LIVE | Covid-19 in SA: Cases at 796 472 as death toll hits 21 709

Covid-19 wrap: Global cases cross 63.37m, Interpol warns of vaccine criminals, mask guidelines tightened

The Interpol global police co-ordination agency warned on Wednesday that organised criminal networks could be targeting Covid-19 vaccines, and could look to sell fake shots.

Interpol, which is headquartered in France, said it had issued a global alert to law enforcement across its 194 member countries, warning them to prepare for organised crime networks targeting Covid-19 vaccines, both physically and online.

UK PM Johnson says Covid-19 vaccines should be voluntary

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that any Covid-19 vaccines should be voluntary and that they would not be made obligatory.

Asked if vaccines should be voluntary, Johnson said: "I strongly urge people to take up the vaccine but it is no part of our culture or our ambition in this country to make vaccines mandatory. That is not how we do things."

- Reuters 

Here’s how hotspots were supposed to work in SA the first time – before being abandoned

South Africa seems set to get formally-declared coronavirus hotspots, with special restrictions on movement and the sale of alcohol – again.

The National Coronavirus Command Council has agreed that hotspots should have an earlier curfew, with pubs and shebeens closing at 21:00, and bottle stores closed on Fridays, News24 reported.

Where exactly the hotspots will be has apparently not been agreed, but parts of the Eastern Cape, such as Nelson Mandela Bay, and parts of the Western Cape, including Cape Town, are being considered.

Garden Route public events halted, venues to close due to Covid-19 surge

- Public events have been scrapped in parts of the Garden Route to prevent the spread of Covid-19 over the festive season.

- In the George and Kannaland municipalities, public venues and sporting grounds have been closed.

- The closures come after Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said large indoor events were contributing to the increase in Covid-19 cases.

Virus fears cloud outlook for South African banks

The outlook for South African banks is growing murkier amid the rising threat of a second coronavirus wave that could upend an improvement in economic activity.

SA is mired in a recession and unemployment is at a 17-year high. That follows restrictions in the second quarter that shuttered everything but essential services.

A 22:00 curfew for SA's Covid-19 hotspots and new booze restrictions, NCCC recommends

The NCCC met on Tuesday when it recommended that the consumption of alcohol be banned in public areas, such as beaches and parks, and that restaurants should be shut by 21:00 in areas where there are spikes in Covid-19 infections.

It further recommended that public gatherings in these hotspot areas should be limited to 100 people indoors and 250 outdoors, including for religious events, sources close to the meeting said.

Hospitals in Eastern Cape, Garden Route taking strain as doctor warns of 'Covid-fatigue'

- Hospitals in the Eastern Cape and on the Western Cape's Garden Route are straining to cope with a resurgence of Covid-19. 

- An emergency medicine specialist warned that Covid-fatigue may be the reason people are letting their guard down.

- A tough end to 2020 is predicted, as the country waits for news of possible lockdowns at Covid-19 hotspots. 

The US is averaging one Covid-19 death per minute, according to a global heath expert

The US is averaging one death from Covid-19 per minute, according to a global health expert who serves on an advisory panel under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 63.33 million, death toll at 1 474 650

More than 63.33 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1 474 650 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

Leaked documents reveal China severely underreported coronavirus cases as the pandemic spread

A tranche of leaked documents has revealed that China's government significantly underreported the number of coronavirus cases in the early stages of the pandemic.

An extensive set of health data from Chinese health authorities leaked to CNN shows that health officials in the Hubei province, where the virus is believed to have originated, failed to report thousands of new daily cases in the early stages of the pandemic.

Covid-19: Pfizer, BioNTech have asked EU to approve vaccine — but first shots might not come until 2021

Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said Tuesday they have asked the European Union to approve their Covid-19 vaccine, but that distribution is unlikely to start until January.

After submitting an application on Monday to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the drugmakers said the EU regulator accepted the application on Tuesday, per the Wall Street Journal.

Covid-19 wrap: Over 63.06m global cases, China gives Kim Jong Un vaccine and Trump adviser quits

Dr Scott Atlas has resigned as special adviser to President Donald Trump, a White House official said on Monday, after a controversial four months during which he clashed repeatedly with other members of the coronavirus task force.

Voters' unhappiness with Trump's response to the global pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands helped propel his challenger, Democrat Joe Biden, to victory in the 3 November election.

New booze, curfew rules for Covid hot spots: Govt to take decision today

South Africa is experiencing a resurgence of coronavirus infections, leading government to discuss district-based restrictions which could impact regions regarded as Covid-19 hot spots. With the busy festive period looming, concerns around increased activity in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape have emboldened calls for local lockdowns.

Lewis Hamilton to miss Sakhir Grand Prix following positive Covid-19 test

A Mercedes statement said: "Lewis is now isolating in accordance with Covid-19 protocols.

"Apart from mild symptoms, he is otherwise fit and well, and the entire team sends him its very best wishes for a swift recovery."

Covid-19: NCCC meets to decide on alcohol, curfews and hot spot restrictions

The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) will meet virtually on Tuesday to consider restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol in areas that are deemed hot spots across the country, News24 has confirmed. 

Two reliable sources, close to the discussions, confirmed bars and taverns were first in the firing line, but the meeting was expected to debate whether it would first impose area-specific restrictions instead of countrywide measures. 

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 62.84 million, death toll at 1 464 200  

More than 62.84 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1 464 200 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

Crackdown on hotspots – what’s being done to avoid local lockdowns

South Africa is recording an increase in Covid-19 infections, signalling the start of the virus’ dreaded second wave. Two provinces, the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, account for almost 80% of new registered cases, with residents blamed for failing to comply with current safety regulations.

In an attempt to avoid debilitating localised lockdowns, both provincial and municipal structures have instituted firm coronavirus crackdowns.

Covid-19: Winde investigating 'mini-lockdowns' for Western Cape, but it's the 'last thing we want'

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde is investigating whether the "blunt instrument" of mini-lockdowns in the province might be needed to stop the rising numbers of new Covid-19 cases.

He warned that growth week-on-week of new Covid-19 cases was too high, and so the province was investigating options to bring it under control.

No, booze sales are not being banned from 15 December – but you may want to stock up

There has been no announcement on an alcohol sales ban in South Africa, despite what you may have seen. But province-level discussions are real, and so are concerns about the ability of delivery services to keep up if new in-person retail restrictions are imposed.

Covid-19 wrap: Global cases cross 62.47m, fourth wave hits Hong Kong and Sri Lankan prisoners riot

- Hong Kong reimposes strict social distancing as fourth wave strikes

- Covid-19 surge triggers deadly prison riot in Sri Lanka

- New York City to reopen primary schools despite virus surge

Covid-19: Experts fear Eastern Cape surge could lead to second wave in SA in new year - report

South Africa could face a second wave of Covid-19 cases if outbreaks in the Eastern Cape are not contained, experts have warned.

Should the outbreaks continue unabated, the country could face a second wave early in the new year, Sunday media reports say.

Covid-19: 7 132 KZN public healthcare workers infected since the start of the pandemic

A total of 7 132 public healthcare workers in KwaZulu-Natal have been infected with Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, while 88 have succumbed to the virus.

The majority of the infected healthcare workers were nurses.

Cyril Rampahosa | We can learn from Covid-19 pandemic to help strengthen fight against HIV/Aids

Dear Fellow South African,

As we continue our efforts to manage the devastating coronavirus pandemic, we cannot ignore the other public health challenges that our country faces.

For more than three decades, our country has been engaged in an ongoing struggle against HIV and Aids, which has cost many lives and caused great hardship and suffering.

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 62.27 million, death toll at 1 454 628

More than 62.27 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1 454 628 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

The cumulative total of COVID-19 cases is 785 139 with 3 198 new cases identified since the last report.

There have been 61 more COVID-19 related deaths: Eastern Cape 26, Gauteng 1, Kwa-Zulu Natal 12, Limpopo 7 and Western Cape 15.

This brings the total deaths to 21 439.

Europe coronavirus death toll passes 400 000: AFP tally          

More than 400 000 deaths from the novel coronavirus have been registered in Europe, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources around 0800 GMT Saturday.

The second-worst hit global region after Latin America and the Caribbean, 400 649 people have died of Covid-19 in Europe among 17 606 370 confirmed cases.

Of these, 36,147 occurred in the past week alone - the continent's worst seven-day total since the pandemic began.

Britain accounted for almost two-thirds of the European deaths at 57,551 from almost 1.6 million infections, followed by Italy with 53,677 deaths and 1.5 million infections, France (51,914 deaths, 2.2 million cases), Spain (44 668 deaths, 1.6 million cases) and Russia (39 068 deaths, 2.2 million cases).

-AFP

South Africa records 89 more coronavirus deaths, 3 370 cases

South Africa recorded 3 370 more Covid-19 cases by Friday, bringing the recorded total number of cases in the country to 781 941.

An additional 89 deaths have been reported, bringing the death toll to 21 378.

The majority of the 89 deaths were reported in the Eastern Cape, where an additional 55 deaths bring the province's death toll to 4 563, out of 124 067 total cases.

Covid-19 hospitalisations surge across the US, worrying officials

The number of Covid-19 patients being treated in hospitals across the United States reached 90,000 on Friday, Reuters News Agency reported, as people travelled to attend Thanksgiving holiday gatherings this week.

The rate of hospitalisations is now at the highest since the pandemic began, the news agency said, pushing some medical facilities beyond their capacity and drawing alarm from public health experts and state officials.

Rural regions in New Mexico, which has put a lockdown in place to try to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, are among the hardest-hit areas of the country. On Friday, 880 people were hospitalised across the US state.

A hospital in Curry County, which borders the sparsely populated Texas Panhandle, was the latest to reach capacity in its intensive care unit earlier this week, according to the county’s Facebook page.

“This is the reality we face when Covid-19 is allowed to spread unchecked,” New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham tweeted on Friday, referencing the situation in Curry County and urging people to stay home to prevent the spread of the virus.

“ICUs at capacity, not enough health care workers available,” she wrote. Covid-19 infection rates have been going up for weeks across the US, and public health officials have warned the situation could worsen as people who mingled with friends and relatives during Thanksgiving gradually develop symptoms.

The country has reported more than 13.04 million cases of Covid-19 to date, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University, as well as more than 264 000 deaths linked to the virus.

Many health experts and politicians pleaded with Americans to refrain from gathering for Thanksgiving this year, as socialising between households could accelerate the rate of community transmission and push an already strained healthcare system to the brink.

Some abided by the public health guidance, but a day before the holiday, typically one of the busiest travel days of the year in the US, more than 1.07 million people passed through US airports, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said.

That was the most of any single day since the start of the pandemic.

Nearly six million Americans travelled by air from Friday to Wednesday, the TSA also said – less than half what was reported during the same period last year.

-Aljazeera

Peru secures 23.1 million future coronavirus vaccine doses from Pfizer, COVAX

Peru has secured enough coronavirus vaccine to give nearly three-quarters of its population at least one dose when the immunization is available, a hopeful development for a nation with one of the highest Covid-19 death rates in the world.

The agreements announced on Friday with Pfizer Inc and global vaccine distribution program COVAX will provide 23.1 million doses for a population of 31.9 million. Some vaccine regimes will require two doses.

The Peruvian Ministry of Health said it had signed a binding agreement with Pfizer for the purchase of 9.9 million doses of its vaccine which is in testing. Another 13.2 million doses will be bought through COVAX, which is led by the GAVI vaccines alliance and the World Health Organization and aimed at promoting equitable access.

COVAX has signed agreements to buy vaccines from French drugmaker Sanofi, Britain's GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Novavax.

The ministry added in a statement that it was negotiating with other vaccine laboratories. These include China's Sinopharm Group Co Ltd and Sinovac Biotech Inc, Moderna Inc, Novovax, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and COVAXX, a unit of United Biomedical Inc and Gamaleya, the institute that developing Russia’s main coronavirus vaccine candidate Sputnik V.

So far, the Peruvian government has signed confidential agreements with 13 pharmaceutical companies and non-binding agreements with 10 of those, the ministry added.

Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti said this week that she expects vaccines to arrive in Peru in the first quarter of 2021 before general elections on 11 April, and vaccines will likely be administered in voting centres.

China's Sinopharm and the United States' Johnson & Johnson are conducting trials of their vaccines in the country, potentially allowing Peru to buy doses at a discount, the ministry of health said.

Peru has seen 111.55 deaths per 100 000 of its population, ranking third in the world for per capita mortality, according to a Reuters tally.

-Reuters

As of 26 November, 3 069 new Covid-19 cases were identified, bringing the total confirmed infections to 778 571.

There have been 88 deaths reported, bringing the total deaths to 21 289. 

The cumulative number of tests conducted to date is 5 383 078, with 28 010 new tests conducted since the last report.

As of 25 November, 3 250 new Covid-19 cases were identified, bringing the total confirmed infections to 775 502.

There have been 118 deaths reported in the past 24 hours, bringing the total deaths to 21 201.

The cumulative number of tests conducted to date is 5 355 068, with 29 437 new tests conducted since the last report.

Global coronavirus cases surpass 60 million infections – Reuters tally

The global tally of confirmed coronavirus cases hit 60 million on Wednesday, with the pace of new infections accelerating and the United States reporting record numbers of hospitalisations, according to a Reuters tally.

Officials in the United States, the worst-affected country in the world, urged Americans to stay home for the imminent Thanksgiving holiday as soaring numbers of Covid-19 patients pushed medical professionals to the brink.

The United States has reported 1 million new Covid-19 cases in less than a week, taking its total reported infections to over 12.5 million and its death toll to 260 000, according to the Reuters data based on official statements.

Globally, infections stood at 60.005 million and deaths at 1.4 million. An analysis of the Reuters data showed the rate of new infections picking up globally. It took just 17 days to go from 50 million cases to 60 million, compared with the 21 days it took to go from 40 million to 50 million.

Around 580 000 cases have been reported each day over the past week and around half of all cases since the start of the pandemic were reported over the past 70 days.

In Europe, 1 million new cases were recorded over just five days, for a total of more than 16 million cases, including 365 000 deaths.

Governments across Europe are struggling to impose restrictions on public life while allowing families to celebrate Christmas without further fuelling outbreaks.

-REUTERS

Americas region sees record 1.5 mln Covid-19 cases in 7 days - WHO regional branch

The Americas reported more than 1.5 million cases of Covid-19 in the last 7 days, the highest weekly number since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization regional branch PAHO said on Wednesday.

The rapid surge of infections in the United States continues and cases have accelerated in countries of North, Central and South America, PAHO said.

In Canada, infections are rising particularly among the elderly and indigenous communities, PAHO Assistant Director Jarbas Barbosa said.

-REUTERS