LIVE | Covid-19 in SA: Cases at 1 278 303 as death toll hits 35 140

Healthcare workers won't be vaccine 'guinea pigs', says Western Cape health dept

Health workers may be offered a Covid-19 vaccine first, but they will not be "guinea pigs" for the new initiative, the Western Cape health department said on Wednesday.

"We have good expertise and good regulatory bodies in this country," said department head Dr Keith Cloete.

"They will only approve a vaccine that is safe, and has been used on humans."

This in reply to a question in the legislature from the FF Plus' Peter Marais who asked whether health workers, who would be first to be offered the vaccine, were going to be the "guinea pigs" to see if it was safe.

You can probably cross the beach to get to the sea – but you can’t play until you are 100m out

The ban on beaches across most of South Africa extends deep into the ocean too, lawyers say, thanks to a new definition – but does not mean you can't cross the beach.

Just as long as you don't start enjoying yourself until you are at least 100 metres into the water.

You can get special permission to use SA’s land border crossings – here’s how

Foreigners hoping to enter South Africa through one of the country’s 20 land borders can apply for an “emergency exemption” by emailing the department of home affairs, it has confirmed, avoiding the closure of those ports to all but limited users under the latest Alert Level 3 rules.

All of South Africa’s biggest banks are in breach of ‘impossible’ new disaster rules

The banks running SA's biggest ATM networks are now all in breach of new disaster rules.

A regulation update published on Tuesday requires banks to make hand sanitiser available at every one of their ATMs, because the government fears super-spreading via the machines.

SA tops 34 000 Covid-19 deaths, with 755 new fatalities reported

There have been 755 new Covid-19 fatalities in South Africa, taking the death toll to 34 334.

"Regrettably, we report a further 755 deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 134, Free State 26, Gauteng 225, KwaZulu-Natal 218, Limpopo 11, Mpumalanga 11, Northern Cape 2 and Western Cape 128. This brings the total to 34 334 deaths," said Health Minister Zweli Mhkize.

Infections have increased by 13 105, pushing the total cases to 1 259 748.

Our recoveries now stand at 1 019 123, representing a recovery rate of 81%.

A cumulative total of 7 287 060 tests have been completed with 50 671 tests conducted since the last report.

#COVID19 Statistics in SA as at 12 January .

Use the COVID Alert SA app to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community. Start using this privacy preserving app today. Add your phone to the fight! Download the Covid Alert SA app now! https://t.co/8YKEqaiiRF pic.twitter.com/dRwZetMzoq

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) January 12, 2021

Germany records first case of S.African Covid strain as more countries extend lockdowns

Germany on Tuesday recorded its first case of the coronavirus variant sweeping South Africa in a member of a family that returned from a lengthy stay in the country in December.

"After their arrival (on 13  December), the family entered the required quarantine and got tested five days later. Those tests were negative," a spokesman for the social affairs ministry in the southwestern German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg said in a statement.

"The following week, the first members of the family developed mild symptoms of illness."

Covid-19 surge in the Western Cape is showing early signs of stabilising, says Winde

The Western Cape's Covid-19 resurgence is showing early signs of stabilising, but the danger is not over yet. Hospital beds are still under pressure and people are returning from their December travels. 

Premier Alan Winde urged people to continue sanitising, social distancing and wearing masks, even though there might be a glimmer of hope.

"Please don't get sick yourself," said Winde during his weekly digital briefing on the pandemic. 

Lockdown: NPO wants court to declare compulsory wearing of masks unconstitutional, invalid

NPO the Liberty Fighters Network (LFN) faced off with Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday, arguing that she be found guilty of contempt of court for extending the national state of disaster and re-implementing Level 3 lockdown restrictions. 

The NPO told the court the Dlamini-Zuma was not giving the public substantial information about the coronavirus to satisfy them on why certain measures were reinstated and "chopped and changed". 

Its president, Reyno de Beer who argued the case before Judge Norman Davis, said Dlamini-Zuma should be held in contempt for violating a court order which was handed down by the judge on 2 June 2020. 

Lockdown: Motsoaledi suspends applications for IDs, passports and marriage services

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has temporarily suspended certain critical services, including applications for new IDs and passports.

Only matriculants may apply for an ID, while passport applications will only be accepted from those who are allowed to travel under the amended regulations.

Motsoaledi said the suspension was forced by the increasing number of Department of Home Affairs employees who have tested positive for Covid-19.

More clarity on access to beaches, banks, and when lockdown will end.

Dlamini-Zuma: Access to beaches, includes access to the water. "You are not allowed on the beach or in the water." 

On banks: She said banks are run by citizens, who like everyone else, must follow the law.

"If they don't adhere to protocols, the penalties are there. Banks are no different than other institutions, people who manage banks must take responsibility."

On when the current lockdown will end: Dlamini-Zuma said regulations will be reviewed when the number of infections have dropped sufficiently.

"The regulations are there to protect lives, they are there because the infection rate in SA is very high. We don't know when it will be low. When we went to Level 1, the numbers went down, so it's difficult to give certainty over something you don't control. It will depend on the state of the hospitals, number of people dying and what the infection is doing. It's not possible to give certainty," she said. 

Motsoaledi: Home Affairs will continue to operate from Monday to Friday and will extend operating hours to 19:00 until 15th February to accommodate people to register births and deaths.

"In order to defeat the pandemic, we appeal to everyone to observe Covid-19 protocols. No one will be allowed to enter Home Affairs offices without masks. Our biggest enemy is not complying with social distancing." 

Motsoaledi painting a picture of the situation at Home Affairs: 

Huge crowds gather at our offices while not observing protocols, regardless of markings, people don't observe rules. The situation of not observing protocol has gotten worse.

Motsoaledi says out of 412 offices, 266 had to close at some point since lockdown began in March 2020. Some offices were closed more than once because employees had tested positive. 

Between March and December,  he says 532 staff members in the Civic branch tested positive for Covid-19. The affected employees are mostly from Gauteng, KZN and Eastern Cape. Seven front office employees have already died in 2021, also putting a strain on service delivery.

The Minister says the issuing of death certificates has also increased exponentially. All indications are that at the end of January, we would have had even more death registrations than in 2020. Death registration in December 55 676 more than what was registered in the previous two years.

On 4 and 5 January, Home Affairs registered 10 582 deaths . If this trends are going upwards...it will get worse. Taking all these factors into consideration, Home Affairs has decided to suspended certain services temporarily:

Application for smart IDs is suspended, except for matriculants

Applications for passports, except for people who fall in categories that are permitted to travel

Marriage services, solemnisation and registration of marriages 

Collection of IDs will only be for people who have received SMS notifications

Motsoaledi takes podium

Motsoaledi: All 20 land borders have been closed. The list of the borders is available on the website and social media accounts. The closure will exempt certain services including cargo and commercial goods, emergency medical treatment within the country, deportation of people, and opening for diplomats. It will also include allowing South Africans who are in other countries to come back home and learners from neighbouring countries who attend schools in South Africa.

People who don't fall in any of the mentioned categories can apply to the department of Home Affairs to be exempted. People who enter the country are still subject to the normal Covid-19 protocols.

Dlamini-Zuma: No liquor is supposed to be sold, dispensed, distributed or transported. She says at work there should be compliance officers and health protocols should be kept. There will be penalties for those who do not keep to the rules.

The penalties can range from a fine or imprisonment. She says government does not want to arrest people. “We just want to make sure that we protect one another by keeping to the rules. We plead with you to keep to the rule.” Beaches are open in the non-hotspot areas.

The Northern Cape is the only non-hot spot area where beaches are open.

Dlamini-Zuma: Everyone is expected to wear masks in public. She says game parks are open from 06:00 to 18:00. 

On land borders, Dlamini-Zuma says there has been a lot of problems that has necessitated the closure of the 20 borders that were open and permit limited services. 

Gatherings at beaches also remain prohibited, including around public parks that have no access control. Dlamini-Zuma says sporting events that are recognised by the sporting bodies are allowed but without spectators. 

On new regulations, Dlamini Zuma says they have been informed about queues at ATMs without sanitisers. Banks should provide sanitisers she says. 

Dlamini-Zuma: Emphasises that large gatherings are prohibited. She says infections are continuing to rise. She says hospitals in KZN and Gauteng are under strain. She says the Eastern Cape also has large numbers. "It is to balance saving lives and saving livelihoods," she says.

Funerals are allowed 50 people sitting at 1.5 meters apart, wearing masks all the time and sanitising. Night vigils and after tears remain prohibited. 

The briefing has started

Dlamini-Zuma is joined by Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi.

Dlamini-Zuma to provide update on adjusted Level 3 restrictions, regulations, and enforcement

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will brief the public on the Covid-19 restrictions, regulations, and enforcement at 16:00.

This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday night that the country will remain on Level 3 lockdown with new curfew and border closures.

His address also came almost three weeks after he had announced the adjusted lockdown regulations. Ramaphosa said the new curfew would be set between 21:00 and 05:00.

The province that has recorded the highest number of cases over the last seven days is KwaZulu-Natal, followed by the Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

While the country remains under adjusted Level 3, the sale, distribution and transportation of alcohol remains prohibited.

Funerals are also limited to a total of 50 people.

You can watch the briefing live on News24

SA's latest Covid-19 numbers

There have been 15 046 new Covid-19 infections, taking the tally to 1 246 643. The death toll is now at 33 579, after 416 more deaths - 163 of which were in the Eastern Cape.

A cumulative total of 7 236 389 tests have been completed with 52 496 tests conducted since the last report.

Our recoveries now stand at 973 265, representing a recovery rate of 78,1%.

ICYMI | Ramaphosa announces continuation of lockdown measures, closes land border posts, alcohol still banned

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the country will continue in lockdown Level 3, and has announced a new curfew of between 21:00 and 05:00. The sale of alcohol remains banned.

Ramaphosa also announced a closure of all land border posts coming into South Africa - including the Beitbridge post - which has been seen to be congested and is a risk of spreading Covid-19.

He also warned that funerals were seen to be so-called superspreader events, and cautioned the public about enclosed gatherings. Gatherings, apart from special circumstances, remain prohibited.

He added that there was not yet a decision on the reopening of schools.

Ramaphosa also talked tough against people who have been circulating conspiracy theories and misinformation about the potential vaccine. He sought to assure the public about the government's rollout of the vaccine.

Ramaphosa was addressing the nation on lockdown measures to curb the Covid-19 virus. It was his fourth address of this kind just over a month.

He last week said priority one for the government in 2021 was Covid-19, which he said was threatening the economy, warning that the second wave may be deadlier than the first.

This comes as the number of new infections rise by the tens of thousands per day, and as SA battles a new variant of Covid-19, which is said to transfer faster.

Game changer

Ramaphosa said an effective vaccine will be "a game changer in our fight against Covid-19."

He said our scientists say we will reach herd immunity once about 67% of our population is vaccinated. "We have put in place a comprehensive vaccination strategy to reach all parts of the country."

He said it will likely be the biggest logistical undertaking in the country's history.

The country will be procuring vaccines via the Covax programme, the African Union's vaccine initiative, and through direct engagements with vaccine manufacturers.

Phase one of the vaccine rollout will go toward frontline healthworkers. Phase two will target essential workers (police, teachers, etc.) and people in old age homes, shelters, prisons, and adults with comorbidities. Phase three will target the remaining adult population. At this point, we would have reached about 40 million South Africans.

He said people in the country have been seen to be sceptical about vaccines and there is "much disinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccines." Ramaphosa says vaccines have been seen to eradicate several diseases in history. He says most South Africans have been vaccinated at one time or another.

Second pandemic

Meanwhile, the president also spoke about the “second pandemic” of gender-based violence, saying that there was a drive to sensitise men and religious leaders about gender norms and the patriarchy. He said religious leaders will be told about reporting cases of gender-based violence. 

Ramaphsoa in closing said: "The coronavirus storm is much fiercer than any that we've known before. We are now in the centre of that storm. We do not know how much longer it will last... but we know what we need to do to weather the storm and protect ourselves. We know what we need to do as a nation to overcome the pandemic.

"We need to, therefore, act with common purpose. If we work together and maintain our resolve, we will attain the new year we all want. We will also be able to rebuild our lives and our nation."

- Kerushun Pillay