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A municipal announcement has forced all Nelson Mandela Bay beaches to be closed starting from Sunday. Image:   Eugene Coetzee The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality announced on Sunday that all beaches would be closed until further notice. Municipal spokesperson Kupido Baron said this was in compliance of national directives in an effort to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to ensure that the transmission of the coronavirus is minimised. Coronavirus watch All the latest news about Coronavirus pandemic. SowetanLIVE This includes any building or open space that is the property of the municipality, HeraldLIVE reported. Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality disaster management director Shane Brown  said the guidelines by minister of co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, compelled the municipality to close all beaches, braai areas and swimming pools. “This is in addition to t

Emirates to suspend all passenger flights from March 25. Image:   Chris Preyser Dubai carrier Emirates Airline announced on Sunday it will suspend all passenger flights from March 25 amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. “Today we made the decision to temporarily suspend all passenger flights by 25 March 2020,” the airline said on Twitter. The United Arab Emirates announced on Friday the first two deaths from the COVID-19 disease in the country. The United Arab Emirates on Friday announced its first two deaths from the disease. Total recorded infections in the UAE stood at 153, of which 38 have recovered. The latest suspensions by Emirates Airlines take the carrier's total closed routes to 111. The airline normally serves 159 destinations. “In response to the latest developments in the COVID-19 outbreak around the world, Emirates is taking extra steps that go above and beyond industry and regulatory requirements to ensure our customers' health and comfort,” t

Strandar Bank has offered its small and medium business owners a 90-day payment holiday to cope with Covid-19 challenges. Image:   123RF/Jarun Ontakrai Standard Bank has offered its small and medium business customers a three-month debt holiday during the uncertain times caused by Covid-19. The bank said its team was dedicated to helping business with  practical advice and assistance for any contingency plans. In a  statement , the bank said it has a range of options available to support businesses, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Payment Scheme, which will provide payment relief to business for 90 days. “This scheme will launch on the April 1 and strives to support small and medium-sized business with a payment holiday for 90 days.” The bank said those eligible for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Payment Scheme are SA businesses with a turnover of no more than R20m per year, whose business current account, Bizlaunch account

Proteas team doctor Dr Shuaib Manjra said the team had effectively been in isolation in India and had travelled on chartered flights and coaches in a sanitised environment. Image:   GALLO IMAGES/AFP/BERND THISSEN Proteas players  been told to undergo a 14-day period of self-isolation and social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus following their return from an aborted tour of India. The players arrived back in South Africa on Wednesday ten days after departing on a tour during which they played no cricket. The first of three scheduled one-day internationals was abandoned without a ball bowled because of rain and the remaining two were cancelled. Dr Shuaib Manjra, Cricket South Africa's medical officer, who accompanied the team on the tour, during which they stayed in or travelled through Dubai, Delhi, Dharamsala, Lucknow and Kolkata, said the cancellation had been decided because of the rapid change in the global coronavirus situation. "CSA

The presidency, which is the country's department of heads of state like President Cyril Ramaphosa, has sent a staff member home after being suspected of contracting coronavirus. Image:   GCIS There are fears of possible coronavirus exposure in the presidency after a staffer was sent home for self-isolation and testing. This is contained in an internal newsletter leaked to SowetanLIVE that was sent to staff at the Union Buildings on Thursday. The email says that the staff member had reported to their manager that they may have come in contact with someone who has now tested positive for the novel Covid-19. “There was a staff member who reported to their manager that they may have crossed paths with someone who has tested positive the coronavirus,” the email reads. “This member of staff has gone for testing with support staff of the Presidency.” The revelation comes as the number of confirmed cases rose to 150 affecting most of the provinces. The spokespe

Gauteng cancels planned surgeries at its public hospitals to strengthen response to Covid-19. Image:   123RF/Chanawit Sitthisombat Gauteng health department has cancelled all elective surgeries planned in advance rather than those done in an emergency. This  is part of the department's plan  to strengthen Covid-19 response in health facilities. Provincial health spokesperson Philani Mhlungu said the department has put additional measures in place to deal with the spread of Covid-19 follwoing the declaration of a national state of disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Mhlungu said elective surgery with planned high care should be rescheduled to maintain surgical capacity. “All annual health events are cancelled, the outpatient departments will reduce the number of patient visits using the appointment system. A separate area for patients with flu-like symptoms at [public] facilities [will be set up],” Mhlungu said. He added that Thuthuzela h