April 06 2021 - 11:51

SA signs deal for 20 million Pfizer Covid-19 doses

SA has signed an agreement with Pfizer Inc for 20 million dual-shot Covid-19 vaccine doses, a government official told Reuters on Tuesday, boosting plans to start mass vaccinations from April.

April 06 2021 - 11:05

Global Covid-19 death toll surpasses 3 million amid new infections resurgence

Coronavirus-related deaths worldwide crossed 3 million on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, as the latest global resurgence of Covid-19 infections is challenging vaccination efforts across the globe.

April 06 2021 - 10:51

#GiftSindiLife: More than R1m raised to fund Dr Sindi van Zyl’s medical bill

More than R1m has been raised towards a R2m target to help  Johannesburg doctor and radio DJ Sindi van Zyl to pay her medical bills.

April 06 2021 - 10:49

Australia short of 3 million AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses in blow to vaccination drive

Australia on Tuesday said it had not yet received more than 3 million doses of previously promised AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses amid export curbs by the European Union, leaving a major hole in its early nationwide inoculation drive.

April 06 2021 - 10:40

Global Covid-19 death toll surpasses 3 million amid new infections resurgence

Coronavirus-related deaths worldwide crossed 3 million on Tuesday, according to a Reuters tally, as the latest global resurgence of Covid-19 infections is challenging vaccination efforts across the globe.

Worldwide Covid-19 deaths are rising once again, especially in Brazil and India.

Health officials blame more infectious variants that were first detected in the United Kingdom and South Africa, along with public fatigue with lockdowns and other restrictions.

According to a Reuters tally, it took more than a year for the global coronavirus death toll to reach 2 million. 

Reuters

April 06 2021 - 09:09

Africa needs $12bn for vaccines to interrupt Covid-19 transmission -World Bank

The World Bank estimates that Africa would need about $12 billion for Covid-19 vaccines and their distribution to attain sufficient levels of vaccination coverage to interrupt virus transmission, according to new paper by the bank and the IMF.

April 06 2021 - 09:00

Britain to deploy Moderna Covid-19 shot from third week of April - minister

Britain will begin the rollout of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine in mid-April, vaccine deployment minister Nadhim Zahawi said on Tuesday, adding the vaccination programme was on track to meet government targets.

Asked if deployment of the shot was on track to begin in mid-April, Zahawi said "very much so."

"It'll be in deployment around the third week of April," he told BBC TV, adding he was confident that the government would meet a target of offering all adults a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by the end of July. 

Reuters

April 06 2021 - 07:15

India reports 96,982 new coronavirus cases

India reported 96,982 new coronavirus infections overnight, taking the overall tally of cases to 12.7 million, data from health ministry showed on Tuesday.

The country reported 446 deaths, taking the total to 165,547, data showed.

India's caseload is the third-highest globally behind the United States and Brazil.

Reuters

April 06 2021 - 07:10

Air New Zealand to fly 70% of pre-Covid capacity to Australia as travel bubble opens

Air New Zealand Ltd said on Tuesday it would begin flying at 70% of its pre-pandemic flight capacity to Australia once a two-way quarantine-free travel bubble opens on April 19, in a move that is expected to reduce its cash burn.

Before the pandemic, Australia was New Zealand's largest tourism market and demand for travel between the two countries represented around 20% of Air New Zealand's revenue, the carrier said in a statement.

In a boost to the New Zealand carrier and rival Qantas Airways Ltd, Virgin Australia said on Tuesday it had suspended the sale of most New Zealand services until Oct. 31.Air New Zealand shares were trading 6.7% higher at 0455 GMT, while Qantas shares were 2.8% higher.

Air New Zealand had previously guided the market to expect cash burn of NZ$45 million ($31.73 million) to NZ$55 million a month through June 30 at a time when most other international services are suspended.

The airline said the start of quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Australia was expected to reduce cash burn, though it was not yet in a position to provide updated information.

"As such, the airline's cash burn guidance has been suspended at this time," Air New Zealand said. 

Reuters

April 06 2021 - 07:00

North Korea will drop out of the Tokyo Olympics because of concerns over coronavirus, state media says

North Korea will drop out of the Tokyo Olympics because of concerns over coronavirus, state media sayshttps://t.co/FFbEktLQCX

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) April 6, 2021

Coronavirus latest: CDC says risk of infection from surfaces less than one in 10,000 https://t.co/LwX3cBB9Ji

— Financial Times (@FT) April 5, 2021

#COVID19 UPDATE: A total of 11 091 tests were conducted in the last 24 hrs, with 453 new cases, which represents a 4% positivity rate. A further 8 #COVID19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 52 995 to date. Read more here https://t.co/itiqDQaO1J pic.twitter.com/qdXlCKYxUm

— NICD (@nicd_sa) April 5, 2021