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A health worker conducts a coronavirus rapid antigen test at a Testaro Covid-19 testing site in the Goodwood district of Cape Town, South Africa, on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. South Africa announced the discovery of a new variant, later christened omicron, on Nov. 25 as cases began to spike and the strain spread across the globe. (Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Meet the scientists tracking Covid-19’s crappy future

Water in the country’s drains can pick up a spike in Covid-19 cases or a threatening new variant in time for clinics to prepare for an influx of patients

Spreading a measure of safety: Healthcare workers wait for doses to start vaccinating people with Pfizer vaccines at the Bertha Gxowa Hospital in Germiston. (Michele Spatari/AFP)

How quickly Omicron is spreading in South Africa?

The Omicron variant’s spread across South Africa has already surpassed the peak of the Delta-driven third wave. Here’s what the data tells us so far about how quickly Omicron…

Alarm as almost 20% of South Africa’s healthcare workers contract Covid

The 10-day healthcare worker ‘isolate and contact trace’ policy puts pressure on other healthcare workers and compromises hospitals’ ability to deliver quality healthcare

Making vaccination mandatory may be beneficial, given that the government has a responsibility to protect its people; but it does raise the issue of whether forcing individuals to receive a compulsory vaccination would interfere with their rights.

Unvaccinated South Africans to pay more for insurance premiums

Insurance companies have adjusted their premiums and people who are not vaccinated will pay more for cover

‘Reckless’: Vaccinated travellers from some countries arriving at Heathrow won’t have to quarantine. Photo: Hollie Adams/Getty Images

South Africa says UK red list travel decision on new Covid variant is premature

The department of international relations and cooperation says the travel ban on Southern African countries seems to be rushed

How South Africa’s ivermectin use slips through the cracks

There is less demand for ivermectin when South Africa is between Covid-19 waves. But nobody is tracking how many people may be using the animal formulation

Experts surprised by C.1.2 mutations but say it might not be different from other variants. (Photo by Morris MacMatzen/Getty Images)

No need to panic over new Covid-19 variant C.1.2

Experts studying the new variant are surprised by its substantial and unexpected mutations but are confident that current vaccines will be effective against it

(John McCann/M&G)

‘Don’t panic’ about India Covid variant

Scientists in South Africa say there’s no evidence that the B.1.617 is worse than our local variant

Covid-19: Knowns, unknowns and opportunities

In the middle of the crisis lies a world of opportunities on which we can capitalise

President urges caution against more contagious Covid variant as SA moves to level 1

The curfew is shorter, alcohol sale times almost normal and more people can meet at religious, social, political and cultural gatherings

Increased intensity: A nurse in a Covid-19 isolation ward at the George Mukhari hospital gives her patients their meals. Healthworkers say it almost feels as if they’re dealing with a different virus during the second wave. There are far more patients and deaths, and the disease seems more intense. (James Oatway)

Inside George Mukhari hospital’s second wave

The Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism and James Oatway visited George Mukhari academic hospital to document the second-wave realities experienced by doctors and nurses

(Mail & Guardian)

Editorial: 2021 — No choice but be strong

Pharmaceutical companies are yet to register their vaccines with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, boding ill for its delivery to the public

Virtual reality a relief this year

Viewing January 8 off the screen instead of from the middle of a stadium should be the way of the future