The Covid-19 death toll has hit 2 657, while the number of cases now sits at 151 209.
The total number of recoveries is now 73 543 – a recovery rate of 48.6%.
Here’s what made the headlines today
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has warned that another hard lockdown is possible, as the country braces itself for a spike in Covid-19 deaths. Already, the Eastern Cape and Gauteng are gearing up to face their peak period of new cases. Mkhize said the looming winter months could cause an increase in cases.
The impact of Covid-19 on the economy is being felt by the ANC, which has delayed staff salaries being paid. Salaries for the month of June will only be paid in July.
The 2021 African Cup of Nations has reportedly been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The tournament, which was due to be held in Cameroon next January, was postponed to January 2022.
Today we revealed the shocking state of an isolation unit at Settlers Hospital in Makhanda. Patients reported going hungry for hours, having to reuse bedpans and being ignored by hospital staff. Already, News24 has reported on the poor state of other Eastern Cape hospitals.
Meanwhile, residents in one area of Makhanda are struggling without running water, and fear they are at risk of Covid-19 as they are unable to maintain proper hygiene. Taps are dry and sewage is flowing on the street in the area of Hlalani.
Sassa is allowing those who were rejected for the government’s R350 relief payment to apply again. Rejected applicants can be subjected to an appeals process. Sassa said about half of all processed applications for the month of June did not qualify.Job losses soar globally, ‘US could see 100 000 new cases a day’ – International Covid-19 news
The US could see 100 000 new coronavirus cases a day, a top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci warned.
And, the coronavirus crisis has taken a much heavier toll on jobs than previously feared, the UN said Tuesday, warning that the situation in the Americas was particularly dire.
An asylum seeker has tested positive for coronavirus in a sprawling encampment steps from the US border in Matamoros, Mexico, underscoring the challenges migrants face in protecting themselves from the pandemic.
The European Union agreed Tuesday to reopen its borders to 15 countries excluding the virus-stricken US. Those on the list are Algeria, Australia, Canada, Japan, Georgia, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.
And finally, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out plans on Tuesday to try to spur the UK’s economy, promising to fast-track 5 billion pounds of infrastructure investment and to “build, build, build” out of the coronavirus crisis.
Pictured: A barmaid waits for a pint of Guinness to settle before serving a customer at a pub in Dublin, Ireland. (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)