South Africa’s third wave of Covid-19 is behaving in “an unpredictable manner”, said Joe Phaala, health minister. The new case trajectory showed an initial steep downward trend after July 9, but had risen since August 13. Average positivity is 19-20 per cent, “very far from the WHO-recommended 5 per cent”.
Authorities in the Philippines said they hope the country’s first local vaccine manufacturing site would be established this year. Maria Rosario Vergeire, health undersecretary, said the government was negotiating with potential partners in China, India, the US, South Korea and Australia.
Norwegians who have been infected with Covid-19 will receive an exemption from quarantine for a year instead of six months. “We now have good knowledge that indicates that people who have had Covid-19 are well protected for at least 12 months,” said Bent Høie, health minister.
The state of South Australia has granted more than A$57m ($42m) in the past month to thousands of small and medium businesses affected by Covid-19 restrictions. Nearly 20,000 operations, including…
