COVID-19 WRAP | SA records 2,465 new Covid-19 cases

November 25 2021 - 19:50

Close to 2,000 new Covid-19 cases recorded in Gauteng in 24 hours

More than 2,400 new Covid-19 cases have been identified in SA, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases reported on Thursday evening.

The NICD said a total of 2,465 new Covid-19 were recorded in SA, with the majority emanating from Gauteng. This increase represented a 6.5% positivity rate.

A total of 114 Covid-19 deaths were recorded.

According to the statistics, 1,950 cases were recorded in Gauteng in the past 24 hours. On Wednesday, there were 1,018.

November 25 2021 - 13:23

New variant of Covid-19 confirmed in SA with 22 cases recorded

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed on Thursday that a new Covid-19 variant known as B.1.1.529 had been detected in SA.

Twenty-two positive cases of the variant have been recorded in the country after genomic sequencing collaborations between the NICD and private laboratories. Other laboratories are confirming more cases as sequencing results come out.

“It is not surprising that a new variant has been detected in SA,” said NICD acting executive director Prof Adrian Puren.

November 25 2021 - 11:00

Spike in Covid-19 infections may be ‘first signs’ of fourth wave in Gauteng: Prof Bruce Mellado

The first signs of what could possibly be a Covid-19 fourth wave have been spotted in Gauteng. 

This is according to Prof Bruce Mellado, a member of the province’s Covid-19 advisory committee.

Speaking to Jacaranda FM this week, Mellado said the province was preparing models for a potential fourth wave after the rapid increase in cases.

Of the 1,275 new Covid-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, at least 80% of them are from Gauteng.

November 25 2021 - 10:48

Scientists monitor new Covid-19 variant detected in SA, Botswana and Hong Kong

Scientists are monitoring a new Covid-19 variant with an “extremely high number” of mutations that has been detected in SA, Botswana and Hong Kong. 

Only 10 cases have been confirmed in the three countries by genomic sequencing but there is concern that the number of mutations could enable the virus to evade immunity, reports The Guardian.

Dr Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London, posted details of the new variant on a genome-sharing website.

Peacock said the high number of spike mutations suggested the B.1.1.529 variant could be of concern but added that it could also be an “odd cluster” that was not very transmissible.

Scientists will monitor the variant to determine if it gains momentum.

Meanwhile, Covid-19 infections are on the rise in Gauteng, with more than 1,000 new cases recorded in the province in the past 24 hours.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Wednesday there were 1,018 new cases recorded in Gauteng in the past day. On Tuesday, there were 605.

November 25 2021 - 10:17

Limpopo health MEC concerned about Covid-19 cluster outbreak at mine

Limpopo health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba has raised concerns about the resurgence of Covid-19 cases at a mine in the Waterberg district.

The department said the mine at Lephalale has recorded 57 cases in four days with 18 new cases on Wednesday, which is a cause for concern.

Unvaccinated miners are a definite factor in the cluster outbreak, she said.

“It is a worrying factor that the majority of those who tested positive and symptomatic are those who are not vaccinated. This is despite our efforts and that of the mine to offer all workers vaccines at their workplace.

November 25 2021 - 07:00

Will I get a shopping voucher if I get vaccinated?

Citizens aged 50 and above who take the vaccine are rewarded with a R100 grocery voucher after receiving their jab.

The Vooma vaccination voucher initiative was introduced by the health department this month to ensure that as many people aged 50 and older get vaccinated ahead of the fourth Covid-19 wave. 

November 25 2021 - 06:20

How to beat the pandemic? Collaborate fairly and do it now

Almost two years in, and the Covid inferno still burns. Several countries are witnessing a fifth wave of high transmission. Others are recording their highest daily case numbers since the pandemic began. Low- and middle-income countries — where vaccination rates are often very low — are seeing substantial numbers of deaths.

The trends are seen both in nations with adequate doses of vaccine and in those with tight supplies. Many of the latter are in Africa, where more than 97% of the population still hasn’t been immunised. These countries cannot get the vaccine they need because supply commitments from manufacturers are not coming through as planned. They can get vaccines to their people but simply do not have enough doses to meet the need.

November 25 2021 - 06:15

SIU guns for ‘inflated’ profits of Gauteng Covid school cleaning firms

Tribunal hears how a range of companies not on database for cleaning and sanitation benefited from bloated contracts

November 25 2021 - 06:00

TOM EATON | Facing vaxx: Covid numbers don’t lie — vaccines save lives

As the fourth wave approaches there are 16.8-million doses of the vaccine here in SA just waiting to save lives