Category: COVID-19 Corona Virus

Police Minister General Bheki Cele has saluted police officers who continue to put their lives on the line each day as the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cele tipped his hat for the men and women in blue as the country celebrated National Police Day on Wednesday. “Each year on January 27th, the South African Police Service pauses and remembers the sacrifices that the country’s officers have made in their quest for a safer South Africa,” he said.

This year’s event was marred by a global pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives around the country and hundreds within the police service.

Since March last year, COVID-19 has so far infected 26 382 officers, with 501 succumbing to related illnesses. Over 22 000 have recovered and are back to their posts.

Cele said while the message of “Stay At Home” was preached to fight the invisible enemy, police officers continue to go out there and confront this virus head-on when enforcing the law.

“Indeed it is a dark time for all of us in the SAPS as the pandemic continues to rob us of the opportunity to unite in our collective grief and give our fallen colleagues a befitting police send-off. However, as your Minister, I’m calling on you all to unite in solidarity with the fallen members and continue to improve the service you provide to those who need it,” he said.

The Minister also sent heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the members who have succumbed and wished a speedy recovery to those who are in hospital.

He said he remained encouraged that the impact of the virus has not slowed down the prevention, combating and investigation of crime.

“While you unite your efforts in ensuring maximum adherence to the lockdown regulations, don’t lose sight of the enemy of crime, continue to work closely with community members to squeeze out criminality in whatever shape or form,” said Cele.

National Police Commissioner, General Khehla John Sitole, has urged South African communities to intensify its support to the SAPS in its efforts to root out corruption, combat crime and flatten the curve.

Sitole used the day to make this call and highlight the importance of community participation in the fight against crime.

“Police officers across the country continue to ensure that the people of South Africa are and feel safe despite our organisation having lost over 500 members to the COVID-19 virus and thousands of our members infected since this outbreak hit our shores,” said General Sitole.

“While the greater majority of the people of the country stand in unity with the police against crime and this pandemic there are still many people who continue to put people in harm’s way with approximately 13 000 people being charged for simply not wearing a mask.”

South Africa has recorded a further 753 deaths due to complications related to the Coronavirus, which takes the death toll to 42 550 since the outbreak.

KwaZulu-Natal reported the highest number of recent fatalities at 261. The province is followed by Limpopo, which recorded 219 patients who died due to COVID-19.

However, according to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the province’s spike in deaths is due to its continued audits of fatalities in hospitals and updating the statistics.

The Minister said 102 people died in the Western Cape, 75 in Gauteng, 50 in the North West, 17 in Free State, 16 in Mpumalanga, seven in the Northern Cape and six in the Eastern Cape.

Meanwhile, South Africa logged 7 070 new COVID-19 cases, which represents a 14% positivity rate.

According to Mkhize, this brings the total number of infections to 1 430 648 since the last case was reported in March last year.

In addition, 49 065 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, which pushes the overall figure to over 8 million.

“Our recoveries now stand at 1 263 476, representing a recovery rate of 88.3%.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 99 864 391 confirmed global cases of COVID-19, including 2 149 700 deaths.

Global view

The WHO said 4.1 million new cases were reported in the past week, a decline of 15% from the previous week and the second week of decline after global case incidence peaked in the first week of January 2021.

“This downward trend is largely attributed to relative reductions in case incidence in several countries that have contributed the highest numbers in recent months, but hides continued upward trends in other countries in the same regions.”

Meanwhile, the agency said the ongoing and prolonged high rates of new infections continues to strain health systems in many countries around the world.

“All regions reported a decline in new cases except the Western Pacific region which reported a similar incidence to last week.”

In addition, the largest decrease in new cases was reported in the European region by 20% followed by the African region, which went down by 16%.

“The Americas and Europe reported 86% of all new cases globally in the past week,” WHO said, adding that around 96 000 deaths have been reported.

“The Americas and Eastern Mediterranean region reported an increase in new deaths by 4% and 3% respectively, whereas Europe, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions showed a decrease in new deaths compared to last week.”

The WHO said no change in new deaths was seen in Africa.

In the past week, the five countries reporting the highest number of new cases continue to be the United States (1 259 902 cases, 20% decrease), Brazil (360 428 cases, 5% decrease), the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (260 098 cases, 24% decrease), Russia (151 191 cases, 9% decrease) and France (138 288 cases, 10% increase).

Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has confirmed the long-awaited news that the first consignment of one million COVID-19 vaccines is expected to land on South African shores on Monday.

The first batch is scheduled to leave India on Sunday, 31 January, and arrive at OR Tambo International Airport on 1 February 2021.

The Minister broke the news during a public health webinar on COVID-19 vaccine inoculation on Wednesday evening.

“After the arrival of the vaccine, they will undergo technical processes of quarantine, which is specified in the law, quality assurance [which will look at] how many vials are there, how many are broken and need to be returned and all of those issues,” Mkhize explained.

The Minister said the process was necessary for the safe distribution of the vaccine, which will take up to 14 days before the vaccination of healthcare workers can begin in all the provinces.

Mkhize remarked that the national vaccination campaign is a government-led initiative supported by other sectors such as civil society, trade unions and the private sector.

These players have supported the government’s framework to achieve their goal of “herd immunity” by the end of the year, the Minister said.

He thanked Finance Minister Tito Mboweni and his officials, especially the Procurement Officer, for making sure the country attains the lifesaving jabs.

“They ensured that there are no undue delays and granted us the necessary deviations that we’ve requested and committed to financing additional orders.

“Just this afternoon, Treasury met with the Department of Health and business, this multi-sectoral collaboration has borne the fruit we need to fuel our ambitious programme.”

Regulations

Mkhize also announced that the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has already granted the department authorisation to supply AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII).

In addition, the Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister signed regulations to waive the 30-day consultation period needed to participate in activities relating to Genetically Modified Organisms in South Africa.

“We needed to adhere to for the importation of organic goods derived from genetic modification,” Mkhize explained.

With the regulatory obstacles out of the way, the Minister believes that government is now ready to move ahead with the mass inoculation campaign.

The Minister said the media will be allowed to document this important event, even though it will be restricted due to COVID-19 regulations.

He also applauded the fearless “compatriots” who participated in vaccine trials.

“Let us not forget these heroes who defied all anxieties and chose to be of service for a greater cause. It’s only through human trials we can truly establish the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and they were those humans.”

Types of vaccines

Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 Vaccines Chair, Professor Barry Schoub, said there are close to 300 prototype vaccines being developed in different kinds of ways to make COVID-19 shots.

Meanwhile, about six of these are commonly used, namely AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sinopharm and Sputnik V.

The Deputy Director-General (DDG) for Health, Dr Anban Pillay, said South Africa is looking at securing as many vaccines as is possible.

According to the DDG, the AstraZeneca vaccine, is a two-dose liquid vaccine with an efficacy rate that ranges from 62% to 90%.

The dose interval is between four to 12 weeks and administered in the deltoid muscle with a needle and syringe.

Its side effects include largely tenderness to the injection site, headaches, fatigue, myalgia, malaise, pyrexia, chills, arthralgia and nausea.

“These usually last for a few days. Most  vaccines probably have a similar effect in terms of the immune response and just to emphasise, these are very mild symptoms,” Pillay added.

Meanwhile, Pfizer-BioNTech is 95% effective, requires two shots and is administered the same way as the AstraZeneca.

“The challenge with it is that it’s stored at minus 70 degrees, at the vaccination site it can be kept at between two to eight degrees for 120 hours and the side effects are similar to the AstraZeneca vaccine.”

In addition, the Moderna’s efficacy is about 94.5%, which is a two-dose vaccine and can be kept in the freezer for storage.

Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine is still awaiting interim data from its phase three trial, while the Chinese’s Sinopharm is still not distributed in South Africa.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says poor countries desperately need COVID-19 vaccines as much as other nations that have already started vaccinating their citizens.

“We are all not safe if some countries are vaccinating their people and some countries are not vaccinating,” said President Ramaphosa on Tuesday.

The President did not hold back as he raised concerns about vaccine nationalism during a virtual State of the World Address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos Dialogues.

“The rich countries of the world went out and acquired large doses of vaccines from developers and manufacturers, and some countries have even gone beyond and acquired four times what their population needs,” he said.

According to the President, this was done to the exclusion of countries in the world that also need the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine.

The Statesman has applauded efforts by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to set up the COVAX facility to agglomerate all acquisition processes, so that there can be equity in the distribution of and access to vaccines.

“Now, rich countries in the world are holding onto these vaccines. So, we’re saying, release the excess vaccines that you’ve ordered and hoarded.

“There’s just no need for a country, which perhaps has 40 million people, to acquire 120 million doses or even 160 million, yet the world needs access to those vaccines,” the President said.

In realising how the world’s richest countries are behaving, President Ramaphosa said the AU member States set up the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT).

According to the President, the move has been “marginally successful”, securing a provisional 270 million doses for African countries directly through vaccine manufacturers.

This is in addition to the 600 million doses that are expected from the COVAX initiative.

“But we need those who have hoarded the vaccines to release the vaccines so that other countries can have them,” said the President.

However, African countries need financial assistance.

“We’re not saying just give them away, but we’re also saying… do make them available so that those countries who don’t have access right now can have [vaccines].

“We must all act together in combating Coronavirus because it affects us all equally. Therefore, our remedies and actions to combat it must also be equal and overarching for all of us, and not be something that special or certain countries have on their own to the exclusion of others,” the President said.

South Africa, he said, has not been spared, with the pandemic taking a heavy toll on the nation.

“With the greatest burden of disease on the continent, South Africa has recorded around 1.4 million COVID-19 cases, and more than 40 000 people have lost their lives.”

Economic recovery

President Ramaphosa said the current economic downturn follows a decade of weak economic growth, which adds complexity and difficulty to South Africa’s economic recovery path.

“Over the course of nine months, and with the support of our social partners, the South African government rolled out a comprehensive set of measures to limit the social and economic impact of the pandemic.”

These measures include expanded social protection, a temporary increase in monthly social grants, a monthly special R350 grant that reached six million unemployed people, and other measures aimed at businesses.

“While these relief measures have proved vital in keeping many businesses afloat, saving many jobs and keeping millions of South Africans above the poverty line, our attention has now shifted to rebuilding our economy and restoring employment,” the President said.

The focus has now shifted to the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan to boost confidence, restart the economy and drive urgent reforms.

This is aimed at promoting employment and faster growth that is more inclusive.

The key priorities include a massive infrastructure build programme; expanding energy generation capacity; creating additional jobs; supporting livelihoods through an employment stimulus, and driving export-oriented industrial development.

In addition, South Africa aims to grow local manufacturing and production, and make South African exports much more competitive.

“Over the last three years, we have mobilised R774 billion, which is around US$51 billion, in new investment commitments,” the President said.

He said the interventions will enable South Africa to better realise the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which became operational on 1 January 2021.

“The free trade area will foster integration, increase trade and accelerate the build-up of productive capabilities and infrastructure in Africa to meet growing demand.”

President Ramaphosa believes that the country will benefit from greater exports to the continent, and domestic sectors such as steel, automotive production, mining and manufactured products are set to benefit, materially boosting economic growth.

The City of Ekurhuleni says its environmental health practitioners (EHP) continue to monitor funeral undertakers and mortuary premises amidst the ongoing fight against COVID-19.

EHPs are the first line of defence, through education and inspections, to protect residents against pandemics and ill health.

Member of Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Services, Nomadlozi Nkosi, said the EHPs are working tirelessly to inspect mortuaries and funeral undertaker premises to ensure the processes of preparation, storage and preservation of human remains are conducted in line with the regulations related to the management of human remains.

“The City of Ekurhuleni issues a Certificate of Competence (CoC) in terms of regulations relating to human remains, which guide funeral homes on how to handle human remains. The CoC can only be issued after an inspection is done by an environmental health practitioner and if the premises comply with all regulations,” Nkosi said.

Nkosi said the city’s EHPs monitor all funeral gatherings to ensure compliance with all health protocols under the COVID-19 level 3 regulations.

“The role of the EHP, in relation to compliance by undertakers, is to ensure the management and employees of undertakers receive training to handle COVID-19 mortal remains, in line with directions issued in terms of COVID-19 regulations.

“Healthcare practitioners also visit the families of the deceased to provide education on the necessary health protocols. This is to ensure all COVID-19 health and safety protocols are adhered to during the funeral proceedings,” Nkosi said.

South Africa’s COVID-19 deaths have passed 41 000 as the country works around the clock to contain the further spread of the virus.

This comes after 243 more COVID-19 related deaths were reported on Monday, which brings the tally to 41 117.

Of the latest fatalities, 65 are in the Eastern Cape, 60 in KwaZulu-Natal, 57 in the Western Cape, 33 in Gauteng, 18 in Free State and five each in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape.

“We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who treated the deceased patients,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize.

Meanwhile, the country has recorded a total of 1 417 537 Coronavirus cases, of which 4 551 were identified in the last 24 hours.

The recovery rate now stands at 87.6% after 1 241 421 patients recuperated from the respiratory disease.

The data is based on the 8 019 239 tests with 26 113 conducted since the last report.

Globally, there have been 98 794 942 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 2 124 193 deaths, reported to the World Health Organisation.

With South Africa gearing to receive its first consignment of COVID-19 vaccines, President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that government’s mass vaccination campaign strategy would reach all corners of the country, prioritising those most in need.

The President emphasised the commitment in the latest edition of his weekly newsletter on Monday.

In coming weeks, the country will receive a batch of 1.5 million Astrazeneca vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine producer.

This, wrote the President, will signal the start of a mass vaccination campaign that will be the most ambitious and extensive in the country’s history.

“It will reach all parts of the country and will be phased to ensure that those most in need are prioritised. The first vaccines to arrive will be provided to health care workers, who will be targeted in the first phase.

“The second phase will include essential workers, teachers, the elderly and those with co-morbidities. The third phase will include other adults in the population,” President Ramaphosa said.

The comprehensive rollout strategy and an accompanying logistical framework will be implemented in partnership with the private sector, civil society, traditional leadership, the religious sector and others.

“It is vital that this is a society-wide campaign, in which everyone is involved and no-one is left behind,” he wrote.

“A year after the novel coronavirus started spreading around the world, the arrival of the vaccine gives great hope for our country’s social and economic recovery – and, most importantly, for the health of our people.”

The President said given the unprecedented global demand for vaccine doses, combined with the far greater buying power of wealthier countries, South Africa had to engage in extensive and protracted negotiations with manufacturers to secure enough vaccines to reach the country’s adult population.

“South Africa has engaged closely with the global COVAX facility and the African Union’s Vaccine Acquisition Task Team as part of the collective effort to secure vaccines for the world’s low- and middle-income countries. The doses that South Africa will receive through its participation in these initiatives, together with the agreements being made directly with manufacturers, are expected to ensure that the country has sufficient vaccines to contain the spread of the virus,” he said.

“From the moment the Coronavirus first reached our shores in March last year, we have acted swiftly and decisively, and informed by the best available scientific evidence, to save lives and protect livelihoods. Through the measures we have taken, we have been able to contain infections, protect our health system and prevent an even greater loss of life,” said the President.

He said: “Understanding that vaccines are essential if we are to overcome the pandemic, government has been working, both through multilateral initiatives and direct negotiations with manufacturers, to ensure South Africa can make the best use of vaccines when they become available”.

Regarding concern that government has not been sufficiently transparent about these efforts, President Ramaphosa said as government did with the announcement on the Serum Institute, the details of deals with manufacturers will be released as and when negotiations are concluded and we are released from the communications terms of the non-disclosure agreements.

“This is commonplace in such circumstances, and most governments have had to comply with similar restrictions,” he said.

“We recognise that it is important that the public must be kept abreast of developments on vaccine acquisition at all times. And government must be held to account for all the decisions it makes in this regard.”

Throughout the pandemic, he said, government has been open and transparent with the South African people on the health measures it is taking to secure the safety of people.

“We have sought to explain all our decisions, to listen to people’s concerns and to continuously update the country on the state of the disease,” he said.

He added: “All of us need to be part of this national effort and not allow the spread of rumours, fear and mistrust. False information and fake news can and does put lives at risk. We all need to work together to build confidence in the vaccine, to demonstrate its effectiveness and its safety – and to emphasise its vital importance in overcoming this deadly disease”.

For its part, he wrote, government will work to improve all its channels of communication, to keep the public regularly informed on the development of the vaccination programme, to provide information that is accurate and factual, and to continue to engage with and listen to the broad range of voices in society.

“We have a massive task ahead of us, probably far greater than any of us has ever undertaken before. But if we work together, if we support and trust each other and if we keep the lines of communication open, we will certainly succeed,” said the President.

South Africa recorded 8 147 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, along with 300 related deaths.

The country has now reached 1 412 986 confirmed infections, while the death toll now stands at 40 874.

Of the latest fatalities, 105 are in the Western Cape, 70 in KwaZulu-Natal, 45 in Gauteng, 43 in the Eastern Cape, 15 in Free State and 14 in the North West.

Meanwhile, six occurred in Mpumalanga and two in the Northern Cape.

“We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who treated the deceased patients,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize.

“Our recoveries now stand at 1 230 520, representing a recovery rate of 87%,” he added.

South Africa has 141 592 active cases, with the hardest-hit province including KwaZulu-Natal with 48 482 patients who are currently battling COVID-19.

KwaZulu-Natal is followed by the Western Cape with 25 901 active cases, Gauteng 21 941 and 13 682 in Free State.

The information is based on the 7 993 126 tests, of which 46 119 were performed since the last report.

The World Health Organisation is reporting 97 464 094 confirmed global cases of COVID-19, including 2 112 689 deaths, to date.

South Africa logged over 12 000 new COVID-19 cases for the first time this week, after recording fewer than 10 000 infections a day in the past few days.

According to the latest data, the total number of COVID-19 cases identified is 1 369 426 after 12 714 were confirmed to have contracted the virus on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the active cases are now at 170 160, of which 53 442 are from KwaZulu-Natal, while 35 558 can be found in Gauteng and 32 366 in the Western Cape.

The North West currently has 13 868 patients who are infected, 9 438 in Free State, 8 314 in Mpumalanga, 7 954 in Limpopo, 4 968 in the Eastern Cape and 4 252 in the Northern Cape.

“Regrettably, we report a further 566 COVID-19 related deaths,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize.

KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of fatalities after 218 people succumbed to the respiratory disease in the last 24 hours.

The province is followed by the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape provinces, which had 104 deaths each.

Meanwhile, 80 occurred in Gauteng, 46 in Free State, eight in the Northern Cape and six in Mpumalanga.

This brings the total figure to 38 854 deaths, Mkhize added. “We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who treated these patients.”

The recovery rate is now sitting at 84.7% after 1 160 412 patients beat COVID-19.

“The cumulative total of tests conducted to date is 7 762 073 with 62 054 new tests conducted since the last report.”

The KwaZulu-Natal government said the province continues to rank number one in the country in terms of the number of active cases.

“The province is witnessing death on a catastrophic scale that has never been seen in living memory,” the province said.

The provincial government is once again asking please to “mask up” and social distance to limit the further transmissions.

According to the World Health Organisation, there are 94 963 847 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 2 050 857 deaths, to date.

South Africa’s six key priorities of the African Union (AU) have had to take a backseat due to COVID-19, with President Cyril Ramaphosa leading the continent’s response to the pandemic and ensuring collaboration in this important battle.

While 2020 has been an unprecedented year, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, believes that the COVID-19 initiatives have led to a unified Africa.

Pandor said one of the outcomes of this collaboration was the inception of the COVID-19 African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT), established by President Ramaphosa in support of the Africa Vaccine Strategy.

“This was an [initiative to make]… vaccines… a global public good… President Ramaphosa and the AU are working hard to secure vaccines for Africa,” the Minister said.

In his capacity as the AU Chair, President Ramaphosa has reported to a special meeting of the AU Bureau of the Assembly that the organisation has secured a provisional 270 million vaccine doses for African countries, with at least 50 million said to be available for the crucial period of April to June 2021.

“These efforts complement the COVAX facility, a World Health Organisation and Gavi Vaccine Alliance initiative to help low- and middle-income countries secure access to vaccines on a fair and equitable basis,” said Pandor.

The Minister was reflecting on South Africa’s two-year non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the country’s chairship of the AU during a virtual programme hosted by the London Chatham House on Wednesday.

“President Ramaphosa’s focus remains premised on the principle that no country should be left behind,” said Pandor.

Peace and security

She told delegates that government was dedicated in its UNSC term to the legacy of President Nelson Mandela, whose values and commitment to peace were commemorated on the centenary of his birth in 2018.

“South Africa believes peace is critical to development and progress in Africa.  We hoped that our election would support the African objective of silencing the guns in Africa.”

Pandor said the country also used its term to promote the peaceful settlement of conflicts through preventive diplomacy, inclusive dialogue and post-conflict reconstruction and development.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded these challenges and has necessitated us to work together as a collective with all countries across the globe to combat the virus, and ensure that we are able to rebuild a safer world, where the development needs of all its people are fulfilled.”

South Africa has advocated for strengthened partnership and closer cooperation between the UN Security Council and the AU’s Peace and Security Council.

“However, a challenge in this relationship has to do with the financing of the AU peacekeeping missions authorised by the Security Council,” Pandor said, noting that  the African members of the Council are continuing with efforts to secure commitments for consistent and sustainable financing of these AU Missions.

“Through our cooperation, we also stressed the need to address the root causes and drivers of conflict in Africa, including focusing on the challenges of development and governance.”

Pandor said the country continued to consistently express solidarity with the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara in their quest to achieve self-determination, fundamental freedom, equality, justice and dignity.

“We further advanced the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security and the Youth, Peace and Security agendas.”

Multilateralism

Following the end of term on the Security Council, South Africa will continue its dedication to multilateralism and work with other bodies of the United Nations to pursue these goals.

“We remain committed to a rules-based order, characterised by inclusion and equity.  There is a lot of ground lost in multilateralism in the past four years and we need to rebuild trust and co-operation,” Pandor said.

She reminded delegates that South Africa took over the chairship of the AU under the them: ‘Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development’.

“We emphasised an existing AU goal through the adoption of this theme. Of course, all our careful planning was altered by COVID-19,” she stressed.

On peace and security, Pandor said many Africans still face instability, violence and conflict. She cited Libya, the Sahel, Cabo Delgado in Mozambique, South Sudan, and the east of the DRC.

“We are also concerned by the recent developments relating to the situation in Western Sahara. Greater attention to peace in these countries is critical, as well as support for the solution from the AU and the UN,” she added.