34 New Confirmed Deaths in South Africa, Latest Global Developments – The Citizen



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As of Friday, October 2, the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases detected is 677,833 with 1,749 new cases identified, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed.

43 more deaths related to Covid-19 were reported: 3 from the Eastern Cape, 8 from KwaZulu-Natal, 8 from Gauteng, 7 from the Northern Cape and 9 from the Free State.

Therefore, the total number of deaths related to Covid-19 amounts to 16,909.

“We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the deceased and we thank the health workers who treated the deceased patients,” added the minister.

Recoveries now amount to 611,044 which translates into a 90% recovery rate.

4,229,709 tests have been performed with 20,660 new tests confirmed since the last report.

Source: Department of Health

These are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

Trump ‘positive’

US President Donald Trump tests positive for Covid-19, creating a bomb a month ahead of a tense US election that has been overshadowed by his handling of the pandemic in the world’s worst-hit country.

“We will get out of this TOGETHER!” The 74-year-old writes on Twitter, announcing that he and first lady Melania Trump, 50, have tested positive.

His doctor describes him as “fine” and capable of performing his duties while in quarantine, but has canceled a planned campaign rally.

Actions slide

Trump’s announcement exacerbates the pessimistic mood on the trading floors, with global stocks falling.

US futures sink as investors nervously await the reopening of Wall Street and key non-farm jobs data is set to be announced.

Investors were already pessimistic about the failure of US lawmakers to agree to a new US bailout package to tackle the coronavirus.

More than a million dead

As of 1100 GMT on Friday, the coronavirus pandemic had killed at least 1,024,093 people worldwide since it emerged in China in late 2019, according to an AFP tally based on official sources.

More than 34.3 million cases have been officially diagnosed.

The United States has suffered the most deaths, with 207,816, followed by Brazil with 144,680, India with 99,773, Mexico with 78,078 and Great Britain with 42,202.

European deflation worsens

Eurozone inflation falls deeper into negative territory in September amid falling demand due to the coronavirus crisis.

The European Union’s Eurostat data agency says inflation fell to -0.3 percent last month, a drop from -0.2 percent in August and a far cry from the official target of about two percent.

Mecca to reopen

Saudi Arabia will reopen Muslim holy sites for the year-round umrah pilgrimage on Sunday, scaled down and with extensive health precautions, seven months after the coronavirus triggered its suspension.

Umrah, the pilgrimage that can be done at any time, usually attracts millions of Muslims from all over the world each year.

It will be reactivated in three stages, and in the initial phase only 6,000 citizens and residents who are already within the kingdom will be allowed to participate each day.

Lebanon closures

Lebanon will put 111 villages and cities across the country on lockdown from staying at home for a week starting Sunday after a series of record daily novel coronavirus infection rates.

The country has registered 40,868 cases since February.

Cases have skyrocketed in the wake of a massive explosion in Beirut port on August 4 that killed more than 190 people and overwhelmed the capital’s health services, injuring thousands.

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