LIVE | Covid-19: 969 new cases and 64 new deaths in SA

Coronavirus science | Week in review: Post-recovery fatigue, latest on masks and Covid in kids

Recap of the latest coronavirus research: Fatigue is common in people who recover, regardless of severity; latest science on masks, and Covid-19 in children

As of today, the cumulative number of detected Covid-19 cases is 669 498 with 969 new cases identified.

There have been 64 more COVID-19 related deaths: 5 from Eastern Cape 4 from KwaZulu-Natal, 43 from Gauteng, 11 from Mpumalanga, and 1 from Western Cape. This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths to 16 376.

Our recoveries now stand at 601 818 which translates to a recovery rate of 89,9%

Level 1: WHO raises red flag after increase in Covid-19 cases in SA

An increase in the number of Covid-19 cases has been reported over the last week, which came after the country entered Level 1 of the lockdown. The World Health Organisation expressed concern following a six percent increase in Covid-19 cases in South Africa in the past seven days

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

More than 993,000 deaths 

The virus has killed at least 993,438 people since the outbreak emerged in China late last year, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT on Saturday.More than 32.6 million cases have been registered.

The United States is the worst-hit country with 203,782 deaths, followed by Brazil with 140,537, India with 93,379, Mexico with 75,844 and Britain with 41,936.

Vaccine-sharing

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison insists any nation that develops a Covid-19 vaccine share it universally, warning that history will be a "severe judge" if not.

"This is a global responsibility and it's a moral responsibility for a vaccine to be shared far and wide," he says at the United Nations.

Myanmar surge

Myanmar's biggest city Yangon is back under strict lockdown and has rapidly built new quarantine centres as it scrambles to contain its first significant outbreak.

Infection numbers in the country - until recently relatively unscathed in the pandemic -- are expected to pass 10,000 in the coming days, with the vast majority of patients in Yangon.

Defiant Olympics

Japan is "determined" to host the postponed Olympic Games in 2021 despite the pandemic, the country's newly elected prime minister tells the United Nations General Assembly.

"In the summer of next year, Japan is determined to host the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games as proof that humanity has defeated the pandemic," says Yoshihide Suga.

Coronavirus deaths could more than double to two million without collective action against the pandemic, the World Health Organization has warned, as Australia's prime minister urged any nation that develops a vaccine to share it with the world.

The number of cases worldwide has soared past 32 million, with deaths approaching one million, the global economy devastated, and major cultural and sports events disrupted.

"One million is a terrible number and we need to reflect on that before we start considering a second million," the WHO's emergencies director Michael Ryan told reporters on Friday when asked how high the death toll could go.

"Are we prepared collectively to do what it takes to avoid that number?

"If we don't take those actions... yes, we will be looking at that number and sadly much higher."

The pandemic has spurred worldwide efforts to develop a vaccine to help defeat Covid-19, as well as efforts to try to ensure fair and widespread distribution.

"Whoever finds the vaccine must share it... This is a global responsibility and it's a moral responsibility," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday in a message to the virtual UN General Assembly.

- AFP

The number of Covid-19 cases is now at 668 529.

The death toll has hit 16 312. 

The number of recoveries now sits at 599 149 - a recovery rate of 89.6%.

Virus surges in Europe, UK to begin vaccine trials on those 'deliberately infected' - International Covid-19 news

Britain is planning to host clinical trials where volunteers are deliberately infected with the new coronavirus to test the effectiveness of vaccine candidates.

The UK and France logged record daily jumps in coronavirus cases on Thursday, with hospitals in Paris, planning for fewer surgeries in “a race against the clock” amid mounting fears over a possible influx of Covid-19 patients.

Swedish football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has tested positive for Covid-19, becoming the highest-profile Serie A player to contract Covid-19 since play in Italy resumed in June following a three-month hiatus because of the pandemic.

Generic drugmaker Endo said on Friday it was manufacturing Novavax Inc's experimental Covid-19 vaccine, sending its shares up 10% before the trading bell.

Protesters in Marseille on Friday demanded President Emmanuel Macron's government reverse an order to shut down bars and restaurants in France's second-biggest city, the epicentre of a second wave of coronavirus infections.

Sharp rise in infections in Europe

The pandemic has slightly picked up pace this week, with 295 000 new cases recorded on average per day around the world, an increase of three percent over the previous seven-day period.

But it is again in Europe that the rate of infections is increasing the most, adding 22% compared to the previous week. The number of new daily cases has nearly quadrupled in Europe since early July, with 57 900 this week, up from around 15 000.

There has also been a jump in the Middle East, with 13 percent more, the United States and Canada (11%) and Africa (8%). Growth in cases, however, has slowed in Oceania (down 26%), Asia (down 6%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (down 4%).

The number of confirmed cases only reflects a fraction of the actual number of infections, as different countries have different counting practices and levels of testing. 

Biggest increases Among the countries which have recorded more than 1 000 new daily cases on average over the past week, the number of infections is increasing most in Belgium, at 75% more or 1 600 new cases on average per day.

The Czech Republic follows with 69% more, or 2 200 cases per day, the Netherlands (64%, 1 900), Britain (48%, 5 000), Canada (39%, 1 200), Israel (35%, 5 300) and France (33%, 11 700).

Singapore Covid-19-testing 'SwabBot' pushes boundaries (and nasal cavities)

Seeking to improve the sometimes uncomfortable process of getting a Covid-19 test, a Singapore company has developed an automated swab-testing robot which could also cut risks facing healthcare workers during the pandemic.

To use the SwabBot, a patient places their nostrils onto two disposable plastic nose pieces, which contain an extendable swab stick to collect samples from the nasal passageway.

The swab process is self-activated by pushing the chin against the machine and it has sensors to retract the swab stick if it encounters any sort of barrier or resistance.

- Reuters

Covid-19 wrap: Spanish gov wants partial Madrid lockdown, Russia's new cases hit highest since 23 June

Here is the latest coronavirus news from around the world.

Russia doesn't plan lockdowns despite increase in coronavirus cases - Kremlin

Russia does not plan to impose severe lockdown restrictions despite a growing number of Covid-19 cases, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

Russia's daily tally of new coronavirus cases hit its highest level since 23 June on Friday with 7 212 infections reported across the country. With 1 136 048 cases, Russia currently has the fourth highest number of infections in the world.

"Of course the increase in these figures is a reason to be much more careful and take care of yourselves and your loved ones," Peskov told reporters on a conference call.

- Reuters

UK's Tesco limits sale of some key items after new Covid curbs

Britain's biggest supermarket Tesco introduced limits to prevent customers bulk-buying key products such as flour, pasta, toilet role and anti-bacterial wipes after the government introduced new curbs to suppress Covid-19.

British customers stockpiled key goods at the start of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown in March, stripping shelves bare.

- Reuters

China says WHO gave blessing for coronavirus vaccine emergency use programme

The World Health Organisation gave China its support and understanding to start administering experimental coronavirus vaccines to people while clinical trials were still under way, a Chinese health official said on Friday.

China launched its emergency programme in July, having communicated with the WHO in late June, according to Zheng Zhongwei, a National Health Commission official.

Hundreds of thousands essential workers and other limited groups of people considered at high risk of infection have been given the vaccine, even though its efficacy and safety had not been fully established as Phase 3 clinical trials were incomplete.

- Reuters

Slovakia reports 419 new Covid-19 cases, another record daily tally

Slovakia's daily count of new coronavirus cases rose to 419, a fresh record, Prime Minister Igor Matovic said in a post on his Facebook profile on Friday.

For the country, which has one of Europe's lowest death tolls from the novel coronavirus, the figure represents the third record tally in a row.

- Reuters

'Last call!': Curfew begins for English and Welsh pubs

The last call echoed around pubs and bars in England and Wales earlier than usual on Thursday night, as tighter rules to try to stop a coronavirus surge came into force.

The ramped-up restrictions, announced by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday, require all premises serving food or drink to close by 22:00 (21:00 GMT).

They will apply in Scotland from Friday, while Northern Ireland - where venues serving only alcohol had just been allowed to reopen, from Tuesday - is still considering a curfew.

- AFP

Brazil reports 32 817 new coronavirus cases, 831 deaths

Brazil recorded 32 817 additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, and 831 deaths from the disease, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.

South America's largest country has registered more than 4.6 million cases of the virus since the pandemic began, according to ministry data, ranking it as the third worst outbreak in the world after the United States and India.

Nearly 140 000 people have died of the disease in Brazil, which ranks second after the United States in coronavirus deaths.

- Reuters

Boris Johnson took advice from Sweden's no-lockdown scientist before rejecting tougher Covid restrictions

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was advised by Anders Tegnell, the man behind Sweden's decision not to impose a full coronavirus lockdown, before rejecting tougher new restrictions for the United Kingdom.

University reopenings could be to blame for 3 000 new coronavirus cases per day in the US

Once again, the hopeful trend in the US's coronavirus outbreak didn't last.

Although the country's weekly average of coronavirus cases began dropping in July, new daily cases have risen by nearly 15% over the past week, according to data from Pantheon Macroeconomics.

Mexico's confirmed coronavirus deaths exceed 75 000, says health ministry

Mexico's confirmed coronavirus caseload rose to 715 457 on Thursday, according to updated data from the health ministry, along with a reported death toll of 75 439.

Authorities reported 5 408 new cases along with 490 deaths on Thursday, but the true figures are likely significantly higher due to little testing.

- Reuters

Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 2 153 to 280 223 - RKI

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 2 153 to 280 223, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Friday.

The reported death toll rose by 15 to 9 443, the tally showed.

- Reuters

US coronavirus cases pass 7 million as Midwest outbreak flares up

The number of novel coronavirus cases in the United States topped 7 million on Thursday – more than 20% of the world's total – as Midwest states reported spikes in Covid-19 infections in September, according to a Reuters tally.

The latest milestone comes just days after the nation surpassed over 200 000 Covid-19 deaths, the world's highest death toll from the virus. Each day, over 700 people die in the United States from Covid-19.

California leads the country with over 800 000 total cases, followed by Texas, Florida and New York.

All Midwest states except Ohio reported more cases in the past four weeks as compared with the prior four weeks, led by South Dakota and North Dakota. South Dakota had the biggest percentage increase at 166% with 8 129 new cases, while North Dakota’s new cases doubled to 8 752, as compared to 4 243 during the same time in August.

Many cases in those two states have been linked to the annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, that annually attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors.

According to a Reuters analysis, positive cases rose in half of the 50 US states this month. Ten states have reported a record one-day increase in Covid-19 cases in September.

New cases rose last week after falling for eight consecutive weeks. Health experts believe this spike was due to reopening schools and universities, as well as parties over the recent Labor Day holiday.

US confirmed cases are the highest in the world followed by India with 5.7 million cases and Brazil with 4.6 million.

 - REUTERS

FACTBOX | Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 31.99 million, death toll at 977 348

More than 31.99 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 977 348 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 recap: Children vs adults - how the immune system responds to Covid-19

Recap of the latest coronavirus research, science, and news: Recent research shows key differences in children’s immune response to Covid-19.

Cosmonauts not ready to try Russia's virus vaccine

Russian cosmonauts set to blast off for the International Space Station said on Thursday it was too early to get a coronavirus vaccine touted by President Vladimir Putin.

"I'd personally say that I would not get vaccinated because I tread very carefully on this issue," said Sergei Ryzhikov, the 46-year-old leader of the next expedition to the ISS in October.

He and other cosmonauts wore face masks at the Star City training centre outside Moscow during an online news conference.

The cosmonaut's comments came after Putin touted Russia's coronavirus vaccine developed in record time and named "Sputnik V" after the Soviet-era satellite that was the first launched into space in 1957.

"As soon as the vaccine is tried and tested and proves its reliability then a decision will be taken to recommend that cosmonauts get vaccinated," said fellow cosmonaut, 37-year-old Sergei Kud-Sverchkov.

He said the decision was down to the doctors in charge of cosmonauts' healthcare including immunisation.

Russia has raised concerns among Western scientists by announcing that its vaccine had received approval before full clinical trials have been completed.

While the vaccine showed promising results in early trials, Russia has not yet completed the final phase of clinical testing, in which large numbers of people receive either the vaccine or a placebo.

Nevertheless, Russia has already vaccinated high-profile officials including Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

Putin has said that one of his daughters was vaccinated, suffering only a mild reaction.

Astronauts routinely undergo a quarantine period before blasting off to space.

"The International Space Station is the safest place now," Ryzhikov added.

"We don't have to be vaccinated because we strictly follow all sanitary rules."

AFP

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

The French health ministry reported on Thursday that the number of people in intensive care due to the coronavirus jumped over 1 000 for the first time since 8 June.

The ministry also said that the number of people with Covid-19 in hospital was up by 136 to 5 932.

- REUTERS 

Dogs used to detect coronavirus in pilot project at Helsinki airport

HELSINKI – Dogs trained to detect the novel coronavirus began sniffing passenger samples at Finland's Helsinki-Vantaa airport this week, authorities said, in a pilot project running alongside more usual testing at the airport.

The dogs' efficiency has not been proven in comparative scientific studies, so passengers who volunteer to be tested and are suspected as carrying the virus are instructed to also take a swab to confirm the result.

A team of 15 dogs and 10 instructors are being trained for the job in Finland by volunteers, sponsored by a private veterinary clinic. Among them is Kossi, a rescue dog from Spain, who was trained as a sniffer dog in Finland and who has worked before detecting cancers.

"What we've seen in our research is that the dogs will find (the disease) five days before they (patients) get any clinical symptoms," Anna Hielm-Bjorkman, who is adjunct professor at the University of Helsinki and who specialised in clinical research for companion animals, told Reuters.

"They are very good (at it). We come close to 100-percent sensitivity," she said, referring to the dogs' ability to detect cases of the virus.

In the canine test, a passenger swipes their neck with a gauze, places it in a can which is then handed over to another room for a dog to sniff and to deliver an immediate result.

 - REUTERS

Children’s immune systems respond differently to Covid-19 than those of adults, research suggests

Previous research indicates that children tend to experience milder Covid-19 than adults. But exactly how do their immune systems react?

Early in the Covid-19 outbreak, evidence showed that children are likely to experience milder Covid-19 symptoms than adults.

A study published in Science Translational Medicine is the first to compare the immune responses of children and adults. This new research detected some key differences to explain the phenomenon.

What did the research entail?

For the research, scientists from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and Yale University investigated cases of 60 adult Covid-19 patients and 65 child patients (all younger than 24 years) between 13 March and 17 May 2020.

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 31.7 million, death toll at 971 130

More than 31.7 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 971 130 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 recap: Fatigue common after Covid recovery, and homemade masks are effective

Fatigue is common in people who recover from Covid-19, regardless of severity; and homemade masks are effective, even when we sneeze, study finds.

LATEST SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

As the Covid-19 outbreak continues, we have learnt that people experience the disease differently. Some require hospitalisation where the outcome may be fatal, while others are able to recover at home.

But according to new research presented at a conference on Covid-19 hosted by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, there is one key factor that many Covid-19 patients, mild and severe alike, experience – persistent fatigue.

As more people recover from Covid-19, some are experiencing post-infection problems, the researchers stated.

"Fatigue is a common symptom in those presenting with symptomatic Covid-19 infection. Whilst the presenting features of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been well-characterised, the medium and long-term consequences of infection remain unexplored,” explained Dr Liam Townsend, lead study author from St James's Hospital and Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

Major vaccine trial moves into next phase, Trump takes aim at China again - International Covid-19 news

US President Donald Trump casts blame for the pandemic on China in an address before the United Nations, whose chief warns against a new "Cold War" between the two world powers.

The UK will host clinical trials where volunteers would be deliberately infected with the new coronavirus to assess the effectiveness of experimental vaccines, the Financial Times reported.

Johnson & Johnson said Wednesday it was entering the final Phase 3 stage of its Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial following positive results in earlier stages.

Organisers of world's leading annual mobile trade fair said Wednesday they would postpone the 2021 edition of the annual event from March to late June due to the pandemic.

Belgium is ending a requirement to wear masks outdoors and reducing the time people have to self-isolate, in a slight easing of coronavirus restrictions announced on Wednesday despite sharply rising numbers of Covid-19 infections.

Global news update at a glance:

Virus deaths top 971 000

The virus has killed at least 971 677 people since the outbreak emerged in China late last year, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP. More than 31.6 million cases have been confirmed.

The United States is the worst-hit country with 200 818 deaths, followed by Brazil with 138 108, India with 90 020, Mexico with 73 348 and the United Kingdom with 41 825.

Europe cases top five million

Europe has recorded more than five million infections, according to official sources, with a total of 5 000 421 cases now registered.

More than half of these were in Russia, followed by Spain, France and the United Kingdom.More than 380 000 new cases were reported in the past week, the highest number in the region since the start of the pandemic.

US-China spat

US President Donald Trump casts blame for the pandemic on China in an address before the United Nations, whose chief warns against a new "Cold War" between the two world powers.

Trump attacks Beijing and the UN for not stopping the disease and even uses the loaded term "China virus".

China's ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, tells reporters that Trump's tone was "incompatible with the general atmosphere" of the world body.

"If we do have to hold anyone accountable, it should be the United States held accountable for losing so many lives with their irresponsible behaviour", he says.

Stricter measures for Paris

The French government prepares to announce stricter measures for Paris, where infections have exploded since an end to lockdown.Ministers will hold two meetings - including one of the defence council - during the day to analyse the worsening situation.

Anti-flu drug

The maker of anti-influenza drug Avigan says it will apply for the medication to be approved for treating coronavirus patients after trials show it can shorten recovery time.

Manufacturer Fujifilm Toyama Chemical says its phase three trial in Japan, which began in March, is now complete.

- AFP

Covid-19 wrap: Tokyo Olympics to require tests for athletes, UK's new measures met with scepticism

Here is the latest coronavirus news from around the world.

Covid-19 travel restrictions ravaged Spain hotel bookings in August

Travel restrictions around Europe aimed at curbing coronavirus contagion ravaged Spain's tourism industry during the crucial month of August, depriving it of millions of tourists.

The occupancy rate in Spanish hotels fell 64% last month from a year ago, data from the National Statistics Institute showed on Wednesday.

In the first eight months of the year, hotel bookings slumped 70% from the same period in 2019.

- Reuters

Russia reports 6 431 new coronavirus cases, 150 deaths

Russia on Wednesday reported 6 431 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, its highest daily increase since 13 July.

The authorities said 150 people had died in the day, bringing the official death toll to 19 799.

The new figures pushed Russia's national tally of cases to 1 122 241, the fourth-largest in the world.

- Reuters

It's official: you can now have 500 people at your wedding – if you keep it outdoors

As of Wednesday morning, weddings – and other functions, such as birthday parties – have gathering limits similar to those of concerts under Alert Level 1.

Memories of Italy's brutal first wave have caused people to follow protocols and keep Covid-19 cases low

Italy's first wave of coronavirus was so distressing that many in the country are still following protocols six months later, while other European countries, which have been laxer about protocols, now face a second wave.

Indonesia reports biggest daily rise in coronavirus cases

Indonesia reported 4 465 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the country's biggest daily rise, taking the total number of infections to 257 388, data from the country's health ministry showed.

The data added 140 new deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 9 977, the biggest death toll in Southeast Asia.

- Reuters

UK finance firms revert to home working as government advice shifts

Banks and insurers in Britain have ordered hundreds of staff to work from home home again, just days after many tried to encourage employees back to the office, following fresh guidance from the government.

Up to 1 000 Barclays staff who had returned to office-based working in recent weeks will revert to working from a spokesperson for the bank told Reuters on Tuesday.

French lender Societe Generale said it is also "adapting its position in line with UK government guidance", without stating the number of workers recently returned to work in its London offices who will now stay home.

Two other big British lenders told Reuters they would also likely reverse recent return-to-work moves for non-essential staff.

- Reuters

India's coronavirus infections surge again after dip

India's coronavirus infections surged again on Wednesday, a day after falling to their lowest figure in almost a month.

In the last 24 hours, there were 83 347 new cases, with 1 085 deaths, federal health data showed.

India, with a population of about 1.4 billion, is consistently reporting the world's highest daily tally of infections, as it grapples with overstretched health services in the effort to control the pandemic.

Its 5.6 million infections rank second only to the United States, and more than 90 000 people have died.

- Reuters

Japan may ease virus entry restrictions next month: reports

Japan is considering easing strict coronavirus border restrictions from October to allow more foreign nationals to enter, local media reported Wednesday.

Tourists would still be banned and only longer-term visas approved, the reports said, as the nation looks to rebuild its economy and prepare for the postponed Olympics next year.

Japan currently bans entry for foreigners from most countries, but has been negotiating the gradual resumption of cross-border business travel.

Business visitors are already allowed from seven places - including Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan.

- AFP

Mexico's confirmed coronavirus deaths approach 75 000 - health ministry

Mexico's confirmed coronavirus caseload rose to 705 263 on Tuesday, according to updated data from the health ministry, along with a reported death toll of 74 348.

Authorities reported 4 683 new cases along with 651 deaths on Tuesday, but the true figures are likely significantly higher due to little testing.

- Reuters