Only 27, Ofentse Pitse owns and conducts an orchestra in South Africa, rewriting the soundtrack for the region’s abundant though overlooked musical talent. But the pandemic has made performing together a logistical conundrum.



IF IT REQUIRES 10,000 HOURS OF dedication to master an instrument, it takes someone of harmonic resolve to become the conductor of a 45-piece orchestra, and 30-member choir, by the age of 27. Ofentse Pitse is the owner of Anchored Sound, the Johannesburg-based, all-black phenomenon rewriting aspiration’s soundtrack for the region’s abundant but overlooked musical talent.



The first black South African woman to own and conduct an orchestra was playing the flugelhorn, a gift from an uncle, by the age of 12 (her grandfather was the trumpeter and jazz conductor Otto Pitse); her nascent talent and determination were nurtured by the Salvation Army band in her home town of Mabopane, Pretoria, the capital of South Africa.



“In the beginning, the dream was a silent dream,” she says. “I didn’t really share my ideas, I was just thinking of how far I wanted to go. I didn’t see enough representation in the brass band at church. I thought to myself, ‘hang on, I’ve not seen enough girls’! That was a leadership step.”



A formative experience at school then sparked a natural instinct for transgressive innovation.



“I remember one day just wanting to touch the piano in the music department,” she says. “And being told, ‘no, you can’t touch the piano’. That made me feel so small. My argument will always be that you have to be what you want to see; you cannot fight a system if you are not willing to challenge it yourself.”



Out of this frustration, Anchored Sound was born, named after the Biblical metaphor of hope as the anchor of the soul. The choir and orchestra, supported by Pitse, with funds from her own architectural practice, perform everything from Sibelius to Vivaldi to Dvořák, with Pitse’s leadership in turn bolstered by mentorship from the University of Pretoria Symphony Orchestra conductor, Gerben Grooten.



“I told him that if we need to do the very hard pieces, we are going to do the very hard pieces,” she says. “So we do. It’s always a challenge, every single week. He always emphasizes the leadership required. How you stand, or how you enter a rehearsal space, influences how you are treated. Because being a woman, sometimes when they see me enter the space they think, ‘ah, what does she know’!”



The obstacles she faces are financial as well as cultural; funding is scarce and difficult to obtain. “Sometimes people see your pictures and you look like money, they hear interviews, you sound like money,” she says. “But there’s not one single person investing in Anchored Sound, the brand, or myself as a conductor. It’s challenging to keep the ship afloat. I learned early on that if you want something to happen, you cannot wait for the government, or whatever, because then I would complain for years without having anything done.”



Central to her role is her support for her members, many of whom lack the resources to purchase their own instruments or fulfil their own ambitions alone.



“I empower my members by first of all being great – or at least a good enough! – example,” she says. “So beyond just the musicianship, I always encourage them to study, even if it’s not music. Education is the tool for opening up many doors mentally, not just in terms of opportunities. In the beginning, I would help them with their registration at school, with their tuition, with their accommodation.



Whenever we book concerts, the funds go straight into their education. Most of them are very talented, but they come from homes that are disenfranchized.”



The pandemic has also made rehearsing and performing together a logistical conundrum that is difficult to solve for members from disadvantaged communities.



“Technology doesn’t come as second nature to some of us, so it has been difficult to facilitate how we go digital,” she says. “All the major orchestras have the infrastructure to have your good cameras, your good clip-on mics. For us, it’s very challenging, because you have players in remote areas, some in very small houses. If you ask them to record using their phone, you find in the other room there’s a baby sister making noise. So I’ve been looking at new ways of thinking as conductors, because we are so used to meeting up in spaces that are enclosed; how do we live with this new norm? How do we create a new world symphony?”



For Pitse, the unexplored musical frontier that emerges after the pandemic will be unapologetically, dynamically African.



“My second dream is to create an African orchestra, with African instruments like the marimba and the balafon (gourd- resonated xylophone),” she says. “Most musicians who play African instruments don’t know how to read music, so it would be such a spiritual exchange. These musicians know how to be guided by the spirit of music. And that’s the beauty of all things African – it really is the spirit! I’m eagerly excited to make that happen in the near future, to find out how the spirit of Africa can come alive within this new world of what an orchestra can be.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2-Photo-credit-Hymie-Sokupha-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-49775" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2-Photo-credit-Hymie-Sokupha-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2-Photo-credit-Hymie-Sokupha-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2-Photo-credit-Hymie-Sokupha-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2-Photo-credit-Hymie-Sokupha-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2-Photo-credit-Hymie-Sokupha-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Photo by Hymie Sokupha</figcaption></figure>



&#8211;BY ALASTAIR HAGGER

5 Photo credit Media24 copy

The Musician Who is Conducting Inspiration Even During Covid

TOPLINE Evidence is growing that reopening schools with proper precautions will not increase the spread of Covid-19, with the Centers for Disease Control concluding Tuesday that in-person learning is not causing significant outbreaks—but the agency warned indoor athletics may derail efforts for safe in-person schooling.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h4>



The CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7004e3.htm?s_cid=mm7004e3_w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evaluated&nbsp;</a>17 schools in rural Wisconsin from August and November, and found only seven students (3.7%)—no staff—contracted the virus from school.



Those schools were able to limit Covid-19 by wearing masks, separating students into groups of 11-20, social distancing and having established quarantine measures when a student did become infected, the study says.



Another study released by the CDC Tuesday found that an indoor wrestling tournament in Florida caused 30% of attendees to become infected, leading the researchers to&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775875" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">note&nbsp;</a>that indoor athletics lacking proper social distancing and other safety measures “could jeopardize” school Covid-19 safety precautions.&nbsp;



Several recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6950e3.htm?s_cid=mm6950e3_w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a>, both in the U.S. and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/children-and-school-settings-covid-19-transmission" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">abroad</a>, have reached similar conclusions, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2021/01/06/peds.2020-048090.full.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study&nbsp;</a>in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics finding in-school transmission was “extremely limited” during the first nine weeks of in-person instruction in North Carolina.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h4>



&nbsp;“As many schools have reopened for in-person instruction in some parts of the US as well as internationally, school-related cases of COVID-19 have been reported, but there has been little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission,” the CDC researchers&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2775875" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wrote&nbsp;</a>in the Journal of the American Medical Association.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h4>



The school reopening debate has gripped districts across the country for the entirety of the pandemic. For the fall 2020 term, 24% of school public districts were fully online, while 51% were using a hybrid model and 17% were fully open for in-person instruction,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mchdata.com/covid19/schoolclosings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according&nbsp;</a>to data firm MCH. Though large school districts and local officials, recognizing the harms of distance learning on students, are starting to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/school-districts-reopening-coronavirus/2020/10/19/3791c952-0ffb-11eb-8074-0e943a91bf08_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">push&nbsp;</a>for full in-person instruction, they are at times at odds with teachers unions, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/nyregion/montclair-schools-covid.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">argue&nbsp;</a>that districts aren’t taking strong enough measures to protect teachers.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h4>



There was a large outbreak linked to school reopenings in Israel last spring. But the CDC researchers say the outbreak was tied to crowded classrooms, exemption from face mask use and “continuous air conditioning that recycled interior air in closed rooms during a heat wave.”



By Rachel Sandler, Forbes Staff

Empty classroom at a school in central Naples. After the

Covid-19 Doesn’t Spread In Schools With Safety Precautions, CDC Reports—But Sports Are A Different Story

Topline: Reversing a directive by the Trump administration, President Joe Biden on Monday will sign an executive order that keeps in place restrictions barring entry by most non-U.S. citizens traveling from the United Kingdom, Brazil, and 26 countries in Europe, and that also bars most travelers from South Africa beginning Saturday, a Biden administration official told Forbes Sunday, aiming to curb the spread of new more infectious—and <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-u-k-covid-19-variant-could-be-more-deadly-british-officials-say-11611338370" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">possibly more deadly</a>—coronavirus variants.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h4>



The order, which was first reported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-travel-exclusi/exclusive-biden-to-impose-south-africa-travel-ban-to-combat-new-covid-19-variant-cdc-idUSKBN29T0P6?il=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reuters</a>, comes nearly one week after President Donald Trump sought to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2021/01/18/trump-lifted-covid-travel-bans-for-next-week---but-bidens-team-plans-on-keeping-them-in-place/?sh=7f4f47c94da7">lift the restrictions</a>&nbsp;he imposed in one of the final moves of his administration.



Hours after Trump announced he would lift the restrictions January 26, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration would not follow Trump’s order, asserting that with the “pandemic worsening” it was “not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel.”



Case numbers and hospitalizations around the U.S. have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/22/world/covid-19-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dropped</a>&nbsp;in recent weeks, but cases derived from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/transmission/variant-cases.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new variant</a>&nbsp;could alter that trajectory.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h4>



“We are adding South Africa to the restricted list because of the concerning variant present that has already spread beyond South Africa,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC’s principal deputy director,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-travel-exclusi/exclusive-biden-to-impose-south-africa-travel-ban-to-combat-new-covid-19-variant-cdc-idUSKBN29T0P6?il=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a>&nbsp;Reuters Sunday.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h4>



Vaccines may not be as effective against the Covid-19 variant found in South Africa, three preliminary<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/health/coronavirus-variant-problem-vaccines/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;studies have suggested</a>.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h4>



<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=16640458%5BPMID%5D+OR+16675989%5BPMID%5D+OR+18335060%5BPMID%5D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">It’s not clear</a>&nbsp;how effective travel restrictions are in curbing the spread of the virus and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/22/travel-bans-should-be-based-on-evidence-not-politics-or-fear/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">scientists are split</a>&nbsp;about whether it’s a good idea to implement bans at all. Trump repeatedly touted his administration’s “ban” on travel from China during the 2020 campaign, but the restrictions were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/10/01/debate-early-travel-bans-china/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">permeable, late and ineffective</a>.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h4>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2021/01/18/trump-lifted-covid-travel-bans-for-next-week---but-bidens-team-plans-on-keeping-them-in-place/?sh=7f4f47c94da7">Trump Lifted Covid Travel Bans For Next Week — But Biden’s Team Plans On Keeping Them In Place</a> (Forbes)



<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-travel-exclusi/exclusive-biden-to-impose-south-africa-travel-ban-to-combat-new-covid-19-variant-cdc-idUSKBN29T0P6?il=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exclusive: Biden to impose South Africa travel ban to combat new COVID-19 variant &#8211; CDC </a>(Reuters)



by Jack Brewster, Forbes Staff

President Biden Delivers Remarks On Response To Economic Crisis From White House

Biden To Impose Covid Travel Restrictions On South Africa, Reinstate Ban On Other Countries Lifted By Trump

TOPLINE The coronavirus mutation first identified in South Africa last year is 50% more contagious than previous strains, the country’s top scientists announced Monday, as high numbers of new daily coronavirus infections continue to put South Africa’s healthcare system under massive pressure.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



Salim Abdool Karim, one of South Africa’s leading infectious disease experts — dubbed in the media as “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/10/salim-abdool-karim-none-of-us-are-safe-from-covid-if-one-of-us-is-not-we-have-mutual-interdependence" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Africa’s Anthony Fauci</a>” — confirmed suspicions that the country’s recent surge of infections is likely being driven by a new strain first detected in October, known as 501.V2.



Abdool Karim told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times-daily/news/2021-01-18-everything-we-know-about-501v2-the-new-covid-19-variant-identified-in-sa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Sunday Times</a>a mutation in the strain changed the shape of the small protein spikes on the surface of the coronavirus cell, allowing it to better grip onto human cells and increase chances of infection.



“Almost one out of three tests are now positive and that is higher than anything we saw in the first wave,” he told the newspaper.&nbsp;



However, there’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210118-safrica-virus-strain-more-contagious-experts-confirm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">no evidence to suggest</a>&nbsp;the new variant is any more deadly or causes more severe symptoms, Abdool Karim said, though studies are being carried out to determine if coronavirus vaccines are effective against the strain, according to AFP.



The strain has been detected around the world, including in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/covid-19-south-african-strain-detected-for-first-time-in-ireland-1.4453160" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ireland</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/health-ministry-says-south-african-virus-strain-found-in-israel-for-1st-time/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Israel</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.france24.com/en/france/20201231-france-detects-first-case-of-south-african-strain-of-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">France</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-japan/coronavirus-variant-from-south-africa-found-in-japan-idUSKBN2920N4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Japan</a>.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



South Africa is struggling to manage its second wave of the pandemic, with the country counting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/17/south-africa-struggles-against-the-new-wave-of-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">130,000 new infections</a>&nbsp;and 4,000 deaths in just the past week. The increase has pushed the country’s hospitals to the brink. “As soon as beds open, there are more than 10 people waiting to fill them –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/17/south-africa-struggles-against-the-new-wave-of-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">we cannot cope</a>,” a healthcare worker in Johannesburg told Al Jazeera. While the infectious new strain is a likely factor behind the surge, government officials have also blamed a recent festival period and people failing to follow social distancing measures. Late last month, the country announced nightly curfews and a ban on alcohol sales in a bid to stamp out new infections.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210118-safrica-virus-strain-more-contagious-experts-confirm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SAfrica virus strain more contagious, experts confirm</a>&nbsp;(AFP)



<a href="https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times-daily/news/2021-01-18-everything-we-know-about-501v2-the-new-covid-19-variant-identified-in-sa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Everything we know about 501.V2, the new Covid-19 variant identified in SA</a>&nbsp;(Sunday Times)



<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/17/south-africa-struggles-against-the-new-wave-of-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Africa struggles against ‘relentless’ COVID-19 surge</a>&nbsp;(Al Jazeera)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahhansen/2021/01/17/fauci-warns-of-ominous-new-covid-19-strains-says-biden-can-achieve-aggressive-goal-of-vaccinating-100-million-in-100-days/?sh=5fe0b94443ac">Fauci Warns Of ‘Ominous’ New Covid-19 Strains, Says Biden Can Achieve Aggressive Goal Of Vaccinating 100 Million In 100 Days</a> (Forbes)



-By Carlie Porterfield, Forbes Staff

SAFRICA-HEALTH-AIDS-CONFERENCE

South African Coronavirus Strain Is 50% More Infectious, Scientists Say

Sports tours and tournaments remain cancelled, and those which do go ahead play in empty stadiums without fans. For South Africa’s tourism sector last year, it has been a losing game.



AS THE SUN BEAT DOWN ON THEIR REDDENING skin, the thousands of England fans packed into Newlands Cricket Ground broke into song.



“We get R18 to the Pound, R18 to the Pound!” they bellowed, taunting the home faithful as the beer flowed and the lips loosened.



The Newlands New Year test is one of the great experiences in South African sport, and is comfortably the most well-supported five- day fixture in the country.



World-class cricketers and a stunning backdrop are not all that attract fans – particularly from overseas – but also a chance to experience all of the varied delights of the Mother City, Cape Town, at a much more palatable cost than many of the world’s other leading destinations.



The slip in the Rand is bad news for locals, who have seen their cost of living spike, but for visitors to the country, particularly sports fans, it is an added sweetener when you can enjoy outstanding food, many drinks and a heady night on the town for what you may pay for a mediocre pub meal and a taxi fare in London.



According to South African Tourism’s official report for 2019, the sector added R125 billion ($8 billion) in spend to South Africa’s coffers, with R81.2 billion ($5.2 billion) of that from international visitors. They stayed on average 11.4 days in the country for a total of 112 million bed nights.



There were 10.2 million international arrivals into the country in 2019, most from the rest of Africa, but around R2.6 million of those from outside of the continent.



It has been steady year-on-year growth, but it is now obvious that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has hit tourism hard the lack of spectators at sports events.



“A game of soccer lasts 90 minutes, but it is what happens around that game that is important to us,” SA Tourism CEO Sisa Ntshona tells FORBES AFRICA in a sobering assessment of the state of play.



“We have seen the PSL [local Premier Soccer League] is back up and running here in South Africa, but because crowds are not yet allowed in stadiums, we are not seeing the movement of fans to different cities.



“For example, for big matches, there would be a large number of fans who would travel from Johannesburg to Durban. That alone provides a sizeable boost to the local tourism sector.”



For a cup final outside of Gauteng involving Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, you may find 30,000- 40,000 people will travel to Durban, Polokwane, Nelspruit or even as far as Port Elizabeth within South African provinces.



It is these types of events that, as well as international cricket and rugby tours, that drive the sports tourism market, along with recreational golf, and schools and university events, all of which are on hold.



“There is not the budget any longer for the so-called big- ticket events like the Soccer World Cup and the Olympics, so our challenge is how to fill the calendar with smaller events, but lots of them,” Ntshona admits.



But there are green shoots amid the gloom. What South across all sectors, especially the sports environment with tours and tournaments canceled, and those which do go ahead played in empty stadiums without fans.



Teams might bemoan the lost gate revenue and match-day income from merchandise and catering sales, but the economic impact runs much deeper than that.



Empty hotels and restaurants around the venues that would usually be brimming with guests, other tourist attractions that enjoy a place on a sports travelers’ itinerary, shops, and even taxi drivers all suffer from 



Africa in particular does have is a world in one country, such a vast and varied variety of options that make it appealing.



Because with sports tourism, according to Ntshona, where the events are held is of vital significance.



“The destination is very important. If someone is invited to a golf tour, they will check where it is first. They want to know the destination is part of the experience, because the playing of the sport, or the match you are watching, is only part of it.



“For example, if someone is coming to Cape Town to run a marathon, we want them to bring the whole family, because that is when we see the true benefit from a tourism perspective.



“So it is about creating that ‘destination’ which will make people want to do that, and in South Africa, we have a lot to offer.



“You could start on the Highveld, go to Durban, on to Bloemfontein and Kimberley, and finally Cape Town, and all of those experiences will be different and have something unique to offer.”



SA Tourism has 12 offices around the world that actively market the country, including from a sports perspective.



The Cape Town marathon is a prime example of what they are trying to achieve across many similar events, where they lobby organizers for precious entrance forms to be able to draw runners from all over the world.



The theory is those taking part will largely not come on their own, and just for the race, but rather bring their family to make a holiday out of it.



So 1,000 entrance forms to the Cape Town marathon could turn into at least 4,000 visitors.



With domestic travel, car hire, accommodation and attending attractions and events, or just shopping and eating out, that could easily result in an average spend of R4,000 ($257) per day.



And if those visitors stayed on average the 12 days that is the statistical norm, that turns into a tourism spend of almost R50 million ($3.2 million) from the single event.



But the reality is this is a market that has been decimated by Covid-19, with a global recession on the horizon and fears around travel, which is now both expensive and comes with potentially greater risk of infection.



The next big test for South Africa is the British &amp; Irish Lions series in July-August 2021, where some 30,000 fans, at a minimum, are expected to travel from the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.



The tour itself is five weeks, and while most fans will come for part of it, likely the last two weeks that feature the test matches against the world champion Springboks, it is a potentially huge money-spinner for South African Rugby and Brand South Africa.



But with a second wave of Covid-19 having hit Europe and the potential for one in South Africa during the build-up to the winter months, whether fans will be able to travel, or will come en masse, remains to be seen.



“The Lions tour will go ahead, it is just in what form it takes, from full stadiums to the prospect of restrictions on the number of people in the stadiums. That is something that we cannot say. The situation is very fluid,” Ntshona says.



“We have learned a lot already through the Cocid-19 pandemic. And we continue to learn by monitoring the situation in Europe. They have shown us what to do, and maybe what not to do &#8230;”



President Cyril Ramaphosa has told the South African tourism sector that he would like to see 21 million annual international arrivals in the country by 2030, a tall order that would mean a doubling of the current number.



Sports tours, either to watch a favorite team or to take part as a competitor, will have to play a big role in reaching that number, and will be a major focus for SA Tourism once the global picture around Covid-19 clears.



But just hosting sports events in the country and beaming them around the world can build confidence among an overseas audience.



For now, that will have to be the major focus.



 &#8211;BY NICK SAID

George Mason University Sanitizes Arena To Protect From Covid-19

Sports Tourism: The State Of Play

TOPLINE WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday issued a dire warning about the new variants of Covid-19 that are emerging across the globe, noting that because those variants can be more contagious, the surge in cases they’re likely to cause could further stress hospitals and health workers already stretched to the brink.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h4>



During a press briefing Monday, Ghebreyesus said that more contagious variants of the coronavirus “can drive a surge of cases and hospitalizations, which is highly problematic for health workers and hospitals already close to the breaking point.”&nbsp;



The added strain on hospitals puts other essential health services at risk, he added, meaning that critical surgeries or procedures may become more difficult because hospital resources are more limited.



While these variants have been found to be more contagious, experts say they don’t appear to cause more severe sickness or increase the risk of death.



Dr. Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned last week that the U.S. is “<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/01/08/close-to-a-worst-case-scenario-former-cdc-director-issues-horrifying-outlook-for-new-covid-strain/?sh=490010c43738">close to a worst-case scenario</a>” because of the rapid spread of a new, highly contagious strain of Covid-19.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND&nbsp;</h4>



New variants of Covid-19 have been found in the United Kingdom, the United States (where 63 cases have been detected), Canada, South Africa, and Nigeria, among other countries, the CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/transmission/variant.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">says</a>. Japan’s health authorities announced over the weekend that they had detected a new variant of the virus in four travelers from Brazil, Reuters&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-japan-variant/japan-finds-new-coronavirus-variant-in-travellers-from-brazil-idUSKBN29F08R" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h4>



Scientists are keeping track of new mutations as they emerge and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00031-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studying</a>&nbsp;how they will impact the effectiveness of vaccines. “I’m quite optimistic that even with these mutations, immunity is not going to suddenly fail on us,” Jesse Bloom, an evolutionary virologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/07/coronavirus-mutation-vaccine-strength/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a>&nbsp;the healthcare publication&nbsp;STAT. “It might be gradually eroded, but it’s not going to fail on us, at least in the short term.” A recent study from the University of Texas and pharma giant Pfizer found that Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/01/08/pfizer-biontech-vaccine-appears-resistant-to-new-covid-variant-study-finds-as-us-records-deadliest-day/?sh=34930796c7c7">still effective</a>&nbsp;in protecting against new variants of the virus.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h4>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/01/08/close-to-a-worst-case-scenario-former-cdc-director-issues-horrifying-outlook-for-new-covid-strain/">‘Close To A Worst-Case Scenario’—Former CDC Director Issues ‘Horrifying’ Outlook For New Covid Strain</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2021/01/07/new-more-contagious-uk-coronavirus-strain-found-in-pennsylvania---here-are-the-states-with-cases-so-far/">New, More Contagious U.K. Coronavirus Strain Found In Connecticut — Here Are The States With Cases So Far</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2020/12/24/new-coronavirus-strain-is-56-more-infectious-scientists-estimate/?sh=342b06d3297c">New Coronavirus Strain Is 56% More Infectious, Scientists Estimate</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/01/08/pfizer-biontech-vaccine-appears-resistant-to-new-covid-variant-study-finds-as-us-records-deadliest-day/">Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Appears To Work Against New Covid Variants, Study Finds, As U.S. Records Deadliest Day</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)

TOPSHOT-US-HEALTH-VIRUS

WHO Warns Of ‘Highly Problematic’ New Covid-19 Variants, Says Hospitals And Essential Health Services At Risk

Topline: In yet another “family meeting”, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday evening that the country would stay on alert level 3. In addition to regulations put in place, the South African government has chosen to close all 20 land ports of entry. 



Key Facts.&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Land ports of entry will be closed until February, 15 for general entry and departure. These will include the six busiest border posts; Beitbridge, Lebombo, Maseru Bridge, Oshoek, Ficksburg, and Kopfontein.</li><li>This decision has been made as a way to reduce congestion and the high risk of transmission as South Africa has reported nearly 190, 000 Covid-19 cases since the start of 2021. The country has also recorded more than 4,600 Covid-related deaths so far this year.</li><li><a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/current-affairs/2020/12/28/south-africa-in-grave-danger-ramaphosa-implores-adherence-to-safety-protocols-as-country-moves-again-to-lockdown-level-3/">Alcohol sales</a> are still not permitted, however, curfew times have changed slightly from 9 pm to 6 am to 9 pm to 5 am. </li></ul>



The Government Vaccine Strategy&nbsp;



Part of South Africa’s strategy is to identify priority groups that need to be vaccinated as the country receives them throughout the year. This will be done in phases.&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Phase 1- the first batch of vaccines will be prioritized around 1.2 million front line health workers.</li><li>Phase 2- When more vaccines arrive, South Africa will prioritize essential workers such as teachers, police, municipal workers, and other frontline personnel. People in institutions like old age homes, shelters, and prisons, people over 60 years of age, and adults with co-morbidities will also be prioritized in this phase. The country plans to reach 16 million people at this stage.&nbsp;</li><li>Phase 3&#8211; With increased manufacturer supplies, the country will then vaccinate the remaining adult population of approximately 22.5 million people.</li></ul>



Crucial Quote&nbsp;



“But, if we are to realize our aspirations for the year, we must unite to overcome the grave, persistent, and deepening coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic in our country is now at its most devastating,” Ramaphosa said during the live broadcast. “The number of new infections, hospital admissions, and deaths is higher now than it has ever been since the first case was recorded in our country in March 2020.”

SAFRICA-HEALTH-VIRUS

South Africa To Close All Land Borders Until Mid-Feb

Phiwe Mngadi is teaching other women make-up skills and empowering them to launch their own beauty businesses.



Phiwe Mngadi learned the intricate art of micro-blading (eyebrow tattooing) as an extension of what she already knew: nail art and make-up, which she picked up while still at high school.



She didn’t know then that years later, she would turn entrepreneur with her own outfit, the Plush Art Studio, in Johannesburg.



The make-up artist, who has now turned teacher, started in the beauty industry as a nail technician at the age of 17. Self-taught, even way back, instead of attending her matric dance, Mngadi was gainfully employed making her classmates look glamorous for their special day.



She has since not looked back. Having worked in beauty salons in and around Johannesburg to gain more knowledge and experience in the industry, she has now built her own personal brand.



“You learn a lot that way,” says Mngadi of her journey.



In 2015, she resigned as a salaried employee working in salons. She knew she had plenty to offer as an entrepreneur and launched Plush Art in vibrant Soweto and has since expanded to Africa’s richest square mile – Sandton in Johannesburg.



Her focus is permanent make-up and micro-blading.



“You don&#8217;t need a specific background or qualification to be in the business, that&#8217;s what I love about this industry. Having said that, my journey has been interesting because I&#8217;ve started teaching women from different walks of life on how to do permanent makeup and this includes doctors, lawyers, cashiers, teachers, and anyone with the drive to learn the skill with respective qualifications,” says Mngadi.



She adds that she has made an impact in invariably helping women start a new career in the beauty business and become self-sufficient.



With Covid-19 and the world shutting down, she says Plush Art Studio somehow managed to stay afloat.



“I had savings to overcome the stress that came with not working. Business did take a hard knock but women are always desperate to do their brows, so when the country opened, we were back in business and making sales again,” she says.



Mngadi says she has traveled across Africa imparting what she knows. She also has a worked with South African celebrities such as Natasha Thahane, Thando Thabethe and Palesa Madisakwane.



From Soweto to Sandton, she is leaving her mark.

Plush Art

Nailing The Art And Making A Mark

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS ALSO BROUGHT with its opportunities, and according to South Africa-based futurists Graeme Codrington and John Sanei, it’s time to embrace the change and rather see it as a chance to try and rebuild your business, even if it is on the brink of falling apart.



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>“STOP WAITING FOR THINGS TO GO BACK TO NORMAL, IT’S NOT GOING TO”</li></ol>



Don’t press the “huge pause button” on life. Codrington, a futurist who tracks disruptions through history, states that the era of the coronavirus could be with us longer than we think.



“The disruption that Covid is causing is going to be with us, I think for at least two more years. Even in the best-case scenarios, Africa will only get a vaccine [in 2021]. And it will take a few months, maybe the whole year to produce it, distribute around the world and convince people to take it.”



He adds that even once vaccines are made available, the level of comfort people felt previously doing ‘normal’ stuff every day will change.



“People are going to be nervous to fly, to travel, nervous to go out to restaurants to eat, nervous to go into public spaces. So you know, tourism, entertainment, hospitality is going to really struggle. In any scenario, you know, even the best scenario, you’re going to be struggling.



“So what we’ve got to realize is this deep disruption going on here.”



<ol class="wp-block-list" start="2"><li>“UNDERSTAND SEAMLESSNESS AND YOU CAN BECOME VERY SUCCESSFUL”</li></ol>



Sanei, a futurist who categorizes and contextualizes the future through human instinct, believes that businesses need to find a more seamless way to give consumers what they want. It can be an average idea, but as long as it’s something that could accommodate the consumers of today, who will likely not want to leave the confines of their home, you can be successful.



“The example I will use is Domino’s Pizza,” Sanei explains.



“They may not have the most amazing pizza but they’ve understood seamlessness getting a pizza to you as quickly as possible because they have the Ten Second App.” The basis of understanding seamlessness is understanding what people want, especially during this time.



“And of course, that is going to differ depending on what industry you are in and depending on where you are, but this is where entrepreneurs can step up because the smaller your business is, the more local it is, the easier it is for you to make adjustments and shift and think ‘what can I do for my clients, my customers, what else can I do for them’?” says Codrington.



3. “REINVENT”



It has been reiterated by economists that businesses may have to close their doors and millions of people will find themselves unemployed if they haven’t already. However, futurists are certain that in situations like this, it’s best to either reinvent your business model – or reinvent yourself.



“Any advice I give to entrepreneurs is based on this principle that they must look for a gap. Ask yourself the question ‘what makes you most excited, and what can you bring to the world that’s uniquely yours, what is uniquely, and authentically me?’ And in that process, what we do is we add value to the world based on what we are here to do,” Sanei says.



“This is what every entrepreneur does and knows every single day,” Codrington adds. “If you add real value, and people see the value that you’re adding, they’ll buy from you. And so it obviously isn’t that simple for everybody. Because it’s tough. You know this is a tough economy. It’s a tough situation. But whether it’s tough or easy, that’s the right mindset. ‘What do people need, why should they buy it from me?’ If you ask those two questions and find answers, you’ll get through this.”



4. “GO BACK TO BASICS”



Codrington believes that this would be a perfect time to reeducate yourself on the basic structures of running a business. However, this can only happen after you have accepted that your business has suffered during this time but there is light at the end of the tunnel.



“Because now you basically don’t cry about what could have been any more, but you say ‘what is and what exists now’. That’s what I think distinguishes entrepreneurs from corporate people anyway. Because entrepreneurs get up every morning saying, ‘I’ve got to make something happen today’,” Codrington says. It always comes back to what the consumer needs, and that is the main focus that gives the entrepreneur drive, Codrington says. 



He further adds that during this crisis, adapting your business model to suit the time is what could preserve your business in the long haul. A practical example is how some hotels around the world have turned their businesses into ‘work from home’ offices.



“So they are saying, ‘you can’t go into the office, but you don’t want to be stuck at home, so why don’t you rent a room in our hotel, we’ll give you free bottomless coffee, we’ll give you room service’. You’re comfortable with the hotel. There’s no bed, you’re not sleeping at the hotel. You arrive in the morning. You go into a room, it’ll be your room only,” says Codrington.



5.“LEAVE THE OLD WORLD AND EMBRACE CHANGE”



Business models, such as supply and demand models, are not needed anymore. Having to expect people to walk into a shop and buy something is an old model that needs to be eradicated. Sanei further adds that because the world has “this thing called the internet”, passion for your business is all that is necessary.



“If your business is taking strain, and your business is dying, and you are nervous about it, it means that you haven’t understood a digital-first world. Which means that you haven’t understood that the world we’re going into has new rules attached. You need to understand that if your business is dying, the reason is because it’s not really for this world,” Sanai says.



As daunting as this time may be, endless opportunities await entrepreneurs. What guarantees your success during this time will be your behavior.



“And so the entrepreneurs of the future are the ones that understand that they are the machine, they are the business, and that they are the ones who are going to be making things happen. Not the ones relying on a sector, or a subject or a technology, because you have no idea and cannot guarantee and hedge your bets on anything that’s coming in the future,” Sanei says.

Asian entrepreneur closing business due to Covid-19 outbreak

How The Covid Carnage Can Help Create The Entrepreneurs Of The Future

Topline: South Africa’s Department of Health has indicated that the process to roll out the SARS-COV-2 vaccine will start this month. A million doses of the vaccine will come from the Serum Institute of India (SII). 



Key Facts



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>In addition to the million, the department has stated that they will also get 500,000 doses from the SII in February.  </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>South African Health Minister, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, said in a statement on Thursday that the government will be prioritizing health workers by ensuring that they receive the vaccine by February.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>South Africa has entered the second wave of the pandemic, reporting over 20,000 new cases on Wednesday, January 6. </li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">As of today, the total number of confirmed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> cases is 1 149 591, the total number of deaths is 31 368 and the total number of recoveries is 929 239. <a href="https://t.co/ceWOvUlWyw">pic.twitter.com/ceWOvUlWyw</a>&mdash; Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrZweliMkhize/status/1346938540152729600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>The department has been in talks with the SII but could not disclose any details regarding the deal with the institute for the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccines. </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>When briefing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Thursday morning, Mkihze further said that the department did approach several vaccine manufacturers and discussions are at a “sensitive stage” and believes those talks to be concluded very soon. </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>It is still unclear the exact dates when South Africa will receive these vaccines and when they will be rolled out to the public. </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>What has been made clear, however, is that medical schemes and the government have come up with a plan that will cover the vaccination against the virus, according toRadio 702. </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>&#8220;It’s mandatory for medical schemes to pay for the Covid-19 vaccine,&#8221; Dr Ryan Noach, CEO at Discovery Health, on Radio 702. </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>In addition to this, President Cyril Ramaphosa tweeted on Wednesday that Canada may share any excess stock with South Africa.</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Canada has committed to sharing any excess pre-purchase orders with countries in need once supplies are available, and to influence other countries to act in the interests of multilateralism to defeat the virus in the spirit of security and safety for all.&mdash; Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) <a href="https://twitter.com/CyrilRamaphosa/status/1346758260083273728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Countries that have received the Covid-19 vaccine so far:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="723" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-1-1024x723.png" alt="" class="wp-image-49585" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-1-1024x723.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-1-300x212.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-1-768x542.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-1-1536x1084.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-1-2048x1446.png 2048w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-1-600x424.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption> <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations">Graphic from Our World Data</a></figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="723" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-1024x723.png" alt="" class="wp-image-49582" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-1024x723.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-300x212.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-768x542.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-1536x1084.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-2048x1446.png 2048w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/covid-vaccination-doses-per-capita-600x424.png 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption><a href="https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations">Graphic from Our World Data</a></figcaption></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">Crucial Quote</h4>



“We are happy that the SII/Astra Zeneca vaccine has already been approved by various regulators and is being rolled out in other countries. Therefore, as part of expediting the regulatory process, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) is applying reliance on that regulatory work,” said Mkhize in his statement on Thursday.&nbsp;

Mobile Covid-19 Testing as South Africa Struggles for Vaccines

Finally, Some News On The Covid-19 Vaccine For South Africa

TOPLINE In a bid to contain a more contagious strain of coronavirus that is spreading rapidly, Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed a new lockdown on England on Monday that will last until at least mid-February.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Coronavirus is again surging in the U.K. because of a new, more transmissible mutation of Covid-19 <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2020/12/23/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-englands-new-covid-19-variant/?sh=908bf27aeb3b">called</a> B.1.1.7.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>The lockdown will close most non-essential businesses, and restaurants will be required to limit service to takeout orders—but outdoor playgrounds and houses of worship will stay <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielHewittITV/status/1346189520170070017?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">open</a> as long as social distancing is maintained.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Schools will be closed except to the children of essential workers and vulnerable students.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Residents may not leave their homes except for essential work, essential shopping, medical assistance, exercise, as well as meeting with <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-support-bubble-with-another-household" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">support</a> or <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-childcare-bubble-with-another-household" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">childcare</a> “bubbles,” which are pairs of households allowed to mix under certain circumstances.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Johnson’s announcement comes after Scotland <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-55531069" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">imposed</a> a similar lockdown earlier Monday.</li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h4>



“There’s no doubt in that fighting the old variant to the virus, our collective efforts were working and would have continued to work. But we now have a new variant, and it’s been both frustrating and alarming to see the speed with which the new variant is spreading,” Johnson said.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h4>



The number of patients in hospitals has increased by nearly a third in the last week, Johnson said, and the number of deaths has increased 20%. Though there isn’t any evidence the U.K. mutation is more deadly than previous strains, early research has suggested it’s 75% more contagious, making the virus harder to control even as England begins to vaccinate its population.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h4>



40%. That’s how many more patients are in hospitals now compared to the first peak earlier this year, Johnson said.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h4>



Unlike the previous lockdown, takeaway alcohol is banned this time around.



&#8211;By Rachel Sandler, Forbes Staff

Boris Johnson Announces Third National Coronavirus Lockdown

England Will Go Into National Lockdown Amid Covid-19 Surge

TOPLINE With the U.S. coronavirus vaccination effort falling short of its goals as some states have <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-29/u-s-vaccinations-at-200-000-a-day-run-far-short-of-warp-speed#:~:text=TWITTER%20INC-,A%20resident%20receives%20a%20dose%20of%20Pfizer%2DBioNTech%20Covid%2D19,in%20Miami%2C%20Dec.%2029.&amp;text=The%20U.S.%20is%20vaccinating%20an,sent%20to%20them%20this%20month." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">used only small portions</a> of the supplies allocated to them, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci expressed optimism that vaccinations will ramp up in the coming days but cautioned that more cooperation between the federal government and states would be necessary.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Asked in a Sunday interview with ABC’s This Week to account for the delay, Fauci cited the program’s “massive size” and said that a few “glitches” at the outset were to be expected. </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>The federal government’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine effort had aimed to vaccinate 20 million Americans by the end of the year, but as of December 30 just 4.2 million doses had been administered, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-cdc/u-s-distributes-over-13-07-million-doses-of-covid-19-vaccines-4-2-million-administered-cdc-idUSKBN2970MY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>The Trump administration has largely left the logistical burden of mass vaccinations to individual states. </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Ashish Jha, the dean of the School of Public Health at Brown University, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/12/30/covid-vaccine-delay/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told the Washington Post</a> last week that the idea that states can effectively distribute the vaccine to millions using their existing infrastructure is a “fantasy.”</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Fauci said Sunday that expecting either the federal government or state governments to handle vaccine logistics on their own would be unrealistic; instead, he said a “combination of both” would be needed for the large-scale vaccination drive to be successful. </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>In an effort to boost the number of Americans who receive the vaccine quickly, Fauci <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2021/12/31/fauci-says-us-considering-allowing-more-americans-to-get-first-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-with-amended-approach/?sh=321f0269397e">said last week</a> that the federal government is considering altering its protocols by dispensing vaccine doses now that have been held back as second doses by the government. </li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h4>



“We are not where we want to be, no doubt about that, but I think we can get there,” Fauci said Sunday.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h4>



1.5 million. That’s how many Americans were vaccinated over the last 72 hours, Fauci said, about 500,000 per day. That’s an improvement over the 200,000 people per day rate&nbsp;Bloomberg&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-29/u-s-vaccinations-at-200-000-a-day-run-far-short-of-warp-speed#:~:text=TWITTER%20INC-,A%20resident%20receives%20a%20dose%20of%20Pfizer%2DBioNTech%20Covid%2D19,in%20Miami%2C%20Dec.%2029.&amp;text=The%20U.S.%20is%20vaccinating%20an,sent%20to%20them%20this%20month." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;last week, but still significantly lower than the 3 million people per day&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/30/covid-us-needs-to-vaccinate-3-million-people-per-day-to-hit-goal.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one expert told CNBC</a>&nbsp;would be necessary to ensure all Americans who want a vaccine receive one by July.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h4>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2021/01/02/large-numbers-of-health-care-and-frontline-workers-are-refusing-covid-19-vaccine/">Large Numbers Of Health Care And Frontline Workers Are Refusing Covid-19 Vaccine</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewster/2020/12/24/here-are-the-states-breaking-from-cdc-guidelines-on-vaccine-priority/">Here Are The States Breaking From CDC Guidelines On Vaccine Priority</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanponciano/2021/01/01/united-states-passes-20-million-covid-19-cases-as-deaths-remain-near-record-high/">United States Passes 20 Million Covid-19 Cases As Deaths Remain Near Record High</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2021/12/28/biden-will-invoke-defense-production-act-to-boost-vaccine-production-adviser-says/">Biden Will Invoke Defense Production Act To Boost Vaccine Production, Adviser Says</a> (Forbes)



By Sarah Hansen, Forbes Staff

Dr. Fauci And HHS Sec. Azar Receive COVID-19 Vaccinations During NIH Vaccine Kick-Off Event

Fauci Optimistic That U.S. Vaccination Delays Can Be Remedied

Following the country surpassing one million reported cases on Sunday evening, the South African government has decided to move the country back to Alert Level Three. 



&#8220;In effect, the adjusted Level three regulations will keep the economy open while strengthening measures to reduce transmission,&#8221; said South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa in an emotional address on Monday evening. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h3>



-There have been more than 50,000 new cases reported since Christmas Eve. The majority of new cases are emerging in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape.



-Excessive alcohol consumption is also driving up the number of trauma cases in South African hospitals. For this reason, the President announced that the sale of alcohol from retail outlets and the on-site consumption of alcohol will not be permitted. Night clubs and businesses engaged in the sale and transportation of liquor will not be allowed to operate. 



-The nationwide curfew will be extended from 9 pm to 6 am, this has been moved from 11 pm to 4 am. 



-Non-essential establishments – including shops, restaurants, bars and all cultural venues – must close at 8pm.



-The Level three restrictions will remain in place until 15 January 2021.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">Crucial Quote </h3>



&#8220;More families will mourn. All because of our actions, and our failure to take responsibility,&#8221; Ramaphosa added. &#8220;We are at an extremely dangerous point in our fight against the pandemic. Unless we act now and unless we act decisively, the number of new infections will far exceed what we experienced during the first wave and thousands of more people will lose their lives.&#8221;

‘South Africa In Grave Danger’: Ramaphosa Implores Adherence To Safety Protocols As Country Moves Again To Lockdown Level 3

Since the first case was reported in March, the country’s total coronavirus infections have spiked to 1 million, reported the South African Department of Health on Sunday evening.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Today, we have breached one million cumulative cases of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID%E3%83%BC19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVIDー19</a> in South Africa, with a cumulative total of 1 004 413 cases reported. <a href="https://t.co/p00BWXcX8J">pic.twitter.com/p00BWXcX8J</a>&mdash; Department of Health: COVID-19 (@COVID_19_ZA) <a href="https://twitter.com/COVID_19_ZA/status/1343253366420500481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



“Anyone who says COVID-19 is not a serious issue, are those who have not come into contact with someone who has had the virus,” South African Health Minister, Dr. Zweli Mkhize stated on Twitter this morning.&nbsp;



This puts further strain on the country as recently the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, addressed the nation placing stricter restrictions “with immediate effect” on<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/current-affairs/2020/12/14/more-grave-second-wave-in-south-africa-country-to-receive-vaccines-early-2021/"> December 14.&nbsp;</a>



“If we don’t do things differently, this will be the last Christmas for many South Africans,” said Ramaphosa. 



Some of the restrictions included the closure of beaches and public parks in the Eastern Cape and the Garden Route in the Western Cape for the duration of the festive season from December 16 to January 3. The curfew now starts at 11 PM and end at 4 AM. Restaurants and bars have to close at 10PM so that staff and patrons can get home before the enforcement of the curfew. Alcohol sales have also been restricted. Retail outlets are only permitted to sell alcohol between 10AM and 6PM from Monday to Thursday.



However, Dr. Zweli Mkhize further said that “One cannot speculate on the restrictions that will now be. ”&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">One cannot speculate on the restrictions that will now be put in place. <a href="https://twitter.com/MorningLiveSABC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MorningLiveSABC</a>&mdash; Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrZweliMkhize/status/1343427112217272321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



This is a developing story.&nbsp;

South Africa Surpasses 1 Million Reported Cases But No Sign Of Further Restrictions Yet

What a year it has been! In this mid-November interview with South Africa’s health minister Dr.Zweli Mkhize, he dwells on the early days of the pandemic and the country’s response, and the opportunities that have arisen.



Q. What do you think are some of the contributing factors to Africa having a relatively low caseload in comparison with other parts of the world?



A. While there are no definitive answers for this yet, there are several hypotheses I have with regards to this. Firstly, Africa had most of its initial cases come from various parts of the world, in particular Europe. As soon as the initial onset of the virus was identified correctly, international borders were closed. This meant that there was a significant decrease in imported cases and the focus could be shifted to cases being transmitted internally. This issue then in turn affected the number of cases. South Africa, for example, has an estimate of around 21 million international flyers per annum, however once this number was decreased; it played a significant role in decreasing the rate of spread. This also happened in Ethiopia and Kenya and had the same effect in reducing the rate of spread in their respective countries.&nbsp;



The second hypotheses I have relates to the intrinsic social systems that exist within the continent. The difference we have to more developed countries is that we have grassroot workers who go around and inform communities. This is the system we have used when dealing with other crises such as HIV, malaria and so on. The utilization of this system has proven itself to be consistently beneficial, especially given that universal health is not our strength.



Another theory, which has scientific grounding, is the presence of sunshine and the time it takes for the decomposition of the virus and given the theories around this, sunshine may well be a factor which impacts on the survival or life-span of the virus.&nbsp;



The demographics of the continent have also played a role as Africa has a significantly skewed younger population. This group is affected less by the virus and rarely show symptoms or they experience very mild symptoms which could have also been a factor.



Lastly, testing could also prove to be a factor and as with other parts of the world, provides an estimation of the positive cases which may well be bigger than the figures show due to people within the population being asymptomatic and therefore not realizing that they need to be tested. For example, antibody tests carried out in certain regions indicated that antibodies were present but they had not tested positive for the virus or had not gone in to be tested due to little or no display of symptoms.



All of this however does require more research, as the points I’ve raised are anecdotal and still require more evidence from the science community.&nbsp;



Q. According to CDC Africa, the southern parts of Africa currently have over 800,000 Covid-19 cases [as of mid-November], higher than any other region within Africa. What do you think are some of the possible reasons for this?



A. Within the southern region, South Africa is responsible for around 90% of these positive cases. I think the social dynamics and metropolitan social life in South Africa would probably be a significant contributor.&nbsp;



The increasing numbers of cases, which were mainly imported, means that South Africa has quite a noticeable relation to the Western capitals that have been hard hit and because of the mode in which the virus reached our shores, we ended up with a high number of imported cases and at the same time, because of a more metropolitan lifestyle, we as a country, ended up with a much higher increase.



That then explains why South Africa has got higher numbers because as soon as we closed our borders to international travelers and our numbers began to be driven by internal transmission, we saw the rate of infection begin to slow, much like it did for other countries within Africa.



Q. South Africa is also renowned for its spirit of Ubuntu; do you think this has played a role in how the nation has approached overcoming this pandemic?



A. I think the element of Ubuntu probably works in the context of our community networks as people go out and use their existing social networks and understanding to try and prevent infection in others. It does tend to be a mixed bag as these social networks can also be used as a means to spread infection when not taking the proper precautions but it’s a factor you can’t completely rule out and needs more research.



Q. One thing that has come through is how efficiently the clinical trial process of vaccines can be expedited… Do you think these enhanced methods of management could be applied to other clinical trial processes such as HIV vaccine trials?



A. I think the innovations are very encouraging if you take into account their ability to carry out some phases in parallel to each other. This means that they were able to cover more ground with their research at a quicker pace and it is being done more efficiently than it has been done in the past. I think the lessons that have come through for the larger scientific community is that it is possible to expedite certain processes within the phases of trial research.&nbsp;



Concern for safety has arisen as a result of how quickly these trials have happened but should these vaccines prove their success in their final phases, then these new methods are a breakthrough as it has provided methods for safe and efficient clinical trials and definitely has applications to other vaccine trials within other fields of virology.



Q. South Africa is currently the only African country to be conducting clinical trials with Kenya awaiting final approval from internal processes and Uganda’s Virus Research Institute looking to collaborate with the Imperial College of London. What do you think needs to be done for Africa to become more of a clinical trial hub?&nbsp;



A. I think that the Africa CDC has the potential to play a vital role in this sphere as there is the potential to create a strong network of biomedical and biotechnological experts wherein various levels of expertise in different fields are able to collaborate on a single platform. This is so the level of knowledge and information sharing is more or less equal across various countries.&nbsp;



This will assist in creating a clinical trial hub within Africa. If you have specialists and experts within a specific field and have them in communication with each other, it creates collaboration which brings about new ideas on what needs to be done within clinical trials. If this then forms part of a network coordinated through the Africa CDC, you can then have the African CDC assist this process by acting as a base of support for countries willing to participate in these clinical trials and it allows for this to be done without needing to reinvent the wheel.



This means utilizing what’s available and getting the necessary support so you could, for example, have collaboration between the African CDC and all the current Covid-19 vaccine research institutions and this could provide a platform for trials to occur. Early discussions could look at the strengths of each research institute in each African country and evaluate who can rise to the occasion and who cannot, who could carry out a portion of the study and then be partnered with another country to carry out the other portions.&nbsp;



Once this platform is established, it provides the possibility for these African research institutes within various countries to apply and allows for assistance from African CDC in the form of resources and expertise, should any of these institutes be allowed to conduct a clinical trial. This should be the direction that the future takes.



The Covid-19 pandemic has proven this is possible as a pool of experts in various fields was created and was shared with the African CDC, so the teams within the CDC who are working on the Covid-19 pandemic consists of specialists who have all come from different countries and are from different disciplines. This is a good start to increasing clinical trials, as should these teams be enhanced and efforts towards collaboration are intensified, particularly across disciplines. This will then allow for them to communicate with other specialists and experts within various institutions across the globe.&nbsp;



Q. With organizations such as COVAX attempting to ensure vaccines reach every part of the globe, when do you foresee the vaccine reaching Africa and how do you think distribution of the vaccine should work?



A. This is an interesting topic and I can only speculate here as Pfizer foresees the progress with their vaccine reaching approval by the end of this year and getting a license to begin production. South Africa as a country would like to be a part of this success and therefore distribution can occur through initiatives such as COVAX, which in itself will look to utilize these vaccines as they become available.



Johnson &amp; Johnson is looking at completing at the end of this year and possibly starting production of their vaccine around May. Now again, the need is to ensure that platforms such as COVAX also receive this vaccine as it becomes available.



The key challenges here are availability of financial resources to ensure that these vaccines are paid for; this is unaffordable to some countries, especially in Africa. Therefore, some countries on the continent will have no choice but to wait for humanitarian efforts from the likes of COVAX and CEPI.



There is also the collaboration of financial institutions such as the World Bank who are willing to provide support to some countries to ensure that they also have access. This will be a continuous effort to ensure that no country gets left behind and everyone is effectively immunized against Covid-19.



Q. Do you think there are protocols within the NHI that could have assisted with the free and fair distribution of vaccines within South Africa?



A. If NHI was currently an active entity within South Africa, this would have ensured that the total availability of these vaccines would have been secured through NHI protocols for funding, however given the current circumstances; everyone will now receive the vaccine according to their need and the criteria that has been set out by the country.



Certainly, the NHI would have assisted with the distribution of a vaccine. This, however, does not mean that we are unable to obtain access to a vaccine as government is still involved in procurement. We [government] are currently examining possible ways to ensure that the vaccine reaches everyone who truly needs it first.



Q: What applications does the NHI have to a pandemic such as Covid-19?



A: The fundamental point here is resilience and sustainability of the South African health system and that there is a strong foundation. If the foundation is strong, a pandemic such as this [Covid-19] becomes easier to manage. All of these points ensure the delivery of quality healthcare for all South Africans and the NHI becomes the platform from which a crisis response is formulated.&nbsp;



This system also ensures that the healthcare being received is the same in both rural and urban areas and should medical assistance be required, it is given without any compromises on the quality and speed at which these services are received. In a pandemic, this quality of care is essential in making sure it is properly treated no matter what the environment.



The key issue is ensuring that the NHI allows us to build an unshakeable foundation for the South African health service with good infrastructure and an abundance of human resources, adequate supplies of medical and technological devices and sufficient health information and promotion systems. All of which should be able to service all South Africans.



When a crisis such as the coronavirus occurs, we should then be able to utilize this system to allow a quick and efficient response and therefore ensure that those who require urgent attention have received it. We can also use the functions within this system to ensure the rest of the population has been adequately informed to ensure their safety.



Q: Do you think with resources being directed to the pandemic that it then forestalls on when the NHI becomes a viable option to the South Africa public?



A: I think the approach we take to a pandemic should not be a matter of ‘an either, or’ situation, the approach should focus simultaneously on our response to a pandemic like Covid-19, and the approach that allows us to move closer to using a universal health cover approach.



It then becomes a question of infrastructure systems used to manage the Covid-19 pandemic and that these additions to existing infrastructure not being dismantled after it has served its purpose. It should instead, be absorbed into existing infrastructure for future use.



Therefore what this pandemic has done is accelerate the creation of some infrastructure that will bring us closer to implementing the NHI. The second area it has impacted on is human resources; we will use this time to further expand on our pre-existing human resource pool which is part of securing South Africa in the future against crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic.



It has also moved forward collaborations and partnerships between the public and private health sector and basic agreements have begun to be reached on how to approach health-related issues going forward. Access to some private hospitals by public sectors was also given based on the needs of the public sector which included accommodations for costs, the quality of care that was received and so on.&nbsp;



So there have been opportunities that have arisen from the pandemic and the need for investment into the future of NHI has become apparent.&nbsp;



Q. With unified healthcare being a success in countries such as Brazil and Canada, do you think there are any lessons South Africa could take from them?



A. I think there’s only lessons to be learned from countries with a universal healthcare system; that we cannot wait any longer for the implementation of NHI as it provides healthcare to the areas where it is needed most.



Q. Lastly, do you have any concerns around the implementation of NHI?



A. I think this pandemic has shown us that circumstances don’t matter and shouldn’t forestall something this important. The pressure put on health resources by the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on the economy has slowed down the speed with which the NHI could have been implemented.



However, this does not mean that it should not still proceed, it means understanding that the current situation that we are in has placed constraints on certain aspects of the economy and this in turn has had an impact on the implementation of the NHI.



However, other countries have never looked at their wealth or state of economy when implementing a universal health system, this time with all these constraints is when implementing NHI is most essential and part of this is building on the infrastructure and systems that were successful.&nbsp;



So what NHI is now and what it can be in the future has to be taken into account as this is dependent on the available resources and look at how we can maximize the resources that are available.

Tag: covid-19 recovery

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA