Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 27.42 million, death toll at 892 454

More than 27.42 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 892 454 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

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Covid-19 wrap | Bali surge blamed on inaccurate rapid tests, Hong Kong eases some coronavirus curbs

 - A spike in infections in Indonesia's holiday island of Bali and Thailand's first locally transmitted case in 100 days have dealt further blows to Southeast Asian hopes of reviving vital tourism industries.

 - The Australian state at the centre of the country's second wave coronavirus outbreak is deepening its contact tracing programme to try to maintain a steady decline in daily new cases.

 - Thousands of trainee doctors in South Korea returned to work after ending a more than two-week strike as the country continued to post three-digit rises in new daily infections.

Egypt coronavirus cases top 100 000 - ministry

Cairo – Egypt has detected more than 100 000 Covid-19 infections and reported 5 541 deaths from the virus disease, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

The North African country of more than 100 million people had imposed a night-time curfew from March to June to curb the spread of the illness, but since eased restrictions.

Daily life has since returned in the largest Arab country, with cafes, restaurants and tourist sites again open to the public.

Prayers in mosques and churches have also resumed, with social distancing and mask-wearing enforced.

The new school year is set to start in October with a mix of classroom and online teaching.

The total number of reported cases reached 100 041 on Tuesday, including 79 008 recoveries, the ministry said.

 - AFP

Japan official says Olympic Games must be held next year 'at any cost'

TOKYO – The rearranged Tokyo Games must be held "at any cost" in 2021, Japan's Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference, Hashimoto said the Games should be held for the benefit of the athletes, regardless of the challenges posed by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Japanese government and the International Olympic Committee took the unprecedented decision in March to postpone the Games, originally scheduled to begin in July, until 2021 because of the virus.

"Everyone involved with the Games is working together to prepare, and the athletes are also making considerable efforts towards next year," Hashimoto said during a news conference.

"I think we have to hold the Games at any cost," she added. "I want to concentrate all our efforts on measures against the coronavirus."

 - REUTERS

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A blood enzyme might be the link between Covid-19 severity and comorbidities

Increased levels of plasmin might be making the coronavirus more infectious and deadly in people with underlying conditions.

Scientists might have found a new link between chronic disease and Covid-19 that could explain why patients with comorbidities are so susceptible to the virus.

They think the answer may lie with plasmin, a type of enzyme in the blood that degrades plasma proteins. Its levels are normally elevated in those with underlying medical conditions like hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and kidney disease.

One of these plasma proteins is fibrin, which appears when the blood is clotting and impedes the flow of blood. When the fibrin is broken down through fibrinolysis, protein fragments remain behind called D-dimer.

The effect of Covid-19 on the food system: 'The cost of feeding a child increased by 5%'

In South Africa, more than nine million children live in food-insecure households, and according to findings of a local survey, South Africans count the fear of food shortages and loss of income a close second to the fear of contracting the coronavirus.

"The novel coronavirus does not discriminate but still does not treat us equally. Individuals with weaker immune systems and limited resources are left more vulnerable in the fight against this invisible killer," says Professor Hettie Schönfeldt, director of the University of Pretoria-based African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Centre of Excellence for Food Security. 

Already thwarted by high rates of stunting ("from 21% in 2008 to 27% in 2016") - a result of protracted food insecurity - Professor Schönfeldt believes SA's youngest face the harshest impact of hunger and malnutrition during the pandemic.

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Egypt tries plasma treatment to fight pandemic

Mohamed Fathi, an Egyptian man who has recovered from Covid-19, winced as he watched tubes running down his arm to donate blood plasma, but insisted: "if I can help just one person, that's a very good thing".

The 25-year-old land surveyor from Cairo caught the disease in May, on the eve of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festival, becoming one of the almost 100 000 reported cases in Egypt, where more than 5 000 people have died of the novel coronavirus.

"Losing the sense of taste was a terrible experience," he told AFP at Egypt's National Blood Transfusion headquarters in Cairo, describing just one of his symptoms. "You feel like you're eating for the sake of it."

Things got worse for the family when his elderly father was also infected, making Egypt's blistering hot summer months a hellish period of fretting over his recovery from a loud, dry cough and constant fevers.

 - AFP

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 27.34 million, death toll at 891 227

More than 27.34 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 891 227 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: Bans created new criminal networks, and global economies take strain 

Alcohol and tobacco sales bans created new criminal networks, and global economies are "several quarters" away from returning to pre-Covid levels - except for China.

Latest news:

South Africa could take years to dismantle the criminal networks that sprung up and benefited from a ban on the sale of alcohol and tobacco products during the country’s coronavirus lockdown, according to the head of the SA Revenue Service.

The ban, aimed at managing the health impact of the pandemic, has allowed illegal operators to gain a foothold in the market, SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said Monday in an online address to tax practitioners.

Many illegal and criminal operators have now "marketed themselves to previously honest smokers and drinkers," he said. "They are now embedded in the supply chain and it will take us years to reverse the impact."

Tobacco and liquor remained readily available through the black market from when the ban first kicked in with the nation's coronavirus lockdown on March 27. Producers and retailers complained the restrictions have resulted in thousands of job losses and encouraged illegal trade.

Mindful or Mind full? Tips for the female leader on using mindfulness during Covid-19

Dr Daphne Pillay is a Lecturer in the Department of Human Resource Management at the University of Pretoria, and a registered Industrial Psychologist. Here she offers mindfulness tips for women in top positions. 

So last week I found myself standing in the grocery aisle of my local supermarket.

Surprisingly, this turned out to be a very enriching experience for me, not because I couldn’t for the life of me figure out which brand of pasta to cook for dinner, but because I witnessed an incident that got me thinking about the importance of mindfulness.

Let me start by saying that I wasn’t eavesdropping, the lady was standing right next to me and she did not seem to care about being discreet.

Lower emissions, more plastic: Double-edged sword of Covid-19 on the environment

We may be travelling less, but recycling and anti-plastic efforts have been almost completely sidelined by Covid-19 prevention measures.

The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a bright spotlight on the many previously ignored cracks in our society.

Just before the virus upended our fragile systems, climate change was one of the main topics dominating headlines, and big moves were being made to change global behaviour regarding single-use plastic and air-travel pollution.

As the pandemic hit and borders closed, bringing travel to a near standstill, many saw it as a chance for Mother Nature to take a breath. And indeed she did. A study published in Science of The Total Environment confirmed that greenhouse gas emissions had dropped to pre-World War II levels. 

No one was flying or driving due to strict lockdown regulations, and factories had to close. According to Nasa and the European Space Agency, airborne nitrogen dioxide levels dropped drastically in China in January and February this year, and similar reductions were observed in Rome, Madrid and Paris.

Covid death toll has hit 15 004, while the number of cases now sits at 639 362.

The total number of recoveries is now 566 555 - a recovery rate of 88,6%.

 

Covid-19 wrap: Spain hits 500 000 cases, more than 200 UN staff in Syria positive

Spain's total coronavirus cases have crossed half a million, government data showed Monday, as the government struggles to contain a recent surge of infections in one of Europe's hardest-hit countries.

The country of around 47 million people has 525 549 confirmed cases of Covid-19, and 29 516 related deaths, according to the health ministry

No 'pass one, pass all' for North West pupils, despite Covid-19

Performance will be the only measure when it comes to progressing to the next grade at North West schools next year, according to Education MEC Mmaphefo Matsemela.

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.

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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.

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

Recap of the latest coronavirus research and science: What if a vaccine isn't found; are face shields enough; and what's the role of genetics in the success of treatments?

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%.