South Africa recorded 11 106 new COVID-19 cases and 110 deaths, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Wednesday. This means the country now has 3 494 696 confirmed infections and 91 561 fatalities since the start of the pandemic. According to the latest data, KwaZulu-Natal continues to report the highest number of […]

South Africa logged 139 new COVID-19 related deaths on Tuesday, the most recorded in one day since the widespread Omicron variant outbreak. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), this means there are now 91 451 official deaths since the start of the pandemic. In addition, the institute said there were 8 078 […]

South Africa has recorded 4 379 new COVID-19 cases bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases 3 472 436. The increase represents a 23.1% positivity rate. “As per the National Department of Health, a further 30 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 91 228 to date,” said the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) on Sunday. The […]

South Africa has recorded 12 979 new COVID-19 cases bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 446 532. This increase represents a 28.1% positivity rate. “As per the National Department of Health, a further 126 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 91 061 to date,” the National Institute for […]

South Africa has recorded at least 9020 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24-hour cycle, with a positivity rate of 26%. This brings the total number of cases to 3 433 554. COVID-19 related deaths have increased by 81, with official fatalities now reaching 90 935. The excess deaths are reportedly more than double that […]

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) has reported at least 7,216 new laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases throughout South Africa by 6pm last night. This brings the cumulative number of cases to 3 424 534 since the outbreak. This positivity rate stands at 23.6%, with an increase of 286 hospitalisations due to the virus. The […]

South Africa’s Department of Health says the implementation of the revised COVID-19 contact tracing, quarantine and isolation protocols released last week have been suspended. In a statement, the department said it has been “inundated with media, stakeholders and public enquiries and comments” since the release of the new protocols – leading to the decision to […]

South Africa reported 21 099 new daily Coronavirus cases, the highest since the week began. This means the country now has 3 353 106 confirmed cases, while the death toll stands at 90 587 after 99 more people lost their lives. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), KwaZulu-Natal, which is currently the […]

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading faster than the Delta variant and is causing infections in people already vaccinated or who have recovered from the COVID-19 disease, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, 20 December 20. He also urged China to be more forthcoming on information about Covid-19’s […]

India and South Africa’s official cricket bodies have taken the difficult joint decision to not make any tickets available for the upcoming Proteas vs India tour. This is to protect both the players and the tour, said Cricket SA. The matches  – due to begin in less than a week – will however be broadcast […]

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has ended a week of self-isolation which followed his positive test for COVID-19 on 12 December 2021. The President thanked all South Africans along with leaders and friends internationally who conveyed their good wishes during this period. In turn, the President said he wishes everyone infected with COVID-19 a safe […]

Il Divo baritone singer Carlos Marin has tragically passed away at the age of 53 after reportedly contracting Covid-19 in the UK. The Spanish singer, who was born in Germany, had fallen ill on 7 December. He had been admitted to hospital in Manchester a few days ago, and had been intubated and placed in […]

South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, has tested positive for COVID-19. The Minister tested positive on Saturday, 18 December 2021, after experiencing mild symptoms. According to the Presidency, “Minister Mantashe is in good spirits and he is currently in self-isolation.” The Presidency said on Friday that President Cyril Ramaphosa is also […]

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is “making good progress” in his recovery from COVID-19, while continuing treatment for “mild symptoms” the Presidency announced on Friday. The President is in “good spirits and comfortable in his recovery”, according to Minister in The Presidency, Mondli Gungubele. President Ramaphosa tested positive for the coronavirus viral infection on Sunday […]

With France banning travel to and from the UK  for most – although not all – travellers, the Western Cape has pounced on the moment to promote its beautiful beaches as a fabulous alternative to the French Riviera. From midnight tonight French local time, only UK citizens/residents will be allowed to leave France to enter […]

The South African government, through the African Renaissance Fund (ARF), has signed an agreement with the African Vaccination Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to donate 2 030 400 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, valued at R288.6 million, to African countries. AVAT was formed following the establishment of the African Union’s COVID-19 African Vaccination Acquisition Task […]

Encouragingly, the result of a major study in South Africa shows that vaccinated individuals who received two-doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have 70% protection against hospital admission. Whilst protection against hospital admission is a lot less than the highs of 93% in South Africa’s Delta-driven variant, 70% is still regarded as very good protection. The […]

The UK government has said that all 11 countries currently on its travel Red Llist, including South Africa, will be removed from 04h00 on Wednesday morning! “Tears rolling down my cheeks,” said SA expat Loulou C, who is in Scotland. “I am SO SO happy… going to cuddle my mum and not let her go; […]

We need a national project to improve the air we breathe in buildings and vehicles | By Gareth Kantor, Norman Khoza, Sean Chester and Garth Hunter Though vaccines seem less effective against the Omicron variant of Covid, they still protect us from serious harm and everyone should get vaccinated. But vaccination is not enough. A […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on scientists from fellow BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – to work alongside South African scientists in further researching the various characteristics of the COVID-19 virus and its mutations. The call for collaboration comes after the detection of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 in South Africa […]

A South African traveller, who flew from Cape Town via Germany, on his way to the Netherlands, has shared his unfortunate experience and offered some advice for others contemplating a trip to Europe. For obvious reasons he’d like to remain anonymous. We’ll call him Jannie. Jannie told SAPeople he had been studying in the Netherlands, […]

VOLGOGRAD, RUSSIA – Russian medical specialists are being sent to South Africa to help battle COVID-19. The medical team has been ordered to go to South Africa by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, following a request from South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry today photographed a mobile sanitary and hygienic laboratory being […]

The South African Department of Health has announced that the first recipients of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster shot will likely get it in January. The department’s Deputy Director-General, Dr Nicholas Crisp, told the media on Friday morning that the first qualifiers to the booster shot will be eligible on 28 December, but that since […]

South Africa has recorded 22 391 new COVID-19 cases, representing a 29.8% positivity rate. This means there are now 3 093 452 laboratory-confirmed cases since the outbreak, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Thursday. This as there has been 19 988 045 tests conducted. Gauteng recorded the highest number of infections after 11 […]

Well known British TV personality Piers Morgan has weighed in again on Britain’s banning of flights to and from South Africa, and called for SA to be removed from the UK’s Red List. Piers first tweeted support for South Africa when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson first announced that South Africa was being put back […]