29 May 23:23
South Africa now has 29 240 coronavirus cases after a spike of 1 837 infections were recorded in the last 24 hours.
There are 34 new deaths, bringing the total fatalities to 611.
Have a look at some of our top stories:
British American Tobacco in new urgent court bid to undo cigarette ban
British American Tobacco South Africa will recommence with urgent legal proceedings to challenge the government’s decision to extend the ban on tobacco sales during Level 3 of the nationwide lockdown.
The state says the ban is needed to safeguard public health, as evidence suggests cigarette smokers are more likely to
develop severe Covid-19 symptoms than non-smokers.
Here are the rules and dates for grades going back to school
The Department of Education has released rules and guidelines as the country gears up to open schools from Monday, beginning with grades 7 and 12, but if you do not want your child to attend you must apply for an exemption and home schooling.
According to the guidelines gazetted on Friday, there will be strict screening for Covid-19 at schools, and parents and guardians should start thinking of a Plan B for transport if their child is found to have one of the symptoms during the screening.
Alcohol ban resulted in 18 000 job losses in wine industry – Vinpro
Although liquor sales are allowed from 1 June, the two-month ban on the sale of alcohol, combined with a ban on exports, has had a devastating impact on the wine industry.
According to figures released by Vinpro on Thursday, about 80 wineries and 350 producers have gone out of business, and 18 000 workers have lost their jobs, GroundUp reported.
To open or not? Some places of worship stick with praying at home
Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and other recognised places of worship will be not be allowed to have more than 50 congregants, and services will only be permitted to run for two hours.
Trump says US is to cut ties with WHO
President Donald Trump said on Friday he was breaking off US ties with the World Health Organisation, which he says failed to do enough to combat the initial spread of the novel coronavirus.
Trump had already suspended funding to the UN agency, accusing it of being a “puppet” of China as the global health crisis erupted.
29 May 22:35
Mkhize said Level 3 isn’t because the threat of Covid has passed, but because there are other considerations now. He stresses that the situation is serious and it is up to us now to fight against society @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 22:32
The WHO has been invaluable says Abdool Karim.
“We are heavily dependent on the WHO,” he says.
29 May 22:16
Prof Karim explains why don’t test for each negative for recoveries: says if remain without symptoms after 14 days, considered to be recovered, so no need for a negative test to define recovery. @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 22:00
Health Minister @DrZweliMkhize clarifies: no “out-of-control” areas have been identified yet; it will happen when health experts and scientists visit hotspots (in metros and some WC district municipalities) and find areas that qualifies as this. @TeamNews24
— Adriaan Basson (@AdriaanBasson) May 29, 2020
29 May 21:41
South Africa now has 29 240 coronavirus cases after a spike of 1 837.
There are 34 new deaths bringing the total to 611.
29 May 21:20
CEO of National Health Products Regulatory Authority Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela says they have sped up the validation and registration of serological test processes. Asks that if u r asked for info, please answer quickly. Trying to support local. @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 21:19
South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has approved 23 PCR tests and 20 serological tests.
These have been recommended to be validated through the NHLS.
One serological point of care test has been authorised for secondary validation to ensure there are no problems with the test.
There have been cases when countries had to recall tests because it gave false results.
By sending the test for a secondary validation, that situation will be avoided, says Dr Tumi of SAHPRA.
29 May 21:19
South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has approved 23 PCR tests and 20 serological tests.
These have been recommended to be validated through the NHLS.
One serological point of care test has been authorised for secondary validation to ensure there are no problems with the test.
There have been cases when countries had to recall tests because it gave false results.
By sending the test for a secondary validation, that situation will be avoided, says Dr Tumi of SAHPRA.
29 May 21:13
Suppliers are being diversified so that if one supplier doesn’t have equipment, another can be approached.
29 May 21:09
The Western Cape has also been prioritised for new equipment.
29 May 21:07
NHLS has also bought these machines to assist with processing the huge number of Covid19 specimens, and sorting out the backlog. She adds that they are also diversifying suppliers @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/axDMgQ31o3
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 21:06
Chetty said manuel extraction and heat activation also being used when have shortages for testing (this will make sense to sciency people), and working with private labs for extra capacity. Agric Minister Didiza organised extra equipment for field work @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 21:04
Chetty says the Western Cape is getting new equipment for Covid19 testing and is getting extra test kits, plus extra extractors, and other machines that the laboratories need to cope with the added numbers of tests. Greenpoint lab is a high through put lab now @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 21:03
Dr Chetty says the biggest backlog lies with community screening and testing. @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 20:59
29 May 20:58
29 May 20:55
Tests by the NHLS for Covid19 is a complex process explains Dr Chetty. RNA extraction done by machines, then the DNA is amplified. She names extractors, and the technicalities, but basically there are not high throughput machines @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/MoXq9Q5qHi
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 20:55
Test kit suppliers divide test kits by number of countries on the continent, when deciding how to allocate what is available @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 20:54
Chetty says customs delays, closure of test kit companies due to staff testing with Covid19, flight problems globally, FDA only approved a particular test kit in March, and there was a production issue: hence delays in tests @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 20:54
Karim says we may see Covid numbers rise and seeding from Western Cape to Eastern Cape. The Western Cape is simply an early indication of what we may see in the rest of the country, he notes. Focusing on hotsports, and “preventing raging fires” @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
The first week
29 May 20:52
We expect the numbers to rise says Karim. We are expecting outbreaks, the Western Cape is an early indication of what we may see in the rest of the country.
29 May 20:49
South Africa’s curve has been flattened. South Africa is the least severe but if we don’t ensure that we use “prevention toolbox” the line could rise.
South Africa has averted the exponential curve and flattened it.
Flattening the curve is not a single event says Abdool Karim.
29 May 20:44
Karim says we may see Covid numbers rise and seeding from Western Cape to Eastern Cape. The Western Cape is simply an early indication of what we may see in the rest of the country, he notes. Focusing on hotsports, and “preventing raging fires” @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 20:43
Now at stage 5 where identifying hotspots. There must be surveillance, test, intervene and understand why the virus is spreading and “turn off the tap” and contain the spread.
29 May 20:43
Now at stage 5 where identifying hotspots. There must be surveillance, test, intervene and understand why the virus is spreading and “turn off the tap” and contain the spread.
29 May 20:41
The Western Cape was able to identify hotspots and has developed a hotspot strategy.
29 May 20:41
The Western Cape was able to identify hotspots and has developed a hotspot strategy.
29 May 20:40
Karim is talking about outbreaks in retail stores in hotspots, eg in the Western Cape. Customers/staff infections. He says the Western Cape located the hotspots and thinks there were “super spreader” events in the province. @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 20:39
Karim: The Westsern Cape is doubling every nine days. When it gets into full swing the doubling time is four to five days. Gauteng doubling time is 24 days @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 20:38
The Western Cape accounts for two thirds of cases.
29 May 20:37
The overall level of positive testing is low, excluding the Western Cape, says Abdool Karim.
In the Western Cape the number of tests have been going up and the propertion of tests that are positive is also increasing.
29 May 20:36
The overall level of positive testing is low, excluding the Western Cape, says Abdool Karim.
In the Western Cape the number of tests have been going up and the propertion of tests that are positive is also increasing.
29 May 20:36
The overall level of positive testing is low, excluding the Western Cape, says Abdool Karim.
In the Western Cape the number of tests have been going up and the proportion of tests that are positive is also increasing.
29 May 20:31
Testing prioritised to healthcare workers, hospital patients and outbreaks says Abdool Karim.
29 May 20:29
South Africa has made good progress with scaling up testing says Abdool Karim.
“We are having a real problem,” in obtaining test kits.
29 May 20:28
Prof Karim slams “human tunnels” for disinfection and coronavirus prevention. He says the spraying does not help and the human spraying is harmful with almost no benefit . The key things is spray your hands with a hand sanitiser. @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 20:27
Spraying of humans is dangerous and can potentially damage the eyes, cause rashes and there are no benefits for prevention.
29 May 20:25
From patient 0 to the time of the lockdown the virus was doubling every two days.
But since the lockdown the doubling time diminished from two to 15 days, roughly two weeks.
Doubling time is now at 12 days.
29 May 20:22
Most countries have chosen to go with a lockdown to ease the spread of the coronavirus.
29 May 20:19
It’s very difficult to stop the virus says Karim.
The first few days that a person is infected and hasn’t shown symptomsis already infecting others.
Between 20 and 50% of cases are mild.
29 May 20:17
RECAP | Health Minister Zweli Mkhize explained that the entire country will be scaled down to Level 3. However, a differentiated approach will come into effect. The approach is based on 3 categories, which is linked to the risk of transmission. These are low areas, hotspots and out of control areas.
29 May 20:16
Prof Karim says South Africa started to try and flatten the Covid curve very early to slow community transmissions; to get time to expand ICU and high level care (includes CTICC field hospital); to have time to equip hospitals with PPE etc; to scale up testing @TeamNews24
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) May 29, 2020
29 May 20:14
Flattening the curve will help reduce the number of patients being admitted to hospital.
29 May 20:14
Professor Abdool Salim Karim says in the absence of a vaccine, almost everyone is at risk of infection.
