Covid-19

All the news about the coronavirus pandemic in SA and abroad

23 February 2022 - 07:55
By TimesLIVE
Image: Nolo Moima

CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 IN SA: 3,662,032 ; DEATHS: 98,868

YOUR COVID-19 QUESTIONS ANSWERED | Are people on immunosuppressive drugs ...

Research has found those who take immunosuppressive drugs do not fare worse than others, on average, when hospitalised ...

Kyle Zeeman
Digital Editor

Queen cancels virtual meeting as mild Covid-19 symptoms persist

Queen Elizabeth will miss a planned virtual engagement on Tuesday because she is still experiencing mild cold-like ...

By Michael Holden

YOUR COVID-19 QUESTIONS ANSWERED | I received the Pfizer jab, can I get a ...

People who are vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine can from this week get either a Pfizer or J&J booster shot.

Vaccine mandates: it’s not all about you, ...

Rhodes says anti-vax group’s rights cannot trump those of majority, with Covid expert backing the institution

Prega Govender
Journalist

No, South Africans did not take 'the wrong vaccine'! — Government ...

If you see a social media post saying South Africans took the wrong vaccine, press the block button.

Kyle Zeeman
Digital Editor

Gauteng records big chunk of new Covid-19 infections

Gauteng recorded 40% of the new cases of Covid-19 reported by the NICD on Monday evening, followed by the North West ...

By TimesLIVE

Surgery catch-up hamstrung by shortage of ICU nurses

Hospitals in SA have been put under immense strain over the past two years as beds were filled with Covid-19 patients ...

By Tiyese Jeranji

‘We’d rather be unemployed than abide by vaccine mandate’

Vaccine hesitancy among German healthcare workers is causing concern about further staff shortages

By Riham Alkousaa

UK’s Boris Johnson ends Covid-19 rules in England ...

Boris Johnson confirmed coronavirus rules will end in England, a significant boost to the UK prime minister as he ...

By Joe Mayes and Kitty Donaldson

Majority of Japanese unhappy with progress of booster shots - survey

A vast majority of Japanese think the rollout of booster shots against Covid-19 is too slow and give mixed reviews to ...

By Reuters

Covid-19 vaccination rules changed: Here's how

SA's health department is changing the Covid-19 vaccination rules to try to increase uptake as inoculations have ...

By Alexander Winning

Covid-19 fight almost over, time to rebuild economy: David Makhura

Gauteng premier David Makhura says the sense of emergency afforded to Covid-19 in the past two years must be replicated ...

Mawande AmaShabalala
Political journalist

Hong Kong seniors who refused vaccines are ‘ticking time bomb’

Deaths in Hong Kong’s worst ever Covid-19 outbreak are forecast to spiral, with experts predicting a wave of fatalities ...

By Bruce Einhorn

African nations seeking Egypt’s locally made ...

Egypt is readying to export locally made Covid-19 vaccines to African nations, looking to position itself as a hub for ...

By Abdel Latif Wahba

YOUR COVID-19 QUESTIONS ANSWERED | I received the Pfizer jab, can I get a ...

People who are vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine can from this week get either a Pfizer or J&J booster shot.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II tests positive for mild Covid-19

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s 95-year-old monarch, has tested positive for Covid-19 and has mild symptoms, her office at ...

By Andrew Davis and Kitty Donaldson

Surgery catch-up hamstrung by shortage of ICU nurses

Hospitals in SA have been put under immense strain over the past two years as beds were filled with Covid-19 patients ...

By Tiyese Jeranji

Majority of Japanese unhappy with progress of booster shots - survey

A vast majority of Japanese think the rollout of booster shots against Covid-19 is too slow and give mixed reviews to ...

By Reuters

Sahpra gives green light to Covid-19 pill ...

The pills don't replace vaccines but are an addition to the world's medicine treatment to help manage the coronavirus.

SA first among African countries to get mRNA vaccine technology in WHO ...

The World Health Organisation said SA, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia would be the first on the ...

By Reuters

Global Covid-19 war brews as vaccine giants accused of putting profits ...

Conflict comes as SA scientists claim government has given up on vaccine rollout.

By Tanya Farber and Claire Keeton

WHO says six African countries will get mRNA tech transfer with SA as hub

The World Health Organisation on Friday announced the first six African countries to be part of the "hub and spoke" ...

By TANYA FARBER

Covid drug molnupiravir gets interim approval as ...

SAHPRA is allowing emergency use of the oral antiviral and has started a rolling review of the product

By TImesLIVE

Moderna patent application raises fears for Africa Covid-19 vaccine hub

Moderna Inc has applied for patents in SA relating to its Covid-19 vaccine, prompting fears the company could ...

By Francesco Guarascio and Wendell Roelf and Julie Steenhuysen

This is where Africa is at with Covid-19 vaccinations, and it’s not good

Only 12% of people are fully vaxxed, with some countries administering less than five shots per 100 people

By Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala and Fred Ojambo

ANALYSIS | Why some South Africans who are willing to be vaccinated still ...

Why have Covid vaccination rates consistently lagged reported figures of vaccine acceptance?

By Carin Runciman, Benjamin Roberts and Narnia Bohler-Muller

Long after the Covid war is won, survivors battle with mental health

Study indicates after-effects of the virus could be far worse than initially feared, and may last a lifetime

By Jason Gale

SA’s excess death rate during Covid-19 pandemic ...

Excess deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic account for one in 200 South Africans overall and one in 25 over-60s, ...

By Dave Chambers

State of disaster has been extended until March 15 — here’s why

Health minister Joe Phaahla said the pandemic was far from over.

YOUR COVID QUESTIONS ANSWERED: I want to get vaccinated but scared of ...

Myocarditis is a rare inflammation of the heart muscle, usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Pericarditis ...

What SA has learnt about Covid-19 and what the next steps could be

It’s in our hands - It’s not a matter of chance; it’s a matter of choice, writes Veronica Ueckermann from the ...

By Veronica Ueckermann

Experts to study effects of Covid-19 variants, shots on pregnant women, ...

The effects of Covid-19 in pregnancy have been underestimated and insufficiently studied, say Oxford University ...

By Pushkala Aripaka

PCR test ‘biggest inhibitor’ for foreign visitors ...

SA must remove the negative PCR test requirement for fully vaccinated incoming travellers to stimulate tourism demand, ...

Suthentira Govender
Senior reporter

Boost for service delivery as Joburg Roads Agency staff return to work

Johannesburg Roads Agency depot workers have been instructed to return to work full-time from Wednesday after the ...

By TimesLIVE

YOUR COVID-19 QUESTIONS ANSWERED | Regulations have been eased, how can I ...

The NICD says observing non-pharmaceutical measures can help minimise or prevent infection.

YOUR COVID-19 QUESTIONS ANSWERED | Can I get Covid-19 from swimming in a ...

The World Health Organization says there is little chance of you getting Covid-19 from swimming in a public pool ...

Kyle Zeeman
Digital Editor

State of disaster has been extended until March 15 — here’s why

Health minister Joe Phaahla said the pandemic was far from over.

Winde pins hopes on infrastructure and mobility ...

Western Cape premier Alan Winde is targeting new infrastructure and mobility in his drive to create jobs.

By TIMESLIVE

SA records 1,094 new Covid-19 cases in the past day

SA recorded just shy of 1,100 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases ...

By TimesLIVE

Man sets unenviable Covid-19 record by testing positive for 14 straight ...

Fourteen months and 78 straight positive tests later, he is still alive - and still battling to shake off Covid-19.

By Yesim Dikmen

Uncoupling of cases and deaths suggests end to Covid emergency phase

Effective vaccines and milder variants are improving survival rates dramatically in 2022, say experts

By Tom Randall

What to expect as the world plays catch-up with ever-mutating Covid

While the outlook isn’t all gloom, scientists agree it’s too soon to assume the situation is under control

By Michelle Cortez

YOUR COVID-19 QUESTIONS ANSWERED | How can I get ...

International travellers are urged to download their vaccination certificates on the department of health website and ...

South Korea to start giving fourth doses of Covid-19 vaccine by month-end

South Korea will begin giving out fourth doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of February and supply millions of ...

By Reuters

Covid-hit crèches waiting for promised funding

Many nursery schools have been unable to reopen after forced lockdown closures and staff retrenchments. They say the ...

By Zandile Bangani

Taiwan says needs to reopen, to look at easing Covid-19 quarantine rules

Taiwan will look at easing it strict Covid-19 quarantine policy as it needs to gradually resume normal life and re-open ...

By Reuters

Just 3% of white collar workers want a full office return

“Workers have seen that flexibility can work and bosses who are not sensitive to their employees’ needs will suffer ...

By William Shaw

Nearly 300,000 dead from Covid-19 in SA — and the ...

Scientists warn that while the Omicron variant of Covid is milder for most, it can still kill and is adding daily to ...

Tanya Farber
Senior science reporter

State of disaster may soon be lifted, but don't put away your masks just ...

Even when the Covid state of disaster is lifted, South Africans will still have to  wear masks, sanitise, ...

Amanda Khoza
Presidency reporter

Black Sash wants government to increase R350 Covid-19 grant to R624

Black Sash has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to extend the R350 social relief of distress grant ...

Gauteng records more than 1,000 of SA's 2,800 new Covid-19 cases: NICD

SA recorded 2,862 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 days, taking the total number of people to have been infected to ...

By TimesLIVE

Ramaphosa meets head of WHO for talks on Africa's bid to combat Covid-19

President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed World Health Organisation director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus to his official ...

Tanya Farber
Senior science reporter

DA’s proposal to extend school day by an hour met with cold reception from ...

The DA’s proposal to extend school days by an hour has met with a cold reception from the basic education department.

Special Tribunal orders Covid school cleaning companies to pay back ...

The cost of the services ballooned from an estimated R6.1m to R431m spent.

Ernest Mabuza
Journalist

Hong Kong food supply at risk again as more drivers get Covid-19

More truck drivers responsible for transporting food supplies into Hong Kong have tested positive for coronavirus at ...

By Shirley Zhao

YOUR COVID-19 QUESTIONS ANSWERED | Alcohol is ...

The World Health Organization says alcohol-based sanitisers can be used in religions where alcohol is prohibited

Kyle Zeeman
Digital Editor

SA’s business mood ticks up after Covid-19 curbs eased

An index measuring South African business sentiment rose to a three-month high in January after coronavirus ...

By Prinesha Naidoo

Hong Kong vaccine rates spike as outbreak shatters Covid-19-free dreams

Vaccination rates are rising sharply among the elderly in Hong Kong, lifting from a relatively low base as an ...

By Jessie Pang

YOUR COVID-19 QUESTIONS ANSWERED | Can thermal scanners pick up Covid-19?

Thermal scanners are effective in detecting people who have a fever but cannot detect those who are infected with ...

Kyle Zeeman
Digital Editor

OPINION | Covid-19 infection of three lions and a puma in private SA zoo ...

Any hope of eradicating the virus with vaccines and antivirals will need to take into account that there are likely ...

By Adriano Mendes, Amy Strydom, Katja Koeppel and Marietjie Venter

Fedhasa urges Ramaphosa to end state of disaster ...

Removing the national state of disaster is at the top of the Federated Hospitality Association of SA's wish list as ...

Suthentira Govender
Senior reporter

YOUR COVID-19 QUESTIONS ANSWERED | What are the two new Covid-19 vaccines ...

Sahpra has announced the authorisation of Pfizer’s Comirnaty vaccine and the Covid-19 vaccine MC Pharma, also known as ...

Provinces scramble for mobile classrooms as rotational teaching ends

With pupils back at school full-time there is a sense of ‘euphoria’, but some institutions are battling with space

Prega Govender
Journalist

PAUL MILLER | How the medical industry is innovating to give life-saving ...

It’s not new, but gamification is one of the most effective ways to increase health literacy and now it’s going digital

By Paul Miller

MICHAEL SACHS | Income support is fated, but making it work will take ...

The state will have to be bold to enact a system that has the wealthy, employed and unionised subsidising the poor

By Michael Sachs

Covid-19: 1,228 new cases and 186 deaths in SA in ...

SA recorded 1,228 new Covid-19 cases and 186 deaths in the past 24 hours, the National Institute for Communicable ...

By TimesLIVE

Current and former cops among 15 arrested over PPE procurement

Fifteen people have been arrested in connection with corruption at the SA Police Service for the acquisition of ...

Ernest Mabuza
Journalist

After two years of closed borders, Australia welcomes the world back

Australia said on Monday it will reopen its borders to vaccinated travellers this month, ending two years of misery for ...

By Renju Jose and Jamie Freed

As China wants no Covid trouble, Olympians toil within a bubble

In line with its Covid-zero policy, the country has confined those involved in the Games to a city within a city

By Bloomberg News

New jab on the vaccine block: Sinopharm registered by Sahpra

South Africans have become familiar with the Pfizer-BioNTech (known as the Comirnaty vaccine) and Johnson & Johnson ...

Tanya Farber
Senior science reporter

Hong Kong's zero-Covid-19 strategy under pressure ...

Hong Kong is expected to report a record of around 610 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, broadcaster TVB reported, in the ...

By Joyce Zhou and Farah Master

After two years of closed borders, Australia welcomes the world back

Australia said on Monday it will reopen its borders to vaccinated travellers this month, ending two years of misery for ...

By Renju Jose and Jamie Freed

YOUR COVID-19 QUESTIONS ANSWERED | I’m unvaccinated and exposed to ...

The revised quarantine and isolation guidelines apply to both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

Funding, remote learning among challenges faced by higher education for ...

Higher education and training minister Blade Nzimande says the sector has faced unprecedented challenges in the past ...

Watch out, world: if Canada can rise up against Covid curbs, anywhere can

Science or not, if the truckers’ protest there is any guide, countries will face growing pressure to remove restrictions

By Derek Decloet and Brian Platt

SA parties like it's 2019 as crowds, traffic jams ...

The suspension of the president's family meetings is just one sign the pandemic's grip might be loosening.

By TANYA FARBER, AMANDA KHOZA, ORRIN SINGH and LEONIE WAGNER

India reports over 500,000 deaths from Covid-19, experts count millions ...

India's death toll from Covid-19 crossed 500,000 on Friday, a level many health experts say was breached last year but ...

By Neha Arora and Sumit Khanna

RECORDED | Health minister gives update on fight against Covid-19

Health minister Joe Phaahla will give an update on the fight against Covid-19 this morning.

By TimesLIVE

In world first, SA's Afrigen makes mRNA Covid-19 vaccine using Moderna data

It is the first mRNA vaccine designed, developed and produced at lab scale on the African continent.

By Wendell Roelf

YOUR COVID-19 QUESTIONS ANSWERED | Could my shoes be spreading the ...

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the likelihood of Covid-19 being spread on shoes and infecting ...

Kyle Zeeman
Digital Editor

Read more at the SA government's online coronavirus portal or use the 24-hour public hotline: 0800 029 999

COVID-19: WHAT IS IT
Image: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control COVID-19: WHAT IS IT

RECORDED | Ramaphosa addresses the nation

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 8pm on Sunday night, the presidency has confirmed.

By TimesLIVE

Open up takeaway alcohol sales, liquor body asks Ramaphosa ahead of ...

The Liquor Traders Association has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa, asking him to lift some of the restrictions, ...

By TimesLIVE

Tokyo 2020 CEO says Tokyo Olympics will create model for pandemic Games

The Tokyo Olympics will provide a model for hosting the Games during a pandemic after rising Covid-19 infections forced ...

By Reuters

'The govt has blood on its hands': State blamed for 'ineptitude' on ...

The government's "total ineptitude" has come under fire from one of SA's most eminent vaccine and infectious diseases ...

By TANYA FARBER, CLAIRE KEETON and GRAEME HOSKEN

More of level 4 expected as experts predict 'case rates will overwhelm ...

Record Covid-19 infections driven by the rampant Delta variant mean the level 4 lockdown is likely to be extended when ...

By CLAIRE KEETON, PREGA GOVENDER and TANYA FARBER