18 from Free State, 4 from Western Cape, 11 from Northern Cape and 12 from Limpopo.

This brings the total number of Covid-19 related deaths to 14 678, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.

The number of recoveries are 557 818 which translates to a recovery rate of 88%.

Zondo says PPE corruption reports are 'frightening', laments lack of corruption prosecutions

The chairperson of the state capture commission of inquiry, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, has raised concerns about the reported rampant looting in personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement.

"My concern is, it would appear that a lot of people in the country don't really care about who has what powers when it comes to wrongdoing," Zondo said during the appearance of ANC MP Vincent Smith who was testifying on Bosasa-related issues on Friday.

The World Health Organization said Friday it did not expect widespread immunisation against the novel coronavirus until mid-2021, tempering hopes just as research revealed encouraging early results from a Russian vaccine.

The virus which has killed nearly 870 000 people worldwide continues to spread, with Italy's flamboyant former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi now in hospital after becoming the latest high-profile figure to test positive for Covid-19.

Across the world, governments are hoping to announce a vaccine as soon as possible against the virus, which has infected well over 26 million people, upended millions of lives and wreaked havoc on the global economy.

Majority of ECD centres have still not reopened - Bogopane-Zulu

The majority of early childhood development centres (ECDs) are still closed because they are not yet compliant with Covid-19 protocols, social development deputy minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu said on Friday.

Bogopane-Zulu was speaking during an oversight visit to Ann Harding Cheshire Home for persons with physical disabilities in Randburg, Johannesburg.

Patients involved in early tests of a Russian coronavirus vaccine developed antibodies with "no serious adverse events", according to research published in The Lancet on Friday, but experts said the trials were too small to prove safety and effectiveness.

Russia announced last month that its vaccine, named "Sputnik V" after the Soviet-era satellite that was the first launched into space in 1957, had already received approval.

Widespread Covid-19 vaccinations not expected until mid-2021 - WHO

The World Health Organisation does not expect widespread vaccinations against Covid-19 until the middle of next year, a spokesperson had said.

Mining companies brace for second wave of coronavirus infections

A total of 161 mine workers had so far died from Covid-19, and health officials earlier predicted that the country might be hit by another peak around September.

Covid-19 wrap | UK coronavirus quarantine 'confusion', New Zealand mourns new death

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis.

Coronavirus morning update: WC govt calls for economy to open up further, and PPE shortage concerns

The Western Cape Premier Alan Winde wants the economy to open up even further,; and "concerns" with the availability of adequate PPE for medical personnel.

The Covid-19 death toll has hit 14 563, while the number of cases now sits at 633 015.

 The total number of recoveries is now 554 887 - a recovery rate of 88%.

 Here’s what made the headlines on Thursday

Researchers monitoring weekly deaths have reported that just a week into lockdown Level 2 and the lifting of the alcohol ban, unnatural deaths have increased sharply. The latest sharp increase has taken unnatural deaths above the predicted number for only the third time since lockdown began after a significant decline during lockdown Level 5.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has admitted there were some concerns with the availability of adequate PPE for medical personnel. He said the concerns with the availability of PPE have been found in a number of areas.

  Meanwhile, a new poll by research firm Ipos says that 64% of South Africans would agree to getting a Covid-19 vaccine should it be available soon. The poll surveyed thousands of people across the world to learn about global attitudes toward Covid-19 vaccine.

  The Western Cape government says it wants to open up the economy further after latest statistics show the epidemic is declining in the province. Provincial authorities said significant Covid-19 surveillance would remain in place for the next 18 to 24 months.

In other news, Media group Caxton said it expects the Covid-19 lockdown to weigh heavily on its earnings .The media group issued a trading statement after markets closed warning that headline earnings for the year could decrease more than 80%.

 -Compiled by Nokuthula Khanyile    

Covid-19 wrap: Virus reemerges in Thailand, WHO plans vaccine jab for 20% of Africa

AFP reports that a Thai DJ sentenced last week to two years in prison has tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Thursday, ending the kingdom's 100-day run without a local transmission.

The man, sentenced on 26 August for what local media said was a drugs offence, had been in contact with at least 30 other people before testing positive on Wednesday.

Those tested so far have all been negative, officials said.

"It is a local transmission after we have passed 100 days," said Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, director general of Thailand's Disease Control Department.

The man had worked as a DJ in different bars around Bangkok - including a venue in the tourist backpacker hotspot Khao San Road.

WHO aiming for 20% of Africa to get initial Covid-19 jabs from access plan Reuters reports that the World Health Organisation wants to secure an initial 230 million doses of any Covid-19 vaccine for Africa, officials said Thursday, while emphasising that any vaccine in development should also be tested on the continent.

South Korea scrambles to add hospital beds as Covid-19 resurgence strains system

South Korea has 511 critical-care beds, mostly at public hospitals in Seoul and surrounding regions, but many of those are being used by less serious cases or patients suffering from other ailments.

As of Thursday, 154 Covid-19 patients were in serious or critical condition, up from 123 on a day before.

The country had just 12 such cases before the second wave began to intensify two weeks ago, stemming from an outbreak among members of a church who attended a political rally.

South Korea was caught unprepared for the resurgence despite its relatively successful response to the initial epidemic, said Choi Jae-wook, a senior member of the Korean Medical Association. 

Covid-19 wrap | Coronavirus hits Europe, India reports record daily jump

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis.