Login to BlackFacts.com using your favorite Social Media Login. Click the appropriate button below and you will be redirected to your Social Media Website for confirmation and then back to Blackfacts.com once successful.
Enter the email address and password you used to join BlackFacts.com. If you cannot remember your login information, click the “Forgot Password” link to reset your password.
[GroundUp] Though numbers are down because of Covid-19 job losses, about 20,000 people are expected to travel from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape this year.
The president also stressed the importance of keeping the economy open after months of stifling movement restrictions.
He urged citizens not to drop their guard and continue adhering to the health rules, such as wearing face masks and respecting curfew times.
South Africa has recorded just over 800,000 coronavirus infections - more than a third of the cases reported across the African continent - and over 20,000 deaths.
AFP
Key statistics as at June 22
\t
\t\tThe total number of confirmed cases = 101,590
\t\tThe total number of tests so far = 1,353,176
\t\tTotal death toll = 1,991
\t\tTotal recoveries = 53,444
\t\tMost impacted provinces = Guateng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwa Zulu-Natal
June 23: Africa’s 1st COVID-19 vaccine trial starting
\tResearchers in South Africa say the first COVID-19 vaccine trial on the African continent is set to get underway on Wednesday.
AP
May 12: US donates ventilators
\tThe U.S. government is donating “up to 1,000” ventilators to South Africa to help the country respond to COVID-19 as the Trump administration addresses criticism that it hasn’t done enough for countries in need.
“South Africa is the first country in the world to receive this state-of-the-art equipment” from the National Security Council and USAID, the U.S. Embassy said in a tweet.
The donation brings the total U.S. government financial support to South Africa’s COVID-19 response to more than $41 million, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, president Ramaphosa has had a busy last 24 hours with a phone call with President Donald Trump during which the American leader pledged support for South Africa in the fight against the virus.
There are fire warnings over parts of the Eastern Cape, but an otherwise fine and cool day across the country, the South African Weather Service says.
A shortage of test kits has undermined South Africa's early response to the coronavirus crisis, but a local biotechnology firm is stepping up to try and plug the shortfall in testing capacity.
CapeBio Technologies, a privately-held company which was spun out of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 2018, plans to roll out 5 000 test kits per day from the end of July, with support from the government.
The World Health Organisation has said shortages of test kits are a challenge in Africa.
At 5 000 tests kits per day, CapeBio could meet approximately a tenth of the country's current daily testing capacity.
READ | Eastern Cape health workers wait up to one month for Covid-19 test results
Confirmed cases of coronavirus passed the 100 000 mark this month, making South Africa the hardest-hit country on the continent.
One of Port Elizabeth's biggest funeral parlour services says the phone is constantly ringing as hospitals and families look for safe spaces to store the bodies of Covid-19 patients.
Vantyi said he's also been approached by some private hospitals, such as Netcare Greenacres Hospital in the city, about his storage capacity, \"because there are just so many deaths,\" he told News24.
Netcare Greenacres Hospital's hospital area general manager André Bothma, told News24 that they recently contacted all the funeral parlours in Port Elizabeth to find out what their capacity was as part of planning for the management of an increase in Covid-19 patients and related deaths.
\"Our hospital did not have a mortuary, as we arrange with one of a number of private funeral parlours to collect deceased patients from our hospitals, in consultation with their families and based on their preference of funeral parlour.
\"We have, as a precautionary measure, acquired a free-standing mortuary facility at Netcare Greenacres Hospital earlier this week, in case funeral parlours find themselves in a position where they cannot immediately accommodate deceased patients.\"
Hospital operator, the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), has reported the incident to the police, while the M Secure company suspended the guard.
The MBDA provided News24 with an incident report drafted by M Secure director Kaashief Niekerk who said two companies were responsible for security at the facility.
He added his company was responsible for internal security at the isolation facility, while another company, HRG, guarded the stadium's outer perimeter.
\"It is deducted that Mr Doch passed the internal security checkpoint unnoticed as a result of the M Secure officer not being at his post.
Niekerk said Doch left the stadium at 14:30 on Friday, but the incident was only reported to M Secure's management at 17:00 during the changing of shifts.
South Africa edges closer to the one million mark for tests conducted, but the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 has now risen to 50 879.
The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa has reached 20,125, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Friday.
The country recorded 988 cases over the past 24 hours, Mkhize said in his daily update.
Nationwide, a total of 543,032 tests have been conducted so far, with 17,599 done in the last 24 hours, said Mkhize.
South Africa is preparing to ease the lockdown from level four to level three of a five-level system by the end of May, which will allow more businesses to reopen and greater movement of people.
As South Africa is entering the winter season when flu is common, the fight against Covid-19 will become more complicated and difficult, Mkhize said, adding the country's capabilities to fight the virus will then be put to test.
Eastern Cape — The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Eastern Cape, Major General Andries Swart informs the public that the Dimbaza, New Brighton, Willowvale and Whittlesea Police Stations are now fully operational.
Motherwell, King William's Town and Bhisho Police stations were decontaminated on 21 May 2020 and are expected to open by Saturday 23 May 2020.
Decontamination at Graaff Reinet police station is underway and the station will be fully operational on Monday, 25 May 2020.
Maj General Swart expressed his gratitude to the various stakeholders who opened their doors and allowed the police to utilise their facilities as temporary police stations.
We will definitely need help in other parts of the Province should it become necessary to close other police stations due to members becoming affected by the virus.
