LIVE | SA death toll at 19 465, while the number of cases now sits at 727 595

Philippines confirms 1 772 new coronavirus cases, 49 deaths

The Philippine health ministry on Tuesday recorded 1 772 new coronavirus infections and 49 more deaths.

In a bulletin, the ministry said total confirmed cases have risen to 387 161 while deaths have reached 7 318.

The Philippines has the second highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.

- Reuters

Leaders on Trump's Covid-19 task force are sounding the alarm as the infections rise across the US

Leaders in the White House Coronavirus Task Force have been blunt that the pandemic is far from over and will likely get worse in the upcoming weeks despite public statements from Trump that suggest otherwise, according to a report from The Washington Post. 

Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 15 352 to 560 379 - RKI

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 15 352 to 560 379, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday.

The reported death toll rose by 131 to 10 661, the tally showed.

- Reuters

Australia records one local Covid-19 case, NZ quarantine worker tests positive

Australia on Tuesday reported one locally acquired case of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, while New Zealand registered its first community transmission in more than two weeks after a worker at a quarantine facility tested positive.

Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, reported the one domestic case of Covid-19, though it and Queensland state said there were six infections among people returning from overseas and in quarantine.

The result means Victoria state, the epicentre of Australia's Covid-19 outbreak, has now gone four days without detecting any new infections.

With infections curtailed, South Australia state said it reopen the border with Victoria in two weeks. Anyone travelling from Victoria will have to quarantine for two weeks after arriving, South Australia Premier Steven Marshall said.

- Reuters

UK to pilot new Covid-19 mass testing approach in Liverpool

Britain will launch a Covid-19 mass testing pilot scheme in Liverpool this week, offering everyone in the city tests whether or not they have symptoms, in an attempt to find a better way to use testing to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had promised a "world-beating" national test-and-trace system earlier this year, but the scheme has disappointed and the government's scientific advisory body said last month its impact on virus transmission was marginal.

The United Kingdom has the highest Covid-19 death toll in Europe, and a second national lockdown is due to come into force in England on Thursday.

The government said the Liverpool pilot would start on Friday using PCR swab tests, the default testing method to date, as well as new lateral flow tests aimed at delivering faster results without the need for laboratory processing.

- Reuters

Mexico reports 3 763 new coronavirus cases, 205 more deaths

Mexico's health ministry reported on Monday 3 763 additional cases of the novel coronavirus and 205 more deaths in the country, bringing the official number of cases to 933 155 and the death toll to 92 100.

The government has said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.

- Reuters

FACTBOX | Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 46.62 million, death toll at 1 201 057

More than 46.62 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1 201 057 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

Covid-19: Gauteng health dept to conduct antibody survey to measure infection rate

Acting Health MEC Jacob Mamobolo says this study is key to the province's efforts to contain the spread of the virus as well as getting an estimate of who has been infected, where they are based and the trajectory of the virus.

"When we have such information at our disposal, we will be able to make appropriate decisions in response to the pandemic, taking into consideration government's limited resources," he said.

The government has urged residents to cooperate and support the antibody survey.

Residents should note that health professionals will be visiting their homes only during the day, will be wearing a uniform and carrying identification tags.

Aspen shares rally after striking Covid-19 vaccine deal

The Durban-headquartered drug manufacturer said in a statement on Monday that the vaccine candidate is currently undergoing clinical trials. Aspen Pharmacare will perform formulation, filling and secondary packaging of the vaccine candidate to supply Johnson & Johnson.

Aspen Pharmacare's [JSE:APN] share price rose by 4.5% in early morning trade following the announcement of its agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies for the technical transfer and proposed commercial manufacture of their Covid-19 vaccine candidate, Ad26.COV2-S.

Business lobby says it has learned that UIF Covid-19 payouts will not be extended

Representatives of organised business and unions say they have been blindsided by an announcement that the state's Covid Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) benefit will not be extended any further. 

The relief benefit was introduced in March. It was established to allow businesses to continue paying salaries while their doors were closed during the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus.

Leading Covid-19 vaccine candidate to be manufactured in SA

Aspen's Group Chief Executive, Stephen Saad, told Health24 that should the vaccine prove efficacious, manufacturing should begin in March or April 2021.

Many Covid-19 cases are asymptomatic - but how does this happen?

Some people who test positive for the coronavirus never feel sick, and researchers may have found a clue as to why this happens.

People who become infected with Covid-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, experience mild to severe illness, or even death – and then there are those who have no symptoms at all.

Coronavirus science | Week in review: 'Long Covid', second 'key' and attacked by the immune system

What makes the new coronavirus infectious; 'long Covid' and factors which may reveal whether you’ll suffer long term; and some patients attacked by their own immune systems.

UK minister says lockdown in England could be extended

The one-month lockdown for England announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson this weekend could be extended as Britain struggles to contain a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, a senior cabinet member said on Sunday.

Johnson announced on Saturday that the lockdown across England would kick in after midnight on Thursday morning and last until 2 December.

The United Kingdom, which has the biggest official death toll in Europe from Covid-19, is grappling with more than 20 000 new coronavirus cases a day and scientists have warned a worst-case scenario of 80 000 dead could be exceeded.

So far, it has reported 46 555 Covid-19 deaths - defined as those dying within 28 days of a positive test. A broader measure of those with Covid-19 on their death certificates puts the toll at 58 925.Asked if a lockdown could be extended beyond early December, senior cabinet minister Michael Gove told Sky News: "Yes."

"We can definitively say that unless we take action now, the [health service] is going to be overwhelmed in ways that none of us could countenance."

The other constituents of the United Kingdom - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - have their own policies and enacted tougher Covid-19 health restrictions last month.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Saturday she was prepared to further tighten the rules there if necessary. Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party, said the government had missed a golden chance to lockdown England more effectively when schools were on half-term break last month.

"Well that's gone now. That is the price of the government's incompetence," Starmer told the BBC.

-REUTERS

Europe's pandemic woes worsen with a fresh wave of lockdowns

A one-month stay-home policy will take effect in the UK on Thursday.

Germany and France introduced similar lockdowns this week while Austria, Greece and Portugal followed suit.

Israel starts human trials on COVID-19 vaccine as schools slowly reopen

Israel began human trials on Sunday for its Covid-19 vaccine candidate which, if successful, could be ready for the general public by the end of next summer.Eighty volunteers will initially take part in the trial that will be expanded to 960 people in December. Should those trials succeed a third stage with 30 000 volunteers is scheduled for April/May.

President Donald Trump's campaign rallies were linked to 30 000 coronavirus cases and "likely led to more than 700 deaths," according to a new study by Stanford University economists.

The paper focused on 18 campaign rallies held between June 20 and September 30.

Latest Covid-19 numbers for SA

The number of Covid-19 cases in SA has increased to 725 452, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in a statement on Saturday.

The death toll is now at 19 276, after another 46 deaths were recorded.

"Regrettably, we report 46 Covid-19 related deaths today: 35 from Eastern Cape, 2from the Free State, 2 from Gauteng, 3 from KwaZulu-Natal and 4 from Western Cape. This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths to 19 276. Of the 46deaths reported today, 10 were reported to have occurred in the past 24-48 hours: 3in the Eastern Cape, 1 in the Free State, 2 from Gauteng, 2 in KwaZulu-Natal, and 2in Western Cape."

The recovery rate remains at 90%, with 654 182 people having recovered.

Brazil health minister hospitalised with Covid-19

Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello is in stable condition in a hospital after being diagnosed with Covid-19, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

Pazuello checked into a hospital in Brasilia on Friday for dehydration, having tested positive for the coronavirus on October 21. He will stay in the hospital until Sunday, when he will be reevaluated, the ministry said.

"There has been no need for supportive measures such as oxygen supplementation," the statement said.

One day after testing positive, Pazuello met with right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro in a hotel room, with a social media video showing the two chatting without masks. Bolsonaro recovered from a bout of Covid-19 in July.

The president said Pazuello's case was another instance demonstrating that the controversial drug chloroquine helped those with Covid-19 to recover quickly.

Bolsonaro, who has sought to downplay the severity of the virus, has advocated for the use of the anti-malarial drug chloroquine and related hydroxychloroquine, despite a lack of scientific evidence that they help those with COVID-19.

During the pandemic, two successive health ministers resigned in roughly the span of a month, in part because as physicians, themselves, they would not fully endorse chloroquine. Pazuello, an active-duty Army general without a medical degree, has expanded access to chloroquine and allowed it to be prescribed to virtually anyone who tests positive for the coronavirus.

Brazil has the second deadliest outbreak of coronavirus, with 159 477 deaths, after only the United States, according to a Reuters tally. Roughly half of Bolsonaro's 23-member cabinet have caught the coronavirus, as well as the president and his wife.

OPINION | Is reaching zero Covid-19 possible?

Eliminating the virus across much of the world, while not unthinkable, could take a significant number of years, writes Kingston Mills, Professor of Experimental Immunology, Trinity College Dublin.

Most scientists agree that stringent control measures, involving efficient contact tracing, testing and isolation, together with social distancing and mask wearing, are required to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2. South Korea, Taiwan, China and New Zealand have all successfully used these approaches to suppress the virus.

A few have even called for a zero Covid-19 approach, attempting to eliminate the virus rather than contain its spread. New Zealand almost succeeded but, after 100 days without a case, new infections emerged from international travel and other unknown sources. While it’s possible to flatten the curve using these control measures, getting to zero Covid-19 with them is more difficult.

It might be possible for some island countries, but New Zealand’s example shows that it’s then necessary to prevent the virus from being re-imported. This would probably require prolonged and severe travel restrictions and rigorous testing of passengers pre and post travel.

Given there’s little appetite for prolonged closure of borders, and community control measures alone aren’t enough to eliminate the virus, getting to zero isn’t currently possible. But it could be in the future if we use different approaches.

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 45.54 million, death toll at 1 188 017 - Reuters

More than 45.54 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1 188 017 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

UK confirmed Covid-19 cases surge past one million mark

The United Kingdom on Saturday passed one million confirmed Covid-19 cases, a new milestone as the government considers a new national lockdown in England.

"Between 31 January and 31 October 2020, there have been 1 011 660 people who have had a confirmed positive test result," the government said.

Cases rose by 21 915 from the previous day. The death toll increased by 326.

- AFP

Record Covid-19 hospitalisations in 14 European countries

The number of Covid-19-related hospitalisations hit record numbers in at least 14 European countries this week, as the second wave of the pandemic hits, according to AFP data compiled from official figures.

The worst-hit countries have been the Czech Republic, with 62 virus-related hospital patients per 100,000 residents, followed by Romania on 57, Belgium on 51 and Poland, 39.

The figures are based on hospital figures provided by 35 of the 52 European nations, including most of the EU nations.

In total, 135 000 Covid-19 patients are currently being treated in hospitals throughout those 35 nations, compared to less than 100 000 a week earlier.

The countries with the biggest registered increase were Serbia, with hospitalisations up 97 percent, Belgium up 81 percent, Austria up 69 percent and Italy up 65 percent.

Only Montenegro saw numbers drop, after a previous spike.

- AFP

US records record daily virus case numbers

The United States passes nine million reported coronavirus cases, breaking its own record for daily new infections for the second day in a row, according to an AFP tally based on official sources.

The US has seen a resurgence of its outbreak since mid-October, with numbers soaring just days before the presidential election.

Latin America, Caribbean surpass 400 000 Covid deaths

The Latin America and the Carribean, the region with the most cases, surpasses 400 000 deaths from the virus, according to an AFP tally based on official figures late Friday.

Belgium tightens lockdown restrictions

Belgium, the country with the world's worst coronavirus outbreak in terms of per capita cases, will impose tighter lockdown rules from Monday, closing non-essential businesses and restricting household visits.

Belgium has the most Covid-19 cases per capita in the world and has as many hospital cases now as at the peak of the pandemic's first wave in April.

More than 10 million cases in Europe

More than 10 million cases of the new coronavirus have been reported in Europe since it first hit the continent at the beginning of the year, according to an AFP tally based on health authority figures.

The region, with 52 countries, is now the third most affected in the world after Latin America and the Caribbean with 11.2 million cases and Asia with 10.5 million.

Experts discuss virus's origin: WHO

The World Health Organisation says international experts held their first meeting with their Chinese counterparts Friday to investigate the animal origins of the pandemic.

- AFP

US again shatters record number of daily new Covid-19 cases with 97,080

The US hit a record number of new daily coronavirus cases with 97,080 on Friday, as case numbers continue to grow much faster than testing, according to data from The Covid Tracking Project.

Covid-19 stats in SA

The number of cases has hit 723 682. 

The death toll is now at 19 230. 

The recovery rate is at 90%, with a total of 653 052 recoveries.

Italy records record daily increase

Italy has registered 31 084 Covid-19 nfections over the past 24 hours, the health ministry said on Friday, its highest daily tally since the start of the epidemic and up from the previous record of 26 831 posted on Thursday.

The ministry also reported 199 Covid-related deaths, compared with 217 the day before.

A total of 38v321 people have now died in Italy because of coronavirus, the second highest death toll in Europe after Britain's, while 647v674 cases of the disease have been registered to date.

The northern region of Lombardy, centred on Italy's financial capital Milan, remained the hardest hit area, reporting 8 960 new cases on Friday against 7,339 on Thursday.

The southern Campania region was the second-worst affected, chalking up 3 186 cases.

US stocks open lower amid anxiety over Covid-19, election

US stocks continued their downward trend on Friday on worries of rising coronavirus cases and the looming election.

Restrictions needed to battle Covid-19 in Europe, EU says

European Union Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said on Friday that EU countries should be ready to impose restrictions on people's lives to battle the spread of the new coronavirus throughout the continent.

"We need to pull through this, where needed, with restrictions on everyday life to break the chain of transmission," she told a video conference of EU health ministers, according to her speaking notes.

France and Germany, the bloc's largest countries, announced new lockdowns this week as infections in the continent passed the 10-million-case milestone and hospitals and intensive care units fill up again with Covid-19 patients.

Bars, restaurants, sports and cultural events have been restricted or closed in several other European countries.

- Reuters

Australia's extreme lockdown brought Covid-19 in its epicentre to zero, and possibly prevented 3rd wave.

At the peak of its coronavirus outbreak in late July, Australia recorded more than 700 daily cases. 

'Long Covid': These factors may reveal whether you’ll suffer long term

Using data from the Covid Symptom Study app, researchers have identified which patients are more likely to have a long-term case of Covid-19.

Latest Covid-19 numbers for SA

The number of cases in SA has risen to 721 770. 

The death toll is now at 19 164, after another 53 deaths were recorded. 

The recovery rate remains at 90%, with 649 935 people having recovered.

Bulgaria president in self-isolation, Spain extents state of disaster - International Covid-19 news

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev is self-isolating after his secretary general tested positive for coronavirus and will continue to carry out his duties remotely, the president's office said on Thursday. 

Saudi Arabia will open the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca for Muslims from other countries from 1 November, Saudi media reported on Thursday, as the kingdom relaxes measures it had taken to check the spread of the coronavirus. 

Bars, restaurants and services prepared Thursday to shut down in France and Germany as countries around the world grapple with how far to push lockdown measures amid a surging tide of coronavirus cases.

Sweden, which has shunned lockdowns throughout the pandemic, registered 2 820 new coronavirus cases on 28 October, the highest since the pandemic began and the third record number in a matter of days, Health Agency statistics showed on Thursday. 

The Spanish parliament approved on Thursday the extension for six months of a state of emergency declared to fight a surge in coronavirus infections. 

The total confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Japan exceeded the 100 000 mark on Thursday, public broadcaster NHK said, as the number of daily infections has crept up in recent weeks. 

African countries warned of a second wave

Africa must brace for a "second wave" of the coronavirus as cases surge in Europe and some African countries see their own caseloads "creeping up", the head of the continent's public health agency said Thursday.

"The time to prepare for the second wave is truly now," John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), told a press conference.

"The continent has done very well in bending the curve, where most infections peak around July and then decline steadily, but now we are beginning to see some stagnation," he said.

Despite early worries that the pandemic would devastate the region, the African Union's 55 member states have so far recorded around 1.7 million cases, representing just 3.9% of the global total, according to Africa CDC.

Over the past month there has been a six percent average increase in weekly Covid-19 cases across the continent, and nine countries have test positivity rates higher than 10 percent.

Nkengasong stressed that the picture across Africa is varied, with new cases rising in east, north and southern Africa and falling in west and central Africa.

- AFP

Covid-19 wrap | India passes 8 million cases, UK doing everything it can to avoid national lockdown

- A company in Singapore has developed a breathalyser test for the new coronavirus which it says will enable results in under a minute.

- Housing minister Robert Jenrick said the British government will do everything it can to avoid putting the country into a second national lockdown.

- India on Thursday passed eight million coronavirus cases and the world's second-worst-hit country is bracing for a new wave.

Coronavirus in a cough: Tests show masks stopping the spread

A new study found that anything that reduces the distance travelled by a 'cough cloud', greatly reduces the chances of Covid-19 infection.

In fact, the volume of the cloud without a mask is about seven times larger than with a surgical mask and 23 times larger than with an N95 mask, the researchers found.

Covid-19: Antibody levels ‘waning quite rapidly’ after infection, new study finds

The number of people testing positive for detectable SARS-VoV-2 antibodies in the UK fell by 26% between June and September, suggesting a risk of multiple infections.

Biden says halting virus will take hard work, as Trump stumps non-stop

Democrat Joe Biden insisted on Wednesday he will tackle coronavirus from Day 1 if elected president but warned there is no magic "switch" to end the pandemic, as Donald Trump campaigned across America seemingly unfazed by Covid-19's dangers.

Coronavirus morning recap: Latest on Covid in kids, masks, and warning from the WHO

Symptomatic children carry more virus than those without symptoms; more evidence on masks; and the WHO warns getting Covid-19 under control may require tougher lockdowns.

LATEST SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

Children who test positive for the new coronavirus, but are asymptomatic (don't display symptoms) have significantly lower levels of the virus compared to those who experience symptoms.

This was according to a new study based on an analysis of 817 children from nine hospitals in the US and Canada who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

Although the study was the first large and comprehensive analysis of SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in asymptomatic children, the authors cautioned that the reason behind their finding was still unclear and required further research.

SA's latest Covid-19 numbers

The number of cases has now reached 719 714.

The death toll sits at 19 111 after 58 more deaths recorded. 

The recovery rate is at 90%, with 648 654 recoveries. 

Europe continues to tighten curbs as world records 500 000 cases in one day - International Covid-19 news

More than 500 000 new coronavirus cases were reported worldwide on Tuesday in a new record, according to a tally from health authorities compiled by AFP. 

Germany and France were preparing to announce restrictions approaching the level of last spring's blanket lockdowns on Wednesday as Covid-19 deaths across Europe rose almost 40% in a week, while financial markets tumbled on fears of the likely economic costs. 

Business owners and opposition politicians in Italy rebelled on Wednesday against the latest restrictions imposed to combat a spike in coronavirus cases, after days of occasionally violent protests. 

Sweden, whose light-touch pandemic strategy has gained global attention, registered 1 980 new coronavirus cases on 27 October, the highest since the start of the pandemic, Health Agency statistics showed on Wednesday. 

Boeing on Wednesday announced an additional 7 000 job cuts that will lower headcount by 30 000 positions over two years. 

Switzerland on Wednesday tightened nationwide restrictions to contain the country's rising wave of Covid-19 cases, ordering dance clubs to be closed from Thursday, halting in-person university classes starting early next month, and placing new limits on sporting and leisure activities.

Cape Town doctor tests positive for Covid-19 twice: 'We are not safe from the claws of SARS-CoV-2'

• A Cape Town doctor has tested positive for Covid-19 twice in three months.
• She is urging South Africans to help stave off an anticipated second Covid-19 wave.
• More than 300 deaths have been recorded among healthcare workers in the public and private sectors.

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"We are not safe from the claws of SARS-CoV-2," said Dr Davinia Masimila who tested positive twice - once in June and a second time, after she recovered, in September.

However, whether she had a true reinfection had not been confirmed, even though she had a positive test result and was experiencing Covid-19 symptoms.

Masimila told News24 she was admitted to hospital for Covid-19 treatment in June after she had severe chest pains and shortness of breath. She recovered, but in September, she started showing symptoms again.

"More than three months after my initial infection, I experienced this unusual tiredness and severe headaches. I then had a scratchy feeling in my throat and later became dizzy and developed diarrhoea."

She double-checked if the symptoms she experienced the second time around could be Covid-19 related.

New global record for new Covid-19 cases reported in a single day

More than 500 000 new coronavirus cases were reported worldwide on Tuesday in a new record, according to a tally from health authorities compiled by AFP.

In total, 516 898 new infections and 7 723 deaths were announced, according to the tally compiled on Wednesday.

- AFP

The WHO warns getting Covid-19 under control may require tougher lockdowns, 'sacrifice for many people'

As Covid-19 cases surge across the world, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that countries may need to impose stricter lockdown measures to get the virus under control.

WHO officials said some countries may have to consider closing down non-essential businesses again to stem the tide.

A timeline of Trump's statements about Covid-19 juxtaposed with new cases throughout the pandemic

US President Donald Trump has made contradictory and false statements about the coronavirus pandemic since January.

SA’s second wave likely to be rural, scientists warn – which makes it a transport problem

If South Africa is headed for a second wave of coronavirus infections – as has happened dramatically in countries around the world, it could have a rural flavour, local scientists have cautiously suggested.

And that could make for a very different set of problems to those South Africa faced during the initial wave of Covid-19.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has begun a period of self-quarantine following the positive Covid-19 diagnosis of a guest at a dinner attended by the President on Saturday, 24 October 2020. 

The President attended a fundraising dinner of the Adopt-a-School Foundation, which is a partner entity of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation. 

The event for 35 guests was held at a Johannesburg hotel where Foundation guests were the only people hosted by the establishment. 

The event adhered stringently to Covid-19 protocols and directives on screening, social distancing and the wearing of masks, according to a statement by Acting Spokesperson to the Presidency Tyrone Seale.

The Adopt-a-School Foundation advised dinner guests yesterday, Tuesday, 27 October, that a guest had shown symptoms on Sunday and had been tested on Monday before receiving a positive result yesterday. 

The Foundation became aware of this development and communicated this to guests yesterday, hours after the President had performed the unveiling of a statue of liberation icon OR Tambo and the official opening of a new Radisson hotel and convention centre in Ekurhuleni in the morning. 

The President is showing no symptoms at this time and will, in line with Covid-19 health advice, be tested should symptoms manifest, the statement read.

 The President will perform his duties remotely and will observe the guidelines that apply to self-quarantine.