COVID-19: What do South Africa’s numbers mean?
Most of the COVID-19 numbers we have paint only part of the picture and can easily be misinterpreted. Here are some tips on understanding the numbers.
COVID-19: How rural healthcare workers are preparing
Spotlight asked Dr Lungile Hobe-Nxumalo, Chair of the Rural Doctors’ Association of Southern Africa, how rural healthcare facilities can prepare for the fight against COVID-19.
COVID19: What lockdown is like on the Wild Coast
On the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast community members and organisations are working together to prepare and protect against COVID-19. Spotlight spoke with people from four different villages to learn more.
COVID-19: SA’s looming ventilator shortage
A key concern in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic internationally has been a shortage of medical equipment, particularly ventilators. Elna Schütz asks whether we are sufficiently prepared in South Africa.
COVID-19: Progress on cell phone tracking, but concerns remain
Government can now track people’s movements through their cell phones to establish who may have come into contact with people who have tested positive for COVID-19. Spotlight spoke to experts and activists about the new tracking plans.
Contain your Cough: #Masks4All in South Africa
A collaboration of public health and infection prevention doctors of TB Proof and Public Health Action Team started a Masks4All campaign arguing for homemade face masks as a potentially powerful tool to the fight against COVID-19. Here they explain why.
COVID-19: Minister Mkhize is responsible for coordinating with private sector
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize must use all the legal mechanisms at his disposal to ensure that the constitutional imperative that everyone has the right to have access to health care services is realised, writes Nkululeko Conco and Tendai Mafuma.
COVID-19: Discontent among CHWs on the frontlines
In South Africa’s war against COVID-19 community healthcare workers are foot soldiers on the frontlines. Spotlight spoke to CHWs from across the country about their concerns regarding a lack of protective equipment and job security.
COVID-19: We need a People-led not Army-enforced Lockdown
South Africa’s 21-day lockdown is a drastic measure intended to help and protect the public. For it to work it needs an extraordinary level of trust, communication and clear messaging and will have to be implemented with belief, commitment and engagement by the vast majority of our people, writes Dr Lydia Cairncross and Kelly Gillespie.
COVID-19: SA to start enrolling patients in landmark WHO trial
South African researchers are poised to start enrolling patients in a landmark international clinical trial which will compare the safety and effectiveness of four different drugs or drug combinations against COVID-19.
COVID-19: Regulation 11 should prevent promotion of quack treatments, but does it?
Tendai Mafuma describes what happened when SECTION27 tried to use new regulations to bring an end to the promotion of an unproven treatment for COVID-19 in South Africa and compares the current situation with the TAC’s successful court battle against Matthias Rath’s promotion of unproven AIDS treatments.
COVID-19: Desperate pleas as protective gear runs low
Healthcare workers are sounding the alarm as life-saving protective equipment runs critically low in facilities across South Africa, and the world, due to increased demand created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
