Covid-19

After 750 days President Ramaphosa has announced that the State of Disaster, implemented to assist the government in dealing with Covid-19, will end. However a number of restrictions will remain in place as Covid-19 has not disappeared completely. The question many are asking is whether masks will still be required?

The Cabinet has announced that because the latest wave of Covid-19 is believed to have peaked a number of restrictions have been removed from the Level ! 1 lockdown rules.

It's been approximately two years ever since the Covid-19 virus has emerged, restrictions and lockdowns became a norm. Recently, the Health Department has changed a number of Covid 19 protocols.

As 2021 comes to an end, many South African citizens are preparing for festive season celebrations. However, curfew may pose a challenge to this. 

In October 2021, the Compensation Commissioner in South Africa issued a Notice on Compensation for COVID-19 vaccination side effects. The Notice was published in terms of section 6A(b) of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993 (COIDA) and provides that the Compensation Fund will "cover employees for injuries, illness or death as a result of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine”.

A Johnson & Johnson vaccine booster shot is being offered to the health workers. There are health professionals that feel that they should choose for themselves whether to take J&J or Pfizer as their booster shot.

There is no doubt it – these are challenging times for employers and employees alike. The ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to be felt for some years to come and in the meantime, businesses have to do everything they can to keep operating and help keep the struggling economy going. This is why a development like the Compensation Fund for those who suffer COVID-19-related side effects makes all the difference.

A new variant of Covid-19 is currently being tracked by scientists around the world. It is said that it may be 10% more infectious than the delta variant.

A study done by Professor Resia Pretorius found that patients with ‘long covid’ had high levels of inflammatory molecules trapped in their blood.

South Africa is the epicentre of Covid-19 in Africa has officially exited its third wave of infections. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says a downward trend of Covid-19 infections is currently occurring over the entire African continent.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has announced that South Africa has officially exited the third wave of Covid-19 infections.

South Africa has reached a major milestone in its Covid-19 vaccination rollout plan. The Department of Health announced that more than 8,1 million South Africans are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19. More than 16.4 doses of Covid-19 vaccines has been administered.

On Friday, the United Kingdom released their updated International travel rules with regard to Covid-19. South Africa has remained on the UK’s Red List.

The Minister of Heath Dr Joe Phaahla has delivered his weekly Covid-19 briefing for South Africa. In the briefing he discussed the vaccination rollout, Covid-19 infection statistics and the topic of vaccination certificates/passports.

Dr Ridhwaan Suliman, a CSIR senior researcher, says that nationally, keys indicators such as confirmed cases and positivity are on a downward trajectory. This indicates that South Africa is coming to the end of the unpredictable third wave of Covid-19 infections.

Schools in the Northern Cape have reported 339 new Covid-19 cases among teachers, learners and support staff over the last week. This has led to the closure of six schools in the province.

The fourth wave of Covid-19 infections could be on its way. Experts say the 4th wave of infections could start by November and last around 75 Days. The wave could also be driven by a new variant.

A recent study has detected a new Covid-19 variant in South Africa. The C.1.2 variant has been detected in multiple provinces in South Africa. The virus has been found in several South African provinces as well as in parts of Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceana(New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa).

The Minister of Health, Dr Joseph Phala said that he hopes that country can reach herd immunity by the end of 2021. Phala hopes that between 60% and70% of South Africa’s adult population will be vaccinated by the end of the year as this would help open the economy and other social activities.

The Department of Education in Northern Cape is experiencing a surge in infections in schools throughout the province. Eight schools in the province have been closed in order for contact tracing and the disinfection of the school premises.