Category: COVID-19 Corona Virus

As of Tuesday, South Africa had 215 855 COVID-19 cases of which 10 134 were reported in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the country also recorded its darkest hour since the outbreak after 192 lost their lives, bringing the death toll to 3 502.

Of the additional fatalities, 75 are from Gauteng, 44 from the Western Cape, 36 from the Eastern Cape, 22 from KwaZulu-Natal and 15 from Limpopo.

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

In addition, 102 299 people have recuperated, which translates to a recovery rate of 47.4%, while 1 907 532 tests have been conducted.

Gauteng, which is expected to be an epicentre in a few days, is catching up to the Western Cape after their number of infections grew by 4 597 on Tuesday.

The Western Cape remains the worst-hit province for now with 72 156 cases, followed by Gauteng 71 488, Eastern Cape 40 401 and KwaZulu-Natal 16 743.

The North West has 6 842 cases, Free State 3 034, Mpumalanga 2 353, Limpopo 1 950 and Northern Cape 888.

According to the World Health Organisation, there are 11 500 302 cases globally and 535 759 deaths.

The Competition Tribunal has slapped pharmacy group, Dis-Chem, with a R1.2 million fine for excessively overpricing surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes after the company was found guilty following complaints registered by the public.

In its order and reasons, the Tribunal found that Dis-Chem contravened the Competition Act for charging excessive prices for three types of surgical face masks to the detriment of consumers during March 2020.

The Tribunal considered the background to the COVID-19 pandemic as the economic context in which Dis-Chem had increased its prices on three occasions. This included, among others, the fact that the virus was spreading globally and at an alarming rate.

According to the Tribunal, the Competition Commission (the Commission) has established that Dis-Chem exerted market power in its pricing of the face masks by increasing its prices to significant levels in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. One such increase took place on the very day that South Africa’s first COVID-19 case was announced.

“We find that in the context of a global health crisis, with excess demand of surgical masks considered to be essential in the fight against COVID-19, Dis-Chem has demonstrated that it enjoyed and exerted market power by materially increasing its prices, without a significant increase in costs, and significant increase in margins. But for the economic conditions brought about by the outbreak of COVID-19, it would not have been able to implement such material price increases in surgical masks,” said the Tribunal.

The Commission, said the Tribunal, has shown a prima facie case of excessive pricing in relation to the three types of face masks.

The Tribunal has found that Dis-chem failed to show that its price increases were reasonable.

“In our view, Dis-Chem’s massive price increases of surgical masks during the complaint period, which constitute an essential component of life saving first-line protection in a pandemic of seismic proportions, without any significant increases in costs, are utterly unreasonable and reprehensible.

“Accordingly, we find that Dis-Chem has failed to show that its price increases for SFM50 and SFM5 and Folio50 were reasonable in the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Detriment to consumers 

The Tribunal has concluded that the Commission has shown that Dis-Chem has engaged in excessive pricing to the detriment of consumers.

Material price increases of the magnitude of 47%-261%, without corresponding increases in costs, of any goods in a country such as South Africa, with a long history of economic exclusion and deep inequality, would seriously affect the public interest adversely.

“Material price increases of surgical masks, without corresponding costs justifications, in the context of COVID-19, for which there is no discernible cure and where health services are skewed towards the wealthy, would seriously impact vulnerable and poorer consumers even more. Poorer customers would have been excluded from accessing the masks by such exorbitant increases, other customers would have spent more on these items as a percentage of their disposable income,” reads the statement.

Two more police stations have been shutdown due to members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) testing positive for COVID-19.

“All communities serviced by Brooklyn and Vereeniging SAPS are advised that the police stations have been temporarily closed for decontamination after some members of the SAPS from both stations tested positive for COVID-19.

The temporary points of operation for the stations are as follows:

• Services for Brooklyn police station will be rendered from the Boardroom at the Brooklyn SAPS Firearm Centre, right next to the main building until the station reopens on Wednesday, 8 July 2020.
• The Vereeniging Community Service Centre will operate from the Loss Management Offices flat no 8, Old Married Quarters, behind the police station.

The community is advised to call 10111 for all emergencies and complaints which needs to be attended by the Vereeniging police station.

“Both buildings will undergo decontamination and the community will be informed when the stations will be operational again,” the SAPS said.

Eskom interim Chairman, Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, has been appointed to serve on the 12-member expert panel of the Data and Safety Monitoring Board for the first COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials.

In a statement on Tuesday, the power utility congratulated Makgoba who also serves as South Africa’s Health Ombud on his appointment.

“We are proud that an African scientist associated with Eskom has been given this recognition and are confident that Professor Makgoba will lend his skill to the fight against the pandemic and discharge his scientific expertise to the benefit of all humanity,” said Eskom.

This as positive cases of the virus surpassed the 200 000 mark in South Africa on Monday.

Professor Makgoba has been invited to serve on the panel by the government of the United States of America (USA). The professor will join nine scientists, physicians, ethicists and biostatisticians from the USA, and two experts from Brazil and the United Kingdom.

Members of the board are selected based on their expertise and experience.

The Data and Safety Monitoring Board is responsible to ensure the safety of participants, the efficacy and immunogenicity of the candidate vaccine being tested or on trial, and it is the final structure to pronounce on vaccine approval.

The recommendations of the board will have an enormous impact on the overall global response, including South Africa’s to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The board is independent of investigators, organisations, and institutions conducting vaccine clinical trials.

The board has the authority to recommend that a trial be stopped early should there be concerns of participant safety.

”Finding a safe and efficicatious vaccine is the ultimate goal that has bcome a global emergency, to significantly impact and to change the course of the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused so much devastation and misery to the whole of humankind and the future of the world,” said Eskom.

While millions of learners in Grades R, 6 and 11 went back to school across the country on Monday, their peers in the Eastern Cape remained at home.

According to the circular signed on Sunday by Superintendent-General of the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape, Themba Kojana, Grades 3, 6 and 11 will now reopen on 20 July.

This is due to the spike in the number of COVID-19 infections in the province.

Those who will also be going back to school on 20 July are learners from schools of skill’s years 2 and 3, those with severe and profound intellectual and severe intellectual disabilities, and autistic learners doing their final year.

Meanwhile, Grade R learners will only return to the classroom on 17 August.

“As indicated before, the Coronavirus pandemic remains a very fluid situation, which is constantly monitored, and which necessitates decisions to be evaluated and reviewed, as the situation changes.  The increase in the number of infections has again necessitated the education sector to review its plans for the phasing in of grades,” said Kojana in the circular.

Heads of Departments, Council of Education Ministers and Councils of the Departments of Education have considered the decision.

Meanwhile, Grades 4, 9, 10 will reopen on 27 July, while Grades 5 and 8 will open its doors on 3 August and Grades 1 and 2 will go back on 10 August.

Phasing in of grades and teaching

However, according to the circular, schools that have applied and granted permission to accelerate the phasing in of grades may continue to do so.

“Grades that have been accelerated must be retained in school and schools that are ready for the accelerated phasing in of learners and who have not applied may do so.”

In addition, all approved exemptions from school attendance remain valid.

Kojana also encouraged teachers to find creative ways to teach despite the financial challenges that many schools face.

“We understand that in communities, principals are the first ones to receive the complaints, and are often expected to provide all the answers. In these difficult circumstances answers are not always readily available, as we all face a very fluid situation, and often rely on answers which are outside of our competencies,” he said.

He urged principals to keep working hard.

During a media briefing on Sunday, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Gauteng provinces recorded the highest number of COVID-19 infections for both teachers and learners.

The Minister said 11 teachers, four non-teaching staff and three learners in the Eastern Cape succumbed to COVID-19.

As of Monday, the province remained the third worst hit province with 38 081 cases and has the second-highest fatalities in the country with the death toll of 528.

South Africa’s COVID-19 cases have breached the 200 000 mark, while the death toll is now sitting at 3 310.

While the country has recorded 97 848 recoveries, infections increased by 8 971 to 205 721 on Monday, while 111 more people lost their lives.

Of the new additional deaths, 50 are from Gauteng, 35 from the Western Cape, 17 from Limpopo and nine from the Eastern Cape.

The MEC of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs in the North West, Gordon Kegakilwe, also succumbed to COVID-19 after a short battle with pneumonia.

“He was admitted [on Sunday] to a private hospital in Vryburg and was subsequently transferred to Klerksdorp, where he suffered cardiac arrest on arrival,” Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said.

The Minister described him as a tried and tested leader, with an illustrious political career.

“It is crushing to lose such talent at the prime of his life,” Mkhize said.

He also expressed his condolences to his friends, colleagues and comrades, and to all the other families who have lost their loved ones.

The country has conducted 1 864 111 tests, 33 950 of which were done in the last 24 hours.

The Western Cape remains the epicentre with 70 938 cases, followed by Gauteng 66 891, Eastern Cape 38 081 and KwaZulu-Natal 15 819.

North West has 6 410 cases, Free State 2 804, Mpumalanga 2 173, Limpopo 1 785 and Northern Cape 820.

According to the World Health Organisation, there are 11 327 790 cases globally and 532 340 deaths.

View live COVID-19 Stats @ Live Stats

A Mamelodi West Labour Centre was forced to shut its doors after an officer tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement on Monday, the Department of Employment and Labour said the building in Pretoria will be disinfected for the duration of the closure.

Officials at the centre, especially those who came in contact with the client service officer, will be subjected to the necessary Covid-19 related protocols.

The department’s Gauteng Chief Director: Provincial Operations Tshepo Mokomatsidi said strict protocols are in place.

“Our office might be closed but our service continues and work still goes on as we speak because some of our officials are working remotely from home. This goes to show how our team recognises the seriousness of the situation,” said Mokomatsidi.

The department’s Director General Thobile Lamati has previously stated that the safety of staff remain paramount.

“Our officials are an important cog of the working of the South African economy and as such, we will also ensure that they are as safe as possible,” he said.

The centre is expected to reopen on Wednesday, 8 July and will function under skeletal staff, as some employees will be in isolation.

Meanwhile the department has advised clients to visit nearby offices and be mindful of the fact that they could be in long ques due to the pressure from other offices.

“We apologise for the inconvenience the closure might cause.”

The department also encouraged clients to use its online services on www.labour.gov.za

North West Premier Job Mokgoro has expressed condolences at the passing of the province’s Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs MEC, Gordon Kegakilwe, who on Monday succumbed to a short but serious COVID-19-related illness.

Kegakilwe was admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia on Sunday afternoon at the Vryburg Private Hospital. Upon admission, the MEC was immediately put on oxygen.

“A decision was taken this morning to transfer him to a medical facility in Klerksdorp,” said the Premier’s office in a statement.

He was transported from Vryburg to Klerksdorp in an ambulance and upon arrival in Klerksdorp, he suffered cardiac arrest. Despite all the efforts by the medical personnel, he passed away.

Mokgoro sent his condolences to the family and friends of Kegakilwe.

Mokgoro said Kegakilwe had distinguished himself as one of the finest to have come from the ranks of the governing African National Congress, and was a ‘tried and tested leader”.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the public to protect the elderly from exposure to Coronavirus, as this group is the most vulnerable.

Writing in his weekly newsletter to the nation, the President said keeping a distance from the elderly during this period can save their lives.

“Coronavirus can infect anyone, but older people are among those at highest risk of getting severely ill and possibly dying. Sadly, there have been a number of Coronavirus outbreaks at old age homes and care centres, resulting in a number of deaths,” he wrote.

Data released by the Department of Health indicates that people with underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, renal disease, asthma and chronic respiratory disease are more vulnerable to developing severe complications and dying from COVID-19.

According to new research published by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, a third of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 had at least one co-morbidity.

“This is a significant concern in a country such as ours, which also has a high prevalence of HIV and tuberculosis, the leading cause of natural deaths in South Africa last year. Additionally, more than 4.5 million South Africans have diabetes, a figure that has doubled since 2017. In the Western Cape alone, diabetes is a co-morbidity in over half of all COVID-19 deaths,” the President said.

In Gauteng and the Western Cape, testing is being offered to people with co-morbidities, such as diabetes, whether they show COVID-19 symptoms or not.

“This smart approach to screening and testing is part of our effort to limit infections among those most vulnerable. As part of the national effort to contain Coronavirus, protecting the general population from becoming infected must be matched by efforts to protect people who are at greater risk.”

Throughout the nationwide lockdown period, government has taken measures to ensure that those who rely on chronic medication or treatment are able to visit health facilities.

The Department of Social Development has set dietary standards on the food provided to communities during the lockdown to ensure that it is of nutritional value. This, President Ramaphosa said, is particularly important when managing diabetes.

“Companies can play their part by keeping basic food prices down, which means that people don’t need to seek out cheap processed foods of poor nutritional value

“Among the many cases being made for the National Health Insurance is that we will be able to mobilise the necessary resources to overcome the burden of these non-communicable diseases and improve the health outcomes of all our people, not just those who can afford to pay.”

He urged the public to not expose the elderly to the virus through social visits, calling on citizens to rather keep in touch by phone or video messaging.

“If they live with us, let us ensure we observe proper hygiene at all times by washing and sanitising our hands. Frequently touched surfaces, including equipment used by our parents and grandparents like walkers and canes, should be frequently cleaned,” he said.

Where possible, shared spaces should be limited and a mask be worn when around elderly relatives.

He said that people with underlying medical conditions like diabetes and hypertension should be extra cautious.

“They should observe social distancing, stay home if possible and stay away from crowded places. Like everyone else, they should practice good hygiene and continue to take their medication.

“One of the lessons from this pandemic is that we need a holistic approach to health. Anecdotal evidence suggests many of our people have used the lockdown period to make positive lifestyle changes like doing more exercise or quitting smoking. Such developments should be welcomed. If some of us have become healthier during the lockdown, we should continue in this vein,” the President said.

More police stations have been shut down to undergo decontamination, as more members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) test positive for COVID-19.

“All communities serviced by Katlehong, Vosman, Douglasdale and Amersfoort police stations are advised that the police stations have been temporarily closed after some members tested positive for COVID-19.

“The Community Service Centre will be operating from the huts behind the cells at Katlehong police station.

“The telephone lines at Katlehong police station community service centre will not be accessible for the duration of closure,” SAPS said in a statement.

The community is advised to call 10111 for emergencies and complaints, which need to be attended by Katlehong police station.

The three remaining police stations, which have been shut down, will now operate at the following locations:

• The Amersfoort Community Service Centre will now be operated at Amersfoort 1912 town hall at Sybrandt van Niekerk Street, which is near the police station.
• The Douglasdale Community Service Centre will be operating from Block J Detective Boardroom.
• The Vosman Community Service Centre will now be operated at the satellite police station, situated in Hectorway Street in Lynville.

The buildings will undergo decontamination and the community will be informed when the stations will be operational again.