Interviews

Prof Karim talks on COVID-19 tests in SA

Salim Abdool Karim says the demand for Covid-19 tests is dropping in South Africa. The chair of the ministerial advisory group says it's not because the health department is doing less testing, but because the number of people needing tests has decreased.

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Coronavirus Why South Africa is coming out of lockdown BBC News night

Despite appearing to mirror the UK’s coronavirus trajectory, South Africa appears to have the spread under control and is easing its lockdown. In the early stages of the pandemic, Britain and South Africa followed a near-identical path of infections. But as things stand only just over 100 South Africans are reported to have died from the virus, compared to the British total of over 26,000. The UK is still considering its next steps, but South Africa is now moving to partly ease its lockdown. What made things so different? South African authorities say that its rapid, heavily enforced lockdown has helped. But how much was it also the result of a severely unequal society - where rich and poor do not have much contact? In Johannesburg, the BBC's Africa correspondent Andrew Harding has been finding out.

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Ministerial Advisory Committee Chairperson, Professor Salim Abdool Karim full presentation

Ministerial Advisory Committee Chairperson, Professor Salim Abdool Karim full presentation.

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Will the lockdown help flatten the spread of the virus?

South Africa has been taking proactive steps in trying to prevent the spread of #Covid19. Will this help flatten the spread of the virus? Prof. Salim Abdool Karim explains.

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