Many businesses still uncertain despite rise in confidence index: SACCI


South Africa has recorded 655 new coronavirus infections and 34 deaths in the last 24-hour cycle. The country's total number of infections now is 1 559 113 while the death toll has climbed to 53 356.

South Africa has recorded 655 new coronavirus infections in the last 24-hour cycle, taking the total number to 1 559 113.

The CDC in conjunction with the African Union, began a two-day conference on Monday looking at boosting Africa's capacity to manufacture and develop vaccines.

China's failure to provide access to global health experts made the COVID-19 pandemic worse than it had to be, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Sunday

Tanzanian opposition leader Freeman Mbowe called on Sunday for the new government to prioritise a new constitution, reviving calls for limiting presidential powers.

The total number of coronavirus cases in South Africa currently stands at 1 558 458, while 53 322 South Africans have so far lost their lives to the virus.

Government has been widely criticised for being inefficient as well as lacking transparency and accountability in its vaccine roll-out programme.

India on Sunday banned the export of anti-viral drug Remdesivir and its active pharmaceutical ingredients as demand rocketed due to a record surge in COVID-19 infections, leading to crippling shortages in many parts.

Tokyo Olympic organisers plan to prepare 300 hotel rooms for athletes who test positive for the coronavirus at this summer’s Games but show no or minor symptoms of COVID-19, Kyodo news agency said on Sunday.

China's top disease control official has said the country is formally considering mixing COVID-19 vaccines, as a way of further boosting vaccine efficacy.

The remaining 20 matches of this year's Pakistan Super League (PSL) will take place in Karachi's National Stadium with the final on June 20, the country's cricket board said on Sunday.

The South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) has sought to allay fears overtaking a vaccine against the coronavirus, saying the jab's positive effects outweigh the risks.

Amnesty International says the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the impact of inequality, discrimination, and oppression across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa can “break through” Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine to some extent, a real-world data study in Israel found, though its prevalence in the country is low and the research has not been peer reviewed.

Peruvians were preparing to head to the polls on Sunday in a presidential election marked by uncertainty due to widespread public apathy following decades of graft and mismanagement and a possible low turnout because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The archbishop of Chile’s capital Santiago, Celestino Aos, has been hospitalised after testing positive for the coronavirus, the Roman Catholic Church in Chile wrote in a statement posted on Twitter on Saturday.

South Africa has recorded 1 285 new coronavirus infections and 30 fatalities in the last 24-hour cycle. The total number of infections is now 1 557 527, while the death toll has risen to 53 256.

South Africa's largest urban nature reserve, the Rietvlei Nature Reserve, discovered a new born rhino calf this past week.

Collins Khosa was assaulted, allegedly by soldiers, who had been patrolling the streets during the hard lockdown.

As global efforts to ramp up vaccination programmes around the world continue, China has been steadily making progress.

The van Zyl family has issued a statement, asking for privacy as they mourn the former Kaya FM radio presenter.

Van Zyl became popular by using her medical knowledge to educate social media users on health matters. She also offered support and advice to those who reached out to her for help.

The assistants were employed in December last year, as part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus programme. The aim is to mitigate job losses, in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran imposed a 10-day lockdown across most of the country on Saturday to curb the spread of a fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, state media reported.

South Africa has recorded 1 366 new coronavirus infections in the last 24-hour cycle, taking the total number to 1 556 242.

Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Thembi Siweya, says she is satisfied with the rolling out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Mpumalanga.

In this week's Global COVID-19 Wrap, SABC News captures highlights from all corners of the globe, as the number of confirmed infections worldwide continues to rise.

Department of Science & Innovation Director-General, Dr. Phil Mjwara says he hopes an announcement will be made in the next 18 months on how far it is in terms of ensuring locally manufactured vaccines.

South Africans have expressed concern about South Africa's procurement of more than 50-million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Labour Federation Cosatu has raised questions over the pace of the vaccination rollout programme saying the government's aim of obtaining herd immunity against COVID-19, is far from being achieved.