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BREAKING NEWS: First East London Covid-19 death at Frere Hospital - DispatchLIVE

East London has recorded its first death from Covid-19 – an unidentified elderly patient who died at Frere Hospital on Saturday. Provincial health MEC Sindiswa Gomba is believed to have given a radio interview on Thursday morning confirming the death. The dea…

Provincial health MEC Sindiswa Gomba is believed to have given a radio interview on Thursday morning confirming the death. The death did not form part of health minister Zweli Mkhizes update on the countrywide infections and deaths as at midnight on Tuesday and Eastern Cape health department spokespersons have consistently refused to confirm the death. However, three independent sources confirmed to DispatchLIVE on Wednesday that the patient had died at East Londons Frere Hospital from Covid-19, with one source stating: It helps nobody to duck and dive. DispatchLIVE has held back 24 hours on publishing this information until official confirmation was received. That still has not been received, but Gombas spokesperson Judy Ngoloyi has confirmed she provided an audio interview on Thursday morning. Ngoloyi did not respond to repeated questions of whether Gomba confirmed the death during the interview. Ngoloyi offered to send DispatchLIVE an audio clip of the interview but it was not received at the time of publication. It is understood the elderly woman was admitted to the hospital last week and initially was diagnosed with an underlying illness. It is not clear if the woman was tested before or after she died, but sources confirmed that the test results were positive. On Wednesday, Frere staff who may have been exposed to the patient were corralled for most of the day as senior managers held discussions with union leaders on issues that included whether staff could self-isolate at home while they waited for test results or continue to work. Officials also had concerns about the absence of personal protective equipment for staff. Staff were warned against disclosing any information about the death or the subsequent actions within the hospital. The metro has seen a huge spike in Covid-19 infections following a cluster outbreak within the West Bank prison womens section. It is not clear how the virus entered the prison. DispatchLIVE has challenged the provincial health department on its failure to properly announce the death to the public through a simultaneous release to all media.

COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES | Covid-19 cases in SA rise to 2173 - DispatchLIVE

Live Covid-19 coverage.

April 12 2020 - 14:50 Boris Johnson 'discharged from hospital': Downing Street British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was discharged from hospital on Sunday, a Downing Street spokesman said, a week after being admitted for treatment for coronavirus and spending three days in intensive care. "The PM has been discharged from hospital to continue his recovery, at Chequers," the spokesman said, referring to the prime minister's country estate outside London. "On the advice of his medical team, the PM will not be immediately returning to work." Johnson, 55, was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital on Sunday evening with a persistent high temperature and cough, and was rushed to intensive care on Monday where he spent three nights receiving treatment.

Call for Ramaphosa to suspend funerals - DispatchLIVE

A proposal has been made to President Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend all funerals in the country as a means to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The religious bodies also provided an alternative proposal,  that being the number of mourners per funeral be limited to 15 people. However, they said this could be risky, as the "chances of contracting the virus would still exist". Those attending would need to wear personal protection equipment. "Mr President, there are reports and overwhelming evidence that our people are not well informed about Covid-19, especially in rural communities.  This is evident from the numbers of funerals and/or traditional ceremonies continuing to take place, where attendees do not practise social distancing and/or adhere to the health standards as set out in the Covid-19 lockdown regulations," the organisations said in the statement. "Faith Leaders, especially,  are well aware of the unique demographics and cultural practices of our people  That having been said, the continuation of funerals, without involvement of local municipalities and people continuing to cross provinces, should be closely regulated. "In the event that this is not done and attended to as a matter of extreme urgency, sadly innocent people will be caught in the cross fire between the transmission with the coronavirus and the fight to prevent it from spreading."

Apple's most affordable iPhone well-timed for SA's fragile economy - ITWeb

The mid-range second-generation iPhone SE is a solid alternative for local consumers seeking a powerful phone on an affordable budget, say analysts.

Apples lower-cost second-generation iPhone SE, released in the midst of a fragile economy wreaked by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, is a well-timed, suitable fit for budget-conscious South Africans. As the impact of COVID-19 reverberates through the global economy, ICT analysts believe Apples new affordable device, announced last night, may help strengthen the American multinational technology companys position to better compete with mid-range smartphones from rivals Samsung, Huawei and Xiaomi, during a rough year for the smartphone market. The new phone, available for pre-order from 24 April, will sell for a starting price of $399 (R7 500) for a version with 64GB of storage, while the 128GB will go for $449 (R8 400) and the 256GB model will be made available for $549 (R10 300). It shares the same physical design and dimensions as the iPhone 8, with a more improved range of features that are comparable with the iPhone 11s. While Apple has taken the biggest knock among its competitors in recent months, as consumer spending slumps, Arnold Ponela, research analyst for mobile devices, image printing and document solutions at IDC, believes the new device will attract more consumers to Apple services, a growing driver of its revenue, as the tech giants shares fell 1.1%, in the S&P 500 index. The phone came at a right time when the global economy is hobbling due to the coronavirus. This model will appeal to budget-conscious customers and it could also attract more consumers to Apple services. A cheaper model may help Apple better compete in a price-sensitive market like SA, notes Ponela. While many South Africans love Apple, the high price of its products has made it difficult for most consumers to afford, and the new SE will be a game-changer in a price-sensitive market which is mainly driven by promotions, adds Ponela. The iPhones price starts at more than $50 (R930) less than what was previously the cheapest iPhone available, the iPhone 8. The coronavirus outbreak, which originated in China in December, resulted in almost all technology companies including Huawei, Amazon, Microsoft, Samsung, Google and Apple suspending their manufacturing operations for weeks. This resulted in delayed tech production lines and a significant drop in product sales, leading to Applecutting its sales expectations for this quarter. Apple joins other smartphone makers which launched phones in the middle of the pandemic, including Huawei, Samsung and Nokia. The Apple iPhone SE 2 will compete with phones such as the Samsung Galaxy A-Series, Samsung Galaxy S9, Huawei P20 and P30,Huawei P30,Google Pixel 4a and Motorola Moto G7. Rivals of the iPhone SE second generation iPhone SE is the second generation of a previous value model that is part of the ninth generation of the iPhone, first launched in 2016. It is powered by the Apple-designed A13 Bionic, which Apple claims is the fastest chip in any smartphone, and is designed to handle the most demanding tasks and also appears in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. It comes with a 4.7-inch Retina HD screen, paired with Touch ID for advanced security, a home button, and large bezels on the top and bottom of the phone. Phil Schiller, Apples senior VP of worldwide marketing, said in a statement: The first iPhone SE was a hit with many customers who loved its unique combination of small size, high-end performance and affordable price; the new second-generation iPhone SE builds on that great idea and improves on it in every way. The phone features a 12MP wide-angle single camera that supports portrait mode with lighting effects and Smart HDR, unlocking the benefits of computational photography, including portrait mode, and is designed to withstand the elements with dust- and water-resistance. It comes in three colours black, white and red and has an aerospace-grade aluminium and durable glass design with an all-black front. BMI-TechKnowledge MD and research analyst Ryan Smit notes the iPhone SE shares quite a few of the iPhone 11s features, which is a significantly more costly phone. This attractive price point will help it perform well in the local market, as it also means other price-sensitive consumers may see it as a good alternative to Android devices. If you are a person who would like an Apple product, as an aspirational good, then that price may seem very attractive given the fact that this phone has the same internal processor and shares quite a few of the iPhone 11s features, according to Smit. Apple has around 15% market share of Internet-enabled cellphones in SA, which grew slightly over the past 24 months. I anticipate that it should do well in the market. On the downside, the phone only has one camera and no night-mode, with a fairly out-dated form factor, including a smaller screen than that which many people are used to, and some Android phones at the same price may seem more modern in terms of the devices appearance, Smit points out. Given that the world, and SA, is entering a period of restrained economic activity, it may also be an option for those in the Apple ecosystem who need a new device but are worried about their finances, concludes Smit. iPhone SE specifications: Dimensions: 67.3 x 138.4 x 7.3mm, 148 gramsProcessor: A13 BionicScreen: 4.7-inch True Tone displaySelfie camera: 7MP cameraRear cameras: 12MP single 6-element lens, features OIS, flicker sensor for white balance, focus pixels, HDR, and portrait mode for people, video recording at 4K/60fpsStorage: 64GB, 128GB and 256GBOS: iOS 13Memory: TBDBattery: TBDConnectivity: WiFi 6, Gigabit LTE, Dual SIM with eSIMBiometric authentication: second-generation Touch ID fingerprint sensorWireless charging, lightning connector, 5W charger includedIP67 protection

Vodacom sees 40% jump in data usage as people stay at home - eNCA

Vodacom said its balance sheet remains "well managed" with no significant debt repayments due in the next 12 months.

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's mobile phone network operator Vodacom said on Thursday that data traffic on its network has jumped 40-percent since a nationwide lockdown began as people work from home to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The telecoms sector has experienced a spike in network data traffic in recent weeks after the South African government imposed a five-week lockdown to the end of April. Vodacom said that if necessary it would offload more capacity to the Rain network in terms of its existing 4G roaming agreement with the private mobile data-only network provider. On Tuesday Vodacom said it will spend more than R500-million rand over two months to increase network capacity and is waiting for its application for temporary additional spectrum to be approved by the telecoms regulator. "We are expecting this trend to continue in the short to medium term as more customers work from home and people using technology to remain connected, educated and entertained," the company said in a statement. READ: New iPhone may be coming as locked-down consumers seek bargains Rival MTN Group, the largest telecoms operator by subscribers, has seen a 30-percent increase in data traffic and is reprioritising its R28.5-billion capital expenditure towards adding network capacity and has approved $250-million towards building network equipments across the group. Vodacom said that while it expects a short-term increase in demand for its services, "medium-term economic downturn is not good for any business." South Africa's central bank sees the economy contracting 6.1-percent in 2020 as non-essential businesses remain shut for longer and financially constrained households spend less. Vodacom, majority-owned by Britain's Vodafone said its balance sheet remains "well managed" with no significant debt repayments due in the next 12 months. READ: Gold shoots to seven-year peak on weaker dollar Short-term debt was refinanced during the financial year ended March 2020 and repayment periods were extended. "The company continues to monitor its debt exposure between fixed and variable rates, to ensure a balanced portfolio in an uncertain and volatile environment," it said. "In order to ensure that short-term liquidity can be met and volatility absorbed, existing committed facilities with banks have been doubled by converting shadow facilities to committed facilities resulting in a total of R8-billion committed facilities." The telecoms operator, which partly owns Kenya's top mobile network operator Safaricom, said to date it had not experienced significant device and hardware supply disruptions but where possible it had stockpiled some critical network and device "elements".

Rand gains as focus shifts to US jobs data - Business Day

The local currency is on track for its first day of gains this week after a very poor month

The local currency is on track for its first day of gains this week after a very poor month 16 April 2020 - 12:22 Odwa Mjo The rand was on track to break its three-day losing streak on Thursday while the markets await US jobless claims data amid concern about the effects of Covid-19 on the global economy.  While it gained for the first time this week, the rand has been the worst-performing among its emerging-markets peers over the past month as the escalating pandemic casts a shadow over global markets and fuels fear of a deep global recession.

Namur, Charleroi, Wallonie picarde,… ils refusent les visites dans les maisons de repos - l'avenir.net

Autoriser un proche à rendre visite à un résident d’une maison de repos? Cette idée est fortement critiquée par le secteur…

Autoriser un proche à rendre visite à un résident dune maison de repos? Cette idée est fortement critiquée par le secteur Après lannonce de Sophie Wilmès dautoriser chaque résident de maison de repos à recevoir la visite dun proche, le secteur na pas tardé à réagir. «Cest une réelle bouffée doxygène pour les résidents», affirmait Christine Permanne, présidente de lAssociation des directeurs de maison de repos (ADMR). + À LIRE AUSSI | Coronavirus: des tests et une concertation avant dorganiser les visites dans les homes wallons Mais sur le terrain, la mesure dassouplissement présentée par la Première ministre nest pas la bienvenue. «Quand on voit sur le terrain les difficultés que vivent au jour le jour les équipes, [] quand, après avoir attendu le matériel de protection [] après avoir vu les collègues tomber comme des mouches, on vous annonce que des visites vont à nouveau être organisées dans trois jours, vous avez lenvie de jeter léponge», a réagi jeudi matin la CNE au sujet des visites en maisons de repos et de soins. Namur: interdiction jusquà nouvel ordre À Namur, le bourgmestre Maxime Prévot a pris les devants. Au vu de la situation, il a été décidé quune ordonnance communale serait prise pour interdire ces visites en maisons de repos jusquà nouvel ordre sur tout le territoire de la commune de Namur. «Si toutefois, pour des raisons qui lui seraient propres, un établissement privé souhaitait malgré tout organiser pareilles visites, il en aurait la faculté, sous sa propre responsabilité, après en avoir sollicité lautorisation préalable auprès de la commune», précise la Ville. Charleroi: interdiction totale Le CPAS et lintercommunale de Santé publique du pays de Charleroi (ISPPC) indiquent jeudi quils nappliqueront pas lautorisation communiquée mercredi soir par le Conseil national de sécurité (CNS) de visite aux pensionnaires des maisons de repos de la région carolorégienne. Les deux services publics souhaitent plutôt poursuivre les procédures mises en place au début du confinement «dans lintérêt des familles, des résidents» et de leur personnel. Wallonie picarde: plusieurs CPAS refusent Plusieurs CPAS de Wallonie picarde refusent douvrir laccès des maisons de repos aux visiteurs. Ils entendent préserver la santé des résidents et du personnel. Des décisions ont été prises à Tournai, Ath, Péruwelz, Enghien, Estaimpuis, Beloeil ou encore Antoing. La Louvière et Mons: les visites restent interdites Le bourgmestre de La Louvière, Jacques Gobert, a pris un arrêté afin dinterdire, sauf dérogation, laccès des personnes proches des résidents aux maisons de repos, aux maisons de soins et aux établissements pour personne avec un handicap jusquau 3 mai inclus. «Il serait prématuré de rouvrir les portes des établissements concernés à des personnes extérieures, au risque de contaminer encore plus de résidents alors que limpact positif des mesures de confinement est constaté», dit-il. Même topo à Mons, où la Ville «nautorisera pas les visites dans les maisons de repos et centres de handicap», annonce ce jeudi Nicolas Martin, bourgmestre de Mons. Neufchâteau: Fourny exclut toute visite au Pré Fleuri Dimitri Fourny, toujours bourgmestre de Neufchâteau à lheure actuelle, vient de prendre un arrêté interdisant les visites à la maison de repos Le Pré Fleuri. Seraing: interdiction totale pour linstant La Ville de Seraing a décidé de ne pas autoriser la visite, même dune seule personne, dans les maisons de repos et les maisons de soins de son territoire. La Ville nexclut pas de revoir sa décision après une nouvelle évaluation de la situation, notamment vis-à-vis des personnes en fin de vie. À Huy-Waremme, on ne rouvre pas sauf... Pour le bourgmestre hannutois Manu Douette, les choses sont claires: les visites ne sont pas autorisées, même si cela reste le choix de chaque institution. «Sur Hannut, on nautorisera pas les visites car on risque de répandre la pandémie.» Il pourrait cependant y avoir des situations exceptionnelles qui le permettraient. Pour accompagner une personne en fin de vie, pour soutenir une autre qui se laisse mourir faute de voir sa famille. Mais même là, ce serait fortement réglementé. «Cest létat de nos réflexions», à Hannut mais aussi, apparemment, des 31 bourgmestres de larrondissement de Huy-Waremme au sein de la Conférence des élus. Ils doivent cependant encore en discuter. Liège: un arrêté pour interdire les visites La Ville de Liège a indiqué jeudi quelle nappliquera pas lautorisation de visite aux pensionnaires des maisons de repos. «Sur base de lavis de la cellule de crise communale, Liège estime que la décision dautoriser à nouveau des visites, même très limitées, dans les lieux dhébergement, représente un risque très élevé de propagation du virus, tant pour les résidents que pour le personnel, alors que ces structures sont déjà fortement impactées par le coronavirus Covid-19», précise-t-on au sein de la Ville. La Flandre nautorisera pas les visites en maison de repos dans limmédiat Le gouvernement flamand a confirmé jeudi, au lendemain dun Conseil national de sécurité auquel a participé son ministre-président Jan Jambon, quil nautorisera pas immédiatement les visites en maison de repos. «Les visites ne sont pas possibles et cela reste ainsi, nous nadaptons donc pas les règles maintenant, aussi difficile soit la situation pour les personnes qui y résident et pour leurs familles», ont indiqué dans un communiqué les ministres de la Santé Wouter Beke (CD&V) et M. Jambon (N-VA). Un groupe de travail (task force) a toutefois été chargé douvrir la concertation avec les secteurs concernés pour déterminer quand les visites seront à nouveau admises et quelles conditions de sécurité y seront liées. «Pour un secteur qui a connu daussi lourdes semaines et en connaîtra encore dautres, il est important de donner des perspectives, tant pour les résidents que pour les travailleurs», indiquent MM Beke et Jambon.

Власник Amazon за час пандемії став багатшим ще на $24 мільярди - УНІАН

З початку року статки Безоса зросли на 20% попри те, що перелік мільярдерів у світі навпаки скоротився.

Pribudlo 114 prípadov nákazy koronavírusom - SME.sk

V laboratóriách počas stredy otestovali 2967 vzoriek.

V laboratóriách poas stredy otestovali 2967 vzoriek.16. apr 2020 o 11:51 (aktualizované 16. apr 2020 o 12:27) TASR, SITA Vetky lánky, ktoré informujú o mimoriadnych opatreniach a základných zdravotníckych informáciách o novom koronavíruse, budú na SME.sk odomknuté a prístupné pre kadého. Povaujeme to toti za verejný záujem. Ak chcete podpori novinárov a serióznu i overenú urnalistiku, môete tak urobi kúpou predplatného BRATISLAVA. Ministerstvo zdravotníctva SR vo tvrtok potvrdilo alie dve úmrtia na nový koronavírus. Poas stredy pribudlo na Slovensku 114 nových prípadov nákazy novým koronavírusom, priom v laboratóriách otestovali 2967 vzoriek. Informovala o tm hovorkya Ministerstva zdravotníctva SR Zuzana Eliáová. "Vera zomrela vo Fakultnej nemocnici J.A. Reimanna v Preove pacientka s onkologickou diagnózou pozitívne testovaná na koronavírus, hospitalizovaná bola na oddelení anesteziológie a intenzívnej medicíny s obojstranným zápalom púc," uviedla vo tvrtok hovorkya rezortu. V stredu zomrel aj alí pacient v Univerzitnej nemocnici Bratislava. Ilo o mua z Domova sociálnych sluieb Pezinok. "Jeho stav bol poas da stabilizovaný, náhle sa ale zhoril, napriek enormnej snahe zdravotníkov v nemocnici sa mu, ia, nepodarilo pomôc," kontatovala. Aktuálne je tak na Slovensku 977 pozitívne testovaných udí na toto ochorenie. Celkový poet s negatívnym výsledkom je 33 481. Z pozitívnych pacientov za predchádzajúci de je 38 zo Spiskej Novej Vsi. V karanténnej stanici alebo centre je 12 pacientov. Aktuálne je poda tatistík Národného centra zdravotníckych informácií hospitalizovaných 165 pacientov, z toho u 73 je potvrdené ochorenie Covid-19, 92 pacientov má podozrenie na toto ochorenie. Na jednotke intenzívnej starostlivosti je sedem pacientov, dvaja sú na umelej púcnej ventilácii.