RESOURCES
1h ago
President Cyril Ramaphosa will once again address the nation on its lockdown measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.
This will be the fourth address on the lockdown in just over a month.
The country has been shifted into lockdown Level 3, which means tighter curfews, a clampdown on public gatherings, and the banning of the sale of alcohol.
News24 reported earlier today that Ramaphosa is expected to announce a continuation of these restrictions.
Ramaphosa said last week that Covid-19 was priority number one for the government in 2021. The country has also announced that it will be getting its first consignment of vaccines in a few weeks.
South Africa is also battling a new variant of the virus, which is said to possibly be spreading faster and is having a critical effect on patients who do not have comorbidities. This variant has been seen in several other countries.
You can follow his address live on News24.
2h ago
Ramaphosa expected to extend current lockdown restrictions, continue clampdown on alcohol
President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to announce an extension of current Covid-19 restrictions for another month, following a series of meetings and consultations with relevant structures.
Despite a court application by SA Breweries (SAB), there will be a continuation of the restrictions on the sale of alcohol beyond 15 January.
News24 understands that a curfew will remain in place and that restrictions on gatherings will continue.
2h ago
10 January 22:29
South Africa's Covid-19 death toll has surpassed 33 000 on Sunday, according to a statement released by Health Minister Zweli Mhkize.
"Regrettably, we report a further 339 Covid-19 related deaths: Eastern Cape 77, Free State 19,
Gauteng 28, KwaZulu-Natal 71, Limpopo 14, Mpumalanga 10, Northern Cape 7 and Western Cape
113. This brings the total deaths to 33 163," said Mhkize.
Covid-19 infections increased by 17 412, taking the total cases to 1 231 597.
A cumulative total of 7 183 893 tests have been completed with 63 046 tests conducted since Saturday.
Our recoveries now stand at 966 368, representing a recovery rate of 78.4%
As of today, the total number of confirmed #COVID19 cases is 1 231 596, the total number of deaths is 33 163 and the total number of recoveries is 966 368. pic.twitter.com/xQhPwVA4Bo
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) January 10, 2021
10 January 22:07
Israel is leading the world in terms of its vaccination rate, with nearly 20 people in every hundred having received a dose.
The global effort to vaccinate people against Covid-19 began in early December. Since then, more than 40 countries have started administering coronavirus jabs among their populations.
The United Arab Emirates has achieved the second-highest vaccination rate at 8.98 per 100 people, while Bahrain comes third at 4.25.
France, where the government has been heavily criticised for a sluggish start to its vaccine rollout, lags behind most European countries with a vaccination rate of 0.07 per 100 people.
The vaccination data illustrates that rich and middle-income countries have secured almost all the available vaccine supply to date.
Tracking Covid-19 vaccines – here are the countries that have administered the most doses | @BISouthAfrica https://t.co/gqqSbR36NO pic.twitter.com/hDG1seP6q5
— News24 (@News24) January 10, 2021
10 January 20:27
Russia confirms first case of new UK virus strain
Moscow on Sunday confirmed its first case of the new UK coronavirus strain, despite an earlier decision by officials to suspend flights from Britain to stop the mutation reaching Russia.
One person returning to Russia from the UK was found to have been infected with the new strain, the head of Russia's health regulator Rospotrebnadzor told state-run television.
Watchdog head Anna Popova did not specify when the individual tested positive for coronavirus or any other circumstances surrounding the discovery.
The B117 coronavirus strain is thought to have first emerged in southeastern England late last year, and has since been detected in dozens of countries around the world.
Officials in Moscow temporarily suspended flights to and from the UK in December, following a similar move by dozens of other countries in the wake of the emergence of the new strain.
Russia has one of the highest infection rates in the world and officials on Sunday confirmed a total of nearly 3.5 million cases.
Health officials last month admitted the country's virus toll was much higher than previously reported, making Russia the third-worst hit globally.
The Kremlin has placed its hope on the homegrown Sputnik V vaccine to counter the pandemic instead of the return to lockdown measures being imposed in many other European countries.
10 January 16:07
Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
The total number of Germany's coronavirus deaths crosses 40 000 Sunday, as Chancellor Angela Merkel warns that worse is to come.
In her weekly video message Saturday, Merkel said the full impact of socialising over the Christmas and New Year's period was yet to show up in the statistics.
Coronavirus deaths in Belgium pass 20 000, health officials say Sunday, with more than half the victims from retirement care homes.
The country of 11.5 million people has one of the highest death rates from the pandemic in the world, with 1 725 per 100 000 people, according to an AFP tally.
The pandemic has killed more than 1.9 million people worldwide, according to a tally compiled by AFP using official sources and information from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The United States is the country most affected with more than 372 000 deaths, followed by Brazil (more than 202 000), India (over 150 000), Mexico (over 132 000) and the United Kingdom (over 80 000).
Britain says it has helped raise $1 billion from global donors to help "vulnerable countries" access coronavirus vaccines, by match-funding contributions from other countries.
It has also committed 548 million to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), says Britain's Foreign Office.
France extends its longer overnight curfew restrictions to eight more departments from Sunday, including second city Marseille, after a family cluster of the mutation identified in the UK is found there.
The Canadian province of Quebec starts an overnight 8-5 curfew to try to curb the spread of the virus.
One on this scale has not been ordered in Canada since a devastating flu swept the globe a century ago, according to historians.
Pope Francis urges people to get the vaccination, calling opposition to the jab "suicidal denial" and saying he will get inoculated next week.
"There is a suicidal denial which I cannot explain, but today we have to get vaccinated," the pontiff says in segments from an interview with Canale 5 to be broadcast in full on Sunday.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip receive Covid-19 vaccinations.
The queen, 94 and Philip, 99, have spent much of the pandemic in self-isolation at Windsor Castle. It is understood the monarch decided the information should be made public to prevent inaccuracies and speculation.
10 January 13:48
10 January 13:47
A year after first death in China, coronavirus source still a puzzle
January 11 marks the anniversary of China confirming its first covid-19 death. Subsequent clues suggests that its origins may predate Wuhan, as well as conspiracy theories that the virus may have been leaked from a lab in Wuhan. The trail has now gone cold, with the drip of subsequent clues only adding to the confusion, including findings that the virus may have existed in Europe and Brazil before Wuhan's outbreak.
It is the world's most pressing scientific puzzle, but experts warn there may never be conclusive answers over the source of the coronavirus, after an investigative effort marked from the start by disarray, Chinese secrecy and international rancour.
10 January 13:37
Covid-19 chaos in Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, the main funeral parlours and cemeteries are overrun and the city’s biggest hospital is in a shambles, while the Beitbridge border with South Africa is a mess.
The situation has been exacerbated by the production of fake Covid-19-negative test certificates. Earlier, delays were on the South African side of the border as Zimbabweans and regional truck drivers overwhelmed border officials.
10 January 13:36
10 January 13:35
10 January 10:09
10 January 08:06
Covid-19 Wrap: Latest developments around the world
- At least 1.9 million people dead worldwide
- Pope Francis urges people to get the vaccination, calling opposition to the jab "suicidal denial".
- UK cases top three million.
- China tightens restrictions.
- Australia's third city enters lockdown.
- Burundi to close its land and lakeside borders from Monday.
- France against matches with UK teams, plans to extend curfew restrictions.
- 63 cases of UK mutation found in at least eight US states.
- Israel records four SA Covid-19 variant cases.
- Nine arrested as Danish virus-curb protests turn violent.
- Mexico hits daily Covid-19 record with 16,105 new cases.
- Cuba tightens Covid-19 measures as visitors fuel record contagion.
09 January 21:28
As of today, the cumulative total of Covid-19 cases identified in South Africa is 1 214 176, an increase of 21 606.
A further 399 Covid-19 related deaths have been recorded: Eastern Cape 85, Free State 11, Gauteng 69, Kwa-Zulu Natal 96, Limpopo 5, Mpumalanga 15, Northern Cape 12 and Western Cape 106 . This brings the total deaths to 32 824.
Our recoveries now stand at 956 712, representing a recovery rate of 78,9%.
A cumulative total of 7 120 847 tests have been completed with 77 167 tests conducted since the last report.
09 January 17:54
Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis worldwide:
China tightens restrictions
Two Chinese cities south of Beijing further tighten virus restrictions Saturday, issuing week-long stay-at-home orders to residents as authorities race to stamp out a resurgence in infections ahead of the Lunar New Year next month.
Australia's 3rd city enters lockdown
Australia's third-largest city of Brisbane starts its first day of a snap lockdown Saturday, with officials elsewhere on high alert over the emergence of more contagious strains of Covid-19.
Burundi to close borders
Burundi is to close its land and lakeside borders from Monday and impose a seven-day quarantine on travellers arriving by plane, after a rise in cases.
France against matches with UK teams
The French government recommends clubs postpone European Cup matches with British teams due to the new Covid-19 variant, in a statement sent to AFP Saturday, raising questions over this year's Six Nations rugby tournament.
France to extend curfew restrictions
France is to extend its longer overnight curfew restrictions to eight more departments, Prime Minister Jean Castex says Saturday, despite opposition in several cities.
Record daily deaths in Britain
Britain reports a record 1,325 coronavirus deaths over a 24-hour period, as a surge in cases piles pressure on overstretched health services, forcing London to declare a major incident.
Record daily cases in US
The United States hits a new record for coronavirus cases Friday, notching nearly 290,000 in a span of 24 hours, according to a real-time tally by Johns Hopkins University. The country, the hardest-hit in the world by the Covid-19 pandemic, also records 3,676 virus deaths in the same day, the university reports.
Vaccine works on variants
German company BioNTech says a preliminary study shows its vaccine works against strains uncovered in Britain and South Africa.
09 January 13:23
US logs record virus caseload as millions in Asia enter new lockdowns
The United States logged a record new daily virus caseload as Joe Biden slammed the Trump administration's vaccine roll-out as a "travesty" and millions in Asia woke up to new lockdowns.
Almost 1.9 million people have now died from the virus, with new variants sending cases soaring and prompting the re-introduction of curbs on movement even as some countries begin mass inoculation campaigns.
Almost 290 000 new cases were reported in the US within 24 hours on Friday according to Johns Hopkins University, a day after the world's worst-hit country recorded a daily record of nearly 4 000 deaths.
"Vaccines give us hope, but the roll-out has been a travesty," Biden told reporters, warning distribution of the vaccine would be "the greatest operational challenge we will ever face as a nation."
- AFP
09 January 12:49
Russia reports 23 309 new coronavirus cases, 470 deaths
Russia on Saturday reported 23 309 new coronavirus cases over the previous 24 hours, including 4 900 in Moscow, taking the national tally to 3 379 103.
Authorities said 470 people had died, taking Russia's official death toll to 61 381.
- Reuters
09 January 11:10
South Africa and Mozambique agree to ease congestion at the border
South Africa and Mozambique have agreed on measures to ease long queues at the Lebombo border post between the two countries after a week of congestion created a possible health crisis and resulted in millions of rand in lost revenue.
09 January 11:07
76% of hospitalised Covid-19 patients still have at least one symptom 6 months later, a study found
Tens of millions of people have covered from the coronavirus so far worldwide. But questions linger about what recovery really means.
09 January 11:06
China to provide Covid-19 vaccines free of charge - government official
China will provide Covid-19 vaccines free of charge once they become available to general public, government authorities said on Saturday.
09 January 11:02
Sinovac, AstraZeneca seek vaccine approval in Brazil
The manufacturers of two Covid-19 vaccines developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac and Oxford-AstraZeneca filed the first applications Friday for regulatory approval in hard-hit Brazil, officials said.
Federal health regulator Anvisa now has 10 days to respond to the applications, though it said that could include asking the sponsors for more information.
One application was submitted by the Butantan Institute, a public health center in Sao Paulo that is working with Sinovac to test and produce its CoronaVac vaccine.
The other was from the Fiocruz Foundation, which is based in Rio de Janeiro and is working with the University of Oxford and its partner, the British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, in a similar partnership.
- AFP
08 January 21:30
SA once again breaks its record for new daily infections, after 21 980 new cases. The total is at 1 192 570.
The death toll is at 32 425, after 616 new fatalities.
ICYMI | Covid-19 story of the day: Ramaphosa declares virus priority number one for 2021
Cyril Ramaphosa said priority one for 2021 is Covid-19. He was speaking at an address during the ANC's 109th birthday celebration.
"It threatens our economy. SA is in the midst of a second wave that could prove deadlier than the first. We have to intensify our efforts to promote responsible behaviour such as physical distancing, sanitation, wearing masks."
He added the government will continue bolstering healthcare efforts, including test screening. He says the government will embark on a mass vaccination programme. This programme will, initially, prioritise frontline workers, like healthcare workers, teachers, police officers, the elderly and those with comorbidities.
Ramaphosa also slammed purveyors of "unfounded conspiracy theories" circulating about the virus and vaccines. "We must continue to work together as a united nation to confront the coronavirus threat."
08 January 15:25
Covid-19 wrap: UK bans travel from 11 African countries, record deaths in US, Sinovac vaccine declared halaal
Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine appeared to work against a key mutation in the highly transmissible new variants of the coronavirus discovered in Britain and South Africa, according to a laboratory study conducted by the US drugmaker.
The study by Pfizer and scientists from the University of Texas Medical Branch, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, indicated the vaccine was effective in neutralising virus with the so-called N501Y mutation of the spike protein.
08 January 15:16
UK extends SA travel ban, shuts borders to 11 more African countries and closes resident 'loophole'
The UK has decided to extend a travel ban on all visitors departing from or travelling through South Africa as part of its plan to curb the current Covid-19 resurgence. The initial suspension, announced on 23 December 2020, will last until 23 January 2021 when it will be reviewed according to both the UK and South Africa’s caseload.
08 January 11:09
Ireland reopens to SA travel – but you must still isolate for two weeks
Ireland will reopen its borders to visitors from South Africa and the United Kingdom on Saturday, 9 January. The move comes less than a month after Ireland imposed a travel ban due to the discovery of new coronavirus variants in both countries.
08 January 10:07
Early study suggests Pfizer vaccine may work against key Covid-19 mutation in SA, UK variant
The Covid-19 vaccine from pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech looks to be effective against 16 different mutations of the coronavirus, according to a study that has not yet undergone peer review.
Pfizer Inc and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine appeared to work against a key mutation in the highly transmissible new variants of the coronavirus discovered in the UK and South Africa, according to a laboratory study conducted by the US drugmaker.
08 January 10:06
08 January 10:06
07 January 19:58
SA has recorded 20 999 new cases, taking the total number to 1 170 590.
The death toll has jumped by 441, taking it to 31 809.
This comes as Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has announced that South Africa will receive one million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine from the Serum Institute of India this month.
Mkhize made the announcement in his closing remarks during a briefing to Parliament's Health Portfolio Committee on Thursday.
The country recently enforced a stronger lockdown to deal with the rising cases, and there have been reports that the health system is under severe strain.
"We will be receiving the first one million doses of vaccine in January and another 500 000 in February from the Serum Institute of India. As recently as [Wednesday], our teams at the Department of Health and the South African Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) were finetuning and aligning all the regulations,” Mkhize said.
And, Aspen Pharmacare could start production of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Covid-19 vaccines in South Africa by late March or early April if all approvals are in place, a senior company executive told Reuters.
The health ministry said that vaccine negotiations with J&J were at an advanced stage and that "developments will be announced soon".
All the vaccines produced will be exported to J&J and will be a part of its global supply inventory, Stavros Nicolaou, Group Senior Executive, Strategic Trade at Aspen said.
The government is in talks with J&J in an effort to secure some of this product for its own consumption. J&J is in the final phase of its clinical trials and is likely to announce results by the end of January, Nicolaou added.
Meanwhile, the government’s National Coronavirus Command Council has resolved, after a meeting on Wednesday, not to enforce a hard lockdown in SA, at least for now.
07 January 17:05
The deputy minister for water and sanitation, David Mahlobo, has tested positive for Covvid-19.
A statement said he remains "in good spirits" and is in self-isolation at home.
Whoever he was in contact with is also in isolation.
07 January 14:17
Mass vaccination centres and a track-and-trace system: Here’s what’s new on SA’s vaccine plan
South Africa has secured a million does of coronavirus vaccine due to arrive in January, and another 500,000 due in February, the government announced on Thursday, paving the way for the first inoculations outside of medical trials.
Also on Thursday, health minister Zweli Mkhize gave Parliament a first detailed report on the current plans to vaccinate the broader public.
07 January 12:41
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has announced that South Africa will be receiving 1 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine from the Serum Institute of India in this month.
Mkhize made the announcement in his closing remarks during a briefing to Parliament’s Health Portfolio Committee on Thursday.
“We will be receiving the first 1 million doses of vaccine in January and another 500 000 in February from the Serum Institute of India.
As recently as yesterday, our teams at the department of health and SAPRAH were fine tuning and aligning all the regulations, processes to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays or regulatory impediments to activate this roll-out. We are all happy that the Serum Institute of India and AstraZenca vaccine has already been approved by various regulators and is being rolled out. SPARA is applying reliance on that regulatory framework,” he said.
07 January 11:37
07 January 10:31
07 January 10:27
07 January 10:22
07 January 10:21
07 January 10:20
07 January 10:19
07 January 06:29
Covid-19: South Africa records 844 more deaths and 21 832 new cases in 'grim milestone'
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said 844 more people have died from Covid-19 by Wednesday.
"Today we have reached a grim milestone as we breach the 20 000 mark for new cases identified in 24 hours," Mkhize said in an uncharacteristically late update on the situation.
07 January 06:19
06 January 17:38
Covid-19 forces cancellation of WP v Sharks Currie Cup match
Saturday's final round Currie Cup fixture between Western Province and the Sharks has been cancelled in line with Covid-19 protocols.
The decision was made after a number of positive Covid-19 tests in the Sharks camp.SA Rugby confirmed in a statement that the match will be declared a draw, with both teams receiving two log points apiece.
06 January 17:34
Covid-19 vaccine rollout: SACP urges Ramaphosa to step up, crackdown on corruption, put people over profit
The ANC-led alliance political council is due to meet on Wednesday, the same day President Cyril Ramaphosa called a National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) meeting.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) deputy secretary Solly Mapaila told the media that the vaccine rollout and acquisition would be discussed at the meeting.
06 January 17:33
Universities: 'No chance' of face-to-face classes in first quarter of 2021
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, universities are grappling with how to accommodate students for the 2021 academic year. Last year, teaching and learning had to be done online - and it seems that might be the case again for 2021.
06 January 17:27
SA Covid-19 variant appears to evade antibody drugs, which is 'very concerning' - ex-FDA chief
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has warned that the South African coronavirus variant may evade antibody drugs that treat Covid-19.
Speaking on CNBC on Wednesday, he said that early evidence from Seattle-based Bloom Lab, which hasn't been peer-reviewed, suggested that the South Africa variant can partially escape antibodies that fight coronavirus.
06 January 12:59
06 January 11:55
Banning tobacco was fair with the Covid-19 risk unknown, govt says – which is still true
It was fair for the government to have imposed a total ban on the sale of tobacco products during South Africa's hard lockdown, under the circumstances prevailing at the time, the state attorney argues in a new legal filing – describing circumstances that currently hold.
06 January 10:29
Covid-19 claims 'sport unifier' Mluleki George
Mluleki George, regarded as a unifying figure in sport, has died.
This came after the deaths of Athletics SA's Leonard Chuene and former Kaizer Chiefs captain Ryder Mofokeng.
George was also a deputy defence minister.
06 January 10:25