First data on HIV and Covid-19 offers tentative hope
By: illovuonline news team
02-05-2020
Image: supplied
A healthcare worker performs an HIV test on November 4, 2009 in Pretoria, South Africa.
One of the biggest concerns of public health experts in South Africa is how Covid-19 could affect HIV-positive people. To date, there has been little data available – but two new studies from Spain and the US seem to offer cause for cautious optimism.
Among the major reasons for South Africa needing to enter lockdown hard and fast: Because so little was known about how coronavirus will affect people who are HIV-positive.
Of the roughly 7.7 million people living locally with HIV, South Africa also has an estimated population of between 2 and 2.5 million people who are HIV-positive, but not currently on antiretroviral treatment.
Earlier in April 2020, the government’s top coronavirus adviser Salim Abdool Karim told a Daily Maverick webinar that about 500,000 members of this group are believed to have viral loads which indicate that they are immuno-compromised.
“That is the group we need really to be concerned about,” Abdool Karim said.
“Those are young people and they are walking around in our communities, they are at risk, and if they get [Covid-19] they may have a very severe disease course.”
The fear of how HIV and Covid-19 might interact has been keeping public health experts up at night. As Abdool Karim explained, the medical data available from China offered few hints as to how Covid-19 might impact HIV-positive people – meaning that local health officials have been flying blind, but expecting the worst.
Over the past fortnight, however, two international studies have provided the first clues as to the prevalence of Covid-19 infection among HIV-positive people, and the Covid-19 disease course for such patients.
A report published in the Journal of American Medicine on 22 April 2020 examined the clinical characteristics of 5,700 patients hospitalised for Covid-19 in New York City between 1 March and 4 April 2020.
Of these 5,700 patients, only 43 patients had HIV – 0.8%.
Notes Aidsmap: “As the background prevalence of HIV in New York City is around 1.3%, the data appear to confirm that HIV is not in itself a risk factor for greater vulnerability to the new coronavirus.”
The study found that underlying conditions which were much more common than HIV in the New York patients admitted for Covid-19 were high blood pressure (present in 57% of patients), obesity (42%) and diabetes (34%).
The study’s authors write: “To our knowledge, this study represents the first large case series [a series of reports on patients given similar treatment] of sequentially hospitalised patients with confirmed Covid-19 in the US.”
The results of a much smaller, but more detailed study were published in British medical journal The Lancet on 15 April 2020.
That study was based on 543 Covid-19 admissions to a hospital in Barcelona in early March. Of all 543, five were HIV-positive (0,92%).
All five were male and under 50 years old, and two had other underlying conditions (asthma and an underactive thyroid gland).
“Two patients had upper-respiratory tract infections, and three had viral pneumonia,” write the authors.
Two of the five cases needed to be treated in intensive care and required ventilation. Of these two most severe cases, one patient was discharged after 14 days and one was still in hospital 21 days later.
The three milder cases were discharged from hospital between one and four days after admission.
Writes Aidsmap: “Taken together, the five cases did not differ from other coronavirus patients in terms of symptoms or clinical course, offering some reassurance that HIV does not place people at higher risk of severe illness”.
The caveat, however, is that all five of the patients in question had undetectable viral loads and healthy CD4 T-cell counts. All but one were on antiretroviral treatment.
These are factors which mean that it cannot be assumed the same findings would apply to immuno-compromised South Africans who are not on treatment.
Local epidemiologists contacted by Daily Maverick on Thursday said that although these studies looked reasonably encouraging, it was still too early to tell how the twin pandemics of HIV and Covid-19 would play out in South Africa. Relevant data is not yet available.
As far as Daily Maverick is able to establish, based on department of health reporting, however, there has to date been just one Covid-19 death in South Africa of a person living with HIV, of the 103 total fatalities – 0.97%.
A greater problem may be posed bygrowing reports of HIV-positive people in South Africa skipping treatment because of anxieties around visiting hospitals and clinics during the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Thursday, the European Aids Clinical Society (EACS) published a statementnoting:
“So far there is no evidence for a higher Covid-19 infection rate or different disease course in people living with HIV than in HIV-negative people. Current evidence indicates that the risk of severe illness increases with age, male sex and with certain chronic medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes.”
However, the EACS also cautioned:
“It has to be assumed that immune suppression, indicated by a low CD4 T-cell count, or not receiving antiretroviral treatment, will also be associated with an increased risk for a more severe disease presentation.” DM
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News put South Africa first
Motshekga’s statement on plans for schools to reopen
By: illovuonline news team
01-05-2020
Image: supplied
Basic education minister Angie Motshekga on Thursday outlined the plans for schools to reopen. She announced that schools will reopen on June 1 for grade 12 and grade 7 pupils.
Below is her full speech, as provided to journalists. It is published here unedited:
The past few weeks have affected South Africans in ways we have never experienced before. This, there has been an increase in anxiety and confusion in relation with the status of schooling, and when learners would be allowed to go back into their schools.
This morning the National Coronavirus Command Council held a meeting to consider the plans for the basic education sector in the context of the COVID-19. Prior to the presentations of the plans at Cabinet we presented the plans at the National Coronavirus Command Council.
Since 26 March 2020 in the basic education sector we have held just less than fifty (50) meetings with different stakeholders. In each meeting we deliberated on the future of basic education, following the COVID-19-induced national state of disaster, resulting in the national lockdown.
Once principle guiding us was lowering the infection rate, ensuring safety but balance it against protecting lives.
At all times during the consultations we have started with the safety of our learners, teachers and employees. We made safety a priority.
The consultation process
We have consulted extensively in the sector. We have held robust discussions about what needs to be done to reopen our schools.
We have not forgotten why we are here, it is because of the coronavirus. As I said we held no less than 50 meetings in the sector to find a ways of getting back to work without compromising the lives of our learners, teachers and employees.
On the 7th and 26 of April we met and consulted South African Democratic Teacher Union (SADTU), National Professional Teachers of South Africa (NAPTOSA), Suid Afrikaanse Onderwysers Unie (SAOU), National Association of Teacher Union (NATU), and Professional Educators Union (PEU).
On the 10th and 26 of April we met the following organisations:
Association for Special Education (SENASE)
Education Management Association of South Africa (EMASA)
South African Principal Association (SAPA
Federation of Association of Governing Bodies (FEDSAS)
National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB)
Governing Body Foundation (GBF)
On the 21st of April we consulted the Independent Examination Body (IEB), National Alliance of Independent Schools Associations (NAISA). On the 25th and 28th April we met with South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI) and Southern Africa Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SABBATH) respectively.
On 13 and 17 April we consulted Umalusi, Education Labour Relations Council, South African Council for Educators, Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA), and the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT).
And then on the 22nd of April we met civil society organisations that include; NASCEE, TeachSA, PSP, COUNT, Maths Centre, CASME, Nal’ibali, Molteno Institute for language and Literacy, Room to Lead, Project Literacy, Read, New Leaders Foundation, Symphonia for South Africa, PILO, Unicef, MIET, Save the Children, Section 27 , Equal Education Law Centre, DGMT, IPASA, ETDPSETA, Nedbank, First Rand, Standard Bank, Zenex, Anglo American, Old Mutual, Kagiso Trust, Trialogue, Deans Forum, Nelson Mandela University, University of Johannesburg, University of Free State, ILIFA, Smart Start.
In all the meetings the principle of opening of schools at the right time was accepted once all the conditions have been met.
They proposed that in order to deal with social distancing they requested the department to use community and town halls, platooning and shifting.
They requested the department to provide Personal Protection Equipment. The department should provide awareness campaign to parents particularly in rural areas. They also proposed that the phased in reopening should also include special schools.
We have also received representations from ordinary members of the public, who are concerned about the impact of the COVID-19, insofar as it affects schools. We appreciate all the proposals; it is really helpful.
We are also mindful of the huge size of the sector and the many responsibilities we have in our hands.
Learner support interventions
Following the announcement of the national lockdown by the President, the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) agreed to focus on a catch-up programme, and double our efforts towards the promotion of learning and teaching in homes; and towards the preparation a catch-up programme, when the children come back to schools.
We are grateful that our partners that the Department of Basic Education and partners have made great strides to reach out to as many learners as possible with the provision of curriculum support during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Department has used one-hundred and twenty-three (123) radio stations, and six (6) different television channels with a total reach of more than thirty-five (35) million people.
The initiative was put in place as an intervention to bring curriculum lessons to households across the country to assist learners as schools remain closed. This in a bid to minimise the impact of the Corona Virus on basic education.
In addition to the thirteen (13) radio stations of the SABC, which broadcast in all official languages, one-hundred and ten (110) community radio stations are also involved in carrying curriculum content on a daily basis.
The COVID-19 Learner Support programme is aimed at limiting the impact of the lockdown to the school calendar. The initiative is part of the broader efforts to prevent a total loss of school year, since the lockdown was announced by the President, as a measure to combat the spread of the Corona Virus, also known as COVID-19.
The radio lessons broadcast are providing curriculum support lessons to learners in various Grades, including Early Childhood Development (ECD). Some of the subjects covered, include Maths, Physical Sciences, English FAL, Life Sciences, and Accounting. A variety of African languages, are also covered under the ECD basket. Learners are encouraged to check their local listings for the exact slots for radio.
We also made available resources online for those who can access such online resources. We appreciate the contribution by our partners for the zero-rated platforms, which carry curriculum content for use in the current situation of the lockdown.
We acknowledge that all these efforts are not perfect; however, we needed to put in place measures to close the vacuum that would have existed as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown.
The impact of COVID-19 on basic education
The impact of COVID-19 will be felt for a long time to come.
We have taken a decision to postpone the May/June Matric rewrite examinations. The exams were due to be written by more than three hundred and fifty thousand (350 000), mainly part-time candidates, from the 04 May and conclude on 26 June 2020.
Due to the lockdown, we have not been able to complete our preparations, which include the printing and distribution of questions papers, the appointment of invigilators, markers, and the general readiness in marking centres.
The examinations will therefore, be merged with the November examinations. A new time-table for the merged examinations will be communicated urgently, as part of preparing the system for the biggest matric examination ever seen in the country. We estimate that one million and one-hundred thousand candidates, will sit for the end-of-year matric examinations in this merged format, which includes the Amended Senior Certificate and National Senior Certificate.
The coronavirus is still with us, and it will be with us for some time. It is for that reason that we have taken a decision to cancel all our school enrichment programmes, such as Spelling BEE, the South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (popularly known as the SASCE), school sports, school trips, and assemblies. All of these, will not be permitted in schools, until such time that we inform the public otherwise. I will speak about the measures to be implemented in schools later.
Due to the infection rate, it is clear that we need to continue to work together, to contain the transmission of the virus. As a sector, we have to play our part together with all our key stakeholders.
On school fees
The CEM took note of the concern, regarding the issues of school fees. We indicated from the start, that school fees are payable, where the children attend fee-paying schools. We received reports that in some schools, parents did not pay fees; and this has affected the salaries of SGB-appointed teachers. It was agreed that provinces would look into the matter, to find an amicable but implementable solution. In the meantime, we urge all parents to continue paying school fees. If you cannot pay, because your circumstances have changed as a result of the COVID-19, please approach the school, and communicate your challenges with them.
The recovery plan
In the past weeks, we have worked with provinces to prepare for the reopening of schools.
Each province, district, circuit and school, must have a practical and comprehensive catch-up plan to be implemented. The plans must talk to the risk profiles of the areas in which schools are located, and this must be based on the infection rate in the specific geographic areas.
The decisions that are taken, are based on scientific considerations. We have been advised to adopt a phased approach in the reopening of schools. Uppermost in our planning, is the health and safety of our school communities – particularly learners and teachers.
Standard Operating Procedures for the containment and management of COVID-19
As part of our preparations among other things we have developed Standard Operating Procedures for the containment and management of the Corona Virus for childcare facilities, schools, and school communities. This we did, in consultation with the Department of Health. The Standard Operating Procedures will provide guidelines for all administrators on the steps to be undertaken in order to prevent the spread, and manage cases of COVID-19, including:
Guidance for childcare facilities and schools on preventing the spread of the coronavirus;
Role of childcare facilities and schools in responding to the COVID-19;
Management of COVD-19 cases in a childcare facility or school;
Guidelines for Heads of Departments and Supervisors on COVID-19 – procedures regarding employees;
Management and monitoring of absenteeism is schools;
Management of learner transport measures;
Closure of a unit / component / office / department, if an employee tested positive for COVID-19; and
How to clean educational establishments, where there were learners, staff members, or others, with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Pillars of our sector plan
In our case, the CEM agreed on a number of steps that must be taken to ensure that the health and safety of our learners and teachers are not compromised. These measures are contained in the Standard Operating Procedures Booklet, which will be used in all schools.
Measures contained in our plans are as follows for social distancing:
Physical distances in classrooms, includes not more than 2 learners sharing desks;
No hugging or handshaking;
Direct contact must be avoided;
Cloth masks to be worn by learners and teachers at all times;
No mass public events. All sports matches, choral practices and festivals, eisteddfods are not permitted; and
Extra classes should be arranged in small groups that maintain social distancing.
Infrastructure and Furniture:
Sanitize classrooms prior to the start of school day;
Sanitize hands on entering of classrooms;
Limit movement of learners between classes; and
No clustering of desks in classrooms.
Transport:
We are working with the Department of Transport to ensure that buses are sanitized prior to start of all trips;
Everybody to sanitize hands on entering of the buses;
The distance between learners in the buses must be managed; and
The wearing of masks throughout the school day, starting before boarding transport, is compulsory.
Remedial measures
The provincial education departments have identified three thousand five hundred schools that critical water supply challenges. These schools are spread all over the country, except for the Western Cape. The highest numbers of these schools are in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
The Department of Water and Sanitation has initiated an Emergency Water Supply programme, through which water tanks will be installed at critical supply points; and portable water will be delivered to these tanks, using water trucks. The DBE will participate in this initiative to get water tanks installed at the identified schools, and to get portable water delivered to these tanks.
Basic hygiene and sanitation package
A basic and essential hygiene and sanitation package has been developed, and provinces are procuring the critical items. These, include cleaning and disinfection materials, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), sanitizers, hand-washing soap, gloves, cloth masks and thermometers.
The DBE has developed Guidelines for schools on maintaining hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide recommendations on the proper cleaning, and use of Personal Protective Equipment, based on risk exposure including:
Basic principles of infection prevention and control;
Risk reduction methods for schools, classrooms, toilets or bathrooms, offices, and food preparation areas;
Daily duties of cleaners; and
How to use Personal Protective Equipment.
Screening and testing
Screening of learners and educators will be done at the reopening of schools, starting with Grades 7 and 12. Temperature checks will be administered; and
Learners or staff members who present with raised temperatures, will then be considered for isolation and testing.
On the Reopening of Schools
There are preconditions for the reopening of schools. We have developed a curriculum recovery framework, which is guided by the following principles:
Responsiveness to the national COVD-19 programme to ensure that the national regulations, programmes and protocols are strictly adhered to;
Inclusion and equity to ensure that all learners, and in particular the most vulnerable, access the planned programme;
Targeted approach, taking cognisance of the unique needs of schools, phases and Grades;
Size and scope to ensure that the curriculum plans are determined in a flexible way, guided by the size and the scope of the crisis, a short- or long-term lockdown, and the implications that this will have on teaching and learning;
Partnerships that promote full participation and ownership of all key stakeholders;
Safety and security in order to maintain the safety, the health and the well-being of teachers, learners and support staff;
Time management, as the time is of essence in the recovery plan, and a focus on skills, knowledge and values;
Nationally coordinated approach, through which, the DBE will provide clear directives of what is expected of each provincial education departments, followed by strict monitoring of compliance to the given directives.
Orientation and training as well as psychosocial support programmes
We have decided on an orientation and training programme for all stakeholders in the sector.
The purpose of the orientation and training programme is to enable learners, educators and non-teaching staff to adjust to and become familiar with the special arrangements at schools, following the outbreak of the coronavirus in South Africa.
The orientation programme provides guidelines for interaction with learners, parents, educators and non-teaching staff in the school community. All learners, educators and support staff will receive orientation and training at the start of the school reopening, commencing with Grades 7 and 12.
We are aware of the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on families and society in general. It is unprecedented, and as a result, an increase in social, mental, psychological and emotional difficulties amongst learners, educators and officials, is anticipated, due to losses and trauma experienced through COVID-19. Schools, as social institutions, are serviced by the Psychosocial Support Services of the Departments of Social Development and Health. We have also been working closely with other departments in the Social Cluster.
In addition to these, the Basic Education Sector has psychologists and social workers, who had prior training on counseling. They will be able to use their skills to support schools. We are mindful of the needs of learners with disabilities. The DBE is working with provinces to ensure that special schools are adequately provided for in all the plans we have put together.
On the revised school calendar
As I had indicated earlier the CEM was not rigid in looking about the reopening date. In our school readiness plans, we needed to make sure that they are aligned to the Risk Adjusted Plans, taking into account epicenters of the spread of the Corona Virus in the different provinces and the Metros.
The original school calendar year, started on 15 January 2020, and would have ended on 04 December 2020.
This morning the National Coronavirus Command Council approved that the School Calendar for 2020 be adjusted as follows:
1. Office-based staff to return to work on 4th May 2020. This is in line with the directive from the Department of Public Service and Administration.
2. School Management Teams should return to work on the 11th May 2020. This, we have done to ensure that the School Management Teams prepare the schools prior to return of learners.
3. Teachers return to work on 18 May 2020 and then
4. Grade 12 and 7 learners go back to school on the 1st of June 2020.
As I said earlier the plan to have officials in the schools to receive the material that is required for the safety measures but also to prepare the school for learning and teaching under the new conditions.
The school calendar will be gazetted once the administrative work has been completed.
Special arrangements will be made to permit learners and teachers, who are currently in other towns or cities, provinces and/or neighboring countries, other than those where their respective schools are located, to return to their schools and places of residence.
A special dispensation will also put in place for learners who experience barriers to learning, taking into account the severity of barrier.
On the vandalism of schools
We want to express our deep concern about what is happening in our schools since the lockdown was imposed. Province have reported that nine-hundred and sixty two (962) schools that have been vandalised in almost all our seventy-five (75) districts. The theft, vandalism and burglaries have taken place in all provinces. In almost all the incidents, administration blocks and laboratories have been targeted, and ICT equipment have been stolen.
Provinces have also reported that foodstuff, meant for the school nutrition programme, have also been stolen. The Umlazi District in KZN, is the hardest hit, with forty-one (41) schools affected. This is shocking and disturbing. We are extremely concerned by this level of criminality.
We welcome the work done by the Police thus far, in arresting the suspects, some of whom, were found in possession of the items believed to have been stolen from the schools.
The barbaric acts of vandalism, must be condemned by all of us. We cannot afford a situation
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I don’t support alcohol and cigarette ban’: Tito Mboweni
By: illovuonline news team
01-05-2020
Image: supplied
Finance minister Tito Mboweni has revealed that he does not support the government’s decision to continue with the ban on alcohol and cigarette sales as the country moves from level five to level four of the lockdown.
At the same time, Sars commissioner Edward Kieswetter told MPs that the taxman has so far lost R1.5bn in tax revenue that could have been generated from the sale of alcohol and tobacco since the lockdown began on March 25.
Responding to questions during a joint virtual meeting of parliament’s various finance committees, Mboweni indicated that he would have allowed the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products to resume if he had his way, but has to support the cabinet collective decision.
“I didn’t like the continuous ban on tobacco and alcohol but I lost the debate and therefore I have to toe the line,” Mboweni told MPs from the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.
“I know I’m losing a lot of revenue in the middle of being under pressure to spend but nevertheless that’s a decision of cabinet and I have to fall in line if want to (continue being) a member of the executive. If you can’t fall in line you must leave, so one has to fall in line in that regard.”
Mboweni also stated that the National Treasury and the tax revenue service were expecting tax revenue collection to decline “by some 32% or more” as the coronavirus continued to cripple the economy, which would force government to borrow more money to finance its expenditure programmes.
Kieswetter said Sars was so far R13bn down on revenue due to a sluggish economy and this was likely to deteriorate further due to the effect of Covid-19.
“This is driven mainly by VAT, excise, by import duties and by pay as you earn and I have to indicate that this will get significantly worse once the tax relief measures kick in because that then introduces further deferral of some of these payments, and so we anticipate a significant decline in tax revenue purely driven by the state of the economy as well as the tax relief measures that government has announced.”
Kieswetter said in terms of the ban on alcohol and cigarette sales alone, government has lost R1.5bn in potential tax collections since the lockdown began in March.
“I can share with the committee that months to date, in terms of beer sales, we have under recovered R664m, in terms of wine we’ve under recovered almost R300m, spirits just over R400m and cigarettes just over R300m.
“So year to date our under-recovery from these activities is one and a half billion and we’re just through the first month,” said the tax chief, while adding that they were concerned that the illicit trade was flourishing during the lockdown.
Turning to government’s decision to approach the IMF for a US$4.2bn loan facility, Mboweni said government would do so without entering into any discussions on conditionalities with the global finance institution.
There have been concerns in some political quarters that seeking a loan from the IMF would compromise the sovereignty of SA.
“We’ve not begun any negotiations, it’s a long process which will take us a number of weeks to get into. We’ve not closed the window, it’s something we should still look into.
“Will there be any conditions attached? My understanding is, there will be no conditions attached. In fact I’m not interested in discussing any conditionalities with the IMF.
“We know what to do for our economy and we’ll do what we can ourselves, so I’m not interested in discussions on conditionalities.”
Tito Mboweni to give breakdown of R500bn coronavirus relief package
Finance minister Tito Mboweni will give more details on Friday afternoon about the R500bn coronavirus relief package announced by President Cyril …
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Fact Check: No, SASSA isn’t requesting bank details for Covid-19 grant
By: illovuonline news team
01-05-2020
Image: supplied
South African citizens have reportedly been messages from SASSA to provide their banking details – The SMS claims that this is in order to access the special temporary Covid-19 grant –
illovuonline news looks into the validity of the messages causing confusion in Mzansi.
South Africans have allegedly been receiving messages requesting their banking details in order to access the Covid-19 grant. There is indeed a R350 Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant and the message in question prompts the receiver to verify their account details.
“Your account number has been approved among those that are qualified for the government’s R350 Covid-19 intervention fund. This amount will be credited to your account after you verify your details.” The receiver is then prompted to provide sensitive information including the number at the back of their personal bank card.
However, SASSA has since condemned the message as fake, issuing a warning to South Africans. “Please do not give your bank details to anyone via SMS, as it is NOT from SASSA. The special temporary COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress will only be applied for as soon as its application system is in place, which will be announced when ready.”
The grant provider encouraged citizens to spread awareness over the fraudulent message in a bid to protect potential victims. “This is the new way of bank fraud in the name of Covid-19 , don’t give your bank details to anyone via message.
Once you do that, you have yourself to blame as the government will not request such information via SMS. Please share with your friends in different groups.
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Survivor: 89-year-old grandma battling cancer finally ‘smashes’ Covid-19
By: illovuonline news team
01-05-2020
Image: supplied
Ida Price of Louisana tested positive for the coronavirus in late March 2020 – The 89-year-old had been battling colon cancer before testing positive for the coronavirus –
Price beat the odds in the hospital without complications and was discharged a little more than a week ago.
Ida Price of Louisana has beat the odds after fighting off Covid-19 while at the same time battling cancer, making her a medical miracle. The 89-year-old grandma learned she had the coronavirus in late March after a relative tested positive.
Not long after, she was tested and diagnosed with Covid-19, though she showed no symptoms.
Price said she didn’t have a fever and never had a cough. Neither did she experience any chest pains. After testing positive for the Covid-19, her children moved quickly to bring her to Houston from her home in Louisana and checked her into United Memorial Medical Hospital because she was already battling colon cancer.
illovuonline news gathers that she spent a week in the hospital without complications and was discharged about a little more than a week ago. Price credits her survival to clean living, a good diet and her religious faith. “I drink plenty of hot teas, fruits and vegetables. I love greens,”
click2houston.com quotes Price as saying. Currently, Price is still quarantined at her daughter, Nancy’s home, awaiting final test results. She said everyone needs to listen to doctors and health officials after overcoming the virus because, ‘‘This is a serious thing.
I found out this is no joke.” In a related story, illovuonline news reported that a granny aged 101 became the latest centurion to beat the deadly coronavirus. Angelina Freedman from New York, US, tested positive for the coronavirus on 21 March and had been suffering on and off fevers for weeks. According to Daily Mail, Angelina did not only beat coronavirus but also survived the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918 and defeated cancer.
Her family hailed her as a superhuman as no disease could put her down, having also experienced miscarriages and sepsis before.
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Fears Western Cape could face ‘explosion of infections’ under Level 4 lockdown
By: illovuonline news team
01-05-2020
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Cape Town – Political parties in the Western Cape fear an explosion in new infections if level 4 lockdown is implemented because there is not enough stringent enforcement of the Disaster Management Act regulations.
National restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 are expected to be eased, starting from Friday so that parts of the economy can reopen as the government introduced a five-level phased response announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last Thursday.
ANC deputy chief whip in the legislature and the party’s provincial spokesperson on education Khalid Sayed said the Western Cape, with the highest Covid-19 infection rate in the country, was not ready to move to level 4.
“It has the highest amount of fatalities and largest number of people on ventilators. We have seen high levels of defiance of lockdown regulations and measures and not enough enforcement,” Sayed said.
He added that the slightest relaxation might result in many people going out.
“We will see the proliferation of cigarettes which are easily shared among people in poor areas and poses a major threat to the respiratory system. We call on Premier Alan Winde to first get a grip on the situation before just relaxing the measures.”
Good Party secretary-general Brett Herron said he had delivered food donations and assisted people in various communities over the past five weeks. “On the Cape Flats, townships and informal settlements there is little prospect of home isolation and I have seen quite a lot of movement of people in the streets. This is understandable as car ownership is lower and poorer people walk,” Herron said.
He said he had seen substantial crowding at supermarkets in low-income areas, and lots of children playing in the streets.
“These structural barriers to fully complying with the isolation and social distancing will not change. They are the legacy of our spatial planning history and a failure to change that legacy. They are what places poorer communities at higher risk of infection,” Herron said.
He said moving to level 4 would increase the risk of infection if it was not properly managed. “But the move to reopening economic activity could also reduce some of the anxiety and non-compliance in poorer communities if people can start earning a living or getting their informal or small business operating again.”
Herron said the more people are able to get back to livelihoods the less they would rely on neighbours for food and assistance.
“Our province is the highest risk area in the country. We must manage the transition to level 4 with great caution and responsibility. Our duty is to get as many people back to work as safely as possible,” he said.
Premier Alan Winde said he was unable to comment on the new regulations as these have not been promulgated yet.
“The national government has yet to publish any regulations around the level 4 lockdown and we are unable to comment on this until then.”
But MEC for finance, economic opportunities and tourism David Maynier said: “We have supported the nationwide lockdown implemented by the national government However, the detrimental impact of this temporary closure of the economy on businesses, especially small businesses and the informal sector, as well as individual employees, has been huge. And so, the risk-adjusted strategy proposed by the government will begin to breathe new life into the economy.”
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Checklist: Who can claim the new R350-a-month grant from SASSA?
By: illovuonline news team
01-05-2020
Image: supplied
SASSA’s newly introduced Social Relief of Distress Grant – worth R350 a month – can be claimed from May. Here’s who qualifies for the payments.
in Finance
Although many South Africans are assisted by their UIF or SASSA paymentsduring this difficult time, up to six million of our fellow citizens currently have no support network in place. That’s why a monthly R350 grant has been created by the government – and the details of who will be allowed to apply were released on Wednesday.
Who qualifies for the new R350 grant?
As social development minister Lindiwe Zulu explained earlier, the grant will be in place from May to October, paying out for the next six months only. Successful applicants could earn up to R2 100 in that time, but its existence is just a temporary measure to help guide SA through this global health crisis.
So, if you’re in need of financial assistance, this route could be your best option. The criteria you must meet includes:
You have to be:
Over the age of 18.
Currently unemployed.
Not receiving any other form of income.
Not receiving any other form of social grants.
Unable to claim UIF and unqualified to receive the benefits of unemployment benefits.
Unable to receive a stipend from NSFAS
Living outside of government-funded or subsidised institutions.
When applying, you will need to provide the following details:
Identity number OR Department of Home Affairs permit.
Name and Surname as per your ID.
Your gender and any possible disabilities.
Banking details, including the name of your bank and the account number you have.
Contact details, such as a cell phone number.
Proof of address.
How to apply for SASSA’s R350 Relief of Distress Grant:
Please note that applications are not yet open. But the first payments of this grant will be dished out on 15 May. The government will confirm when you can submit your details nearer the time. Citizens will eventually be asked to apply by sending a WhatsApp to +27 60 012 3456, or by emailing SRD@sassa.gov.za
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Stop playing with Uzalo actress Nyalleng Thibedi aka Zekhethelo, she is too much – Pictures
By: illovuonline news team
01-05-2020
Image: supplied
Quit playing or underrating the Chemical Engineering graduate and actress Nyalleng Thibedi, who is popularly known as Zekhethelo on South Africa’s number 1 television show, Uzalowhich airs on SABC 1 every weekday Monday to Friday at half-past eight(8.30 pm).
You talk of talent, fashion taste, intelligence, only to mention a few, that is her and you wouldn’t want to mess with such kind of a person.
After she has stolen the hearts of millions of Mzansi with her incredible acting skills from the show, she has extended her wings into the social media streets and she is doing the most. Have you checked her Instagram yet, well, after going through it you will probably triple your love for her.
Growing up, we most heard and at times encountered beauties without brains, but with Nyalleng it’s a whole different thing. From her beautiful posts she shares on social media platforms, she has captioned wise and mind-blowing quotes from which her followers agree she is caring.
From one of her pictures, she wrote an amazing quote by Paul Brunton which goes, “Solitude is strength; to depend on the presence of the crowd is weakness. The man who needs a mob to nerve him is much more alone than he imagines.”
Some few days ago illovuonline news published that actress Dineo Langa (nee Moeketsi) was fired from one of Mzansi’s most viewed television soapie, The Queen, reportedly after asking for a three-month break to shoot a movie.
However, a showrunner at Ferguson Films, Lauren Nell has come out to address the reports that Dineo was fired. “Her contract was not terminated. She is still on payroll until the end of May. Dineo was released to go and shoot her movie. Scripts had to be rewritten to accommodate this as she was on an ‘A’ storyline. She was scheduled to return in April, but due to the lockdown, everything has changed. All cast and crew contracts end at the end of May”, she said. continue reading
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• The face mask must cover the nose and mouth completely.
• Face masks should not be lowered when speaking, coughing or sneezing.
• Face masks should not be repeatedly touched-fidgeting with the mask repeatedly is strongly discouraged.
• The inner side of the mask should not be touched by hands.
• Wash hands after removing the face mask.
• Wash cloth face masks with warm soapy water and iron when dry.
• Each person will need to have at least 2 face masks so that one face mask is available when the other is being washed.
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“Cloth face mask is better” support local business @Illovu township. Selling cloth face mask
By: illovuonline news team
01-05-2020
Image: supplied
Cloth face mask is better as it can be re-used.
You can wear it and wash it to use it the following the day.
Having two or three cloth face mask is better.
Two guys from Illovu township has started their own business selling cloth face mask.
Support local business and don’t forget to wear your face mask when you living your house.
How to use a cloth face mask?
• The face mask must cover the nose and mouth completely.
• Face masks should not be lowered when speaking, coughing or sneezing.
• Face masks should not be repeatedly touched-fidgeting with the mask repeatedly is strongly discouraged.
• The inner side of the mask should not be touched by hands.
• Wash hands after removing the face mask.
• Wash cloth face masks with warm soapy water and iron when dry.
• Each person will need to have at least 2 face masks so that one face mask is available when the other is being washed.
For more information and to order contact 060 404 3514(WhatsApp only)
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