A year on from Patient Zero, 5 lessons we ve learnt Updated
Andrew Robertson
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Andrew Robertson
On the 5th March 2020, the Health Department released information on patient zero, a father of two from Hilton, near Maritzburg.
The country s top advisor on COVID-19, Professor Salim Abdool Karim says during the first month of the outbreak he was very concerned about hospital treatment for coronavirus patients.
But he says patient zero, who was 38 at the time gave the country hope.
Co-chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19, Prof Salim Abdool Karim is giving a presentation on the virus in SA - reflecting on the past year since we detected the first Covid-19 case in SA. pic.twitter.com/yjuHsN8wJj ECR Newswatch (@ECR Newswatch) March 4, 2021
Thousands of fake COVID-19 vaccines confiscated by Interpol Updated
Newswatch
Interpol
The global police organisation says authorities in South Africa and China swooped on two sites, where thousands of vials containing fake Covid-19 vaccines were confiscated.
Police found ampoules equivalent to over 2 000 doses at a warehouse in Germiston outside Joburg.
They also recovered fake masks and arrested four people, three from China and a Zambian national.
Interpol says it s investigating reports of scammers targeting health bodies such as nursing homes.
It s warned that no approved vaccines are currently available for sale online.
NEWS: INTERPOL alert leads to dismantling of fake COVID-19 vaccine distribution network. Thousands of illicit vaccines seized and arrests made in South Africa and China. Read more https://t.co/JYt5vQ4dRx INTERPOL (@INTERPOL HQ) March 3, 2021
People affected with new COVID-19 strain, may develop immunity Updated
Nushera Soodyal
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South African scientists have found people infected with the new strain of COVID-19 potentially have developed some immunity against the variant and other lineages.
GCIS
Science and Innovation Minister, Blade Nzimande said this during a webinar on the latest scientific results on the variant first identified in South Africa.
He says scientists from UKZN s Krisp, the NICD, the Africa Health Research Institute and others, used a research programme with the live virus.
Nzimande says this will contribute immensely to vaccine development. The 501YV2 variant is able to generate immune responses with, no found out by our scientists, that neutralises itself and other SARS-CoV-2 lineages.
President Ramaphosa to address SA on COVID-19 developments Updated
Jacaranda FM
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Ramaphosa engaged with the South African National Editor s Forum (Sanef) this past week where a number of questions were asked about the lower infection numbers and whether the country would be moved to a state of fewer restrictions.
GCIS
With South Africa s lockdown
nearing almost a year, President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to address the country
on Sunday night.
The Presidency
announced on Sunday afternoon that he would speak on developments in the
country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic in his so-called family
meeting.
Ramaphosa engaged