Eskom has 'a lot more capacity than needed'
Eskom has told independent wind farms that it could buy less of their power in the coming days, as electricity demand has plummeted during a lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus. Eskom said on Tuesday that power demand had dropped by more than 7,500 megawatts since the lockdown started on Friday and that it had taken some of its own generators offline. Spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said the utility had not yet curtailed power procurement from wind farms but that it had told them this could happen "for a few hours a day during the next few days, perhaps until the lockdown is lifted". "Most of them are able to feed power into the grid in the early hours of the day. That coincides with the lowest demand period. And we now have a lot more capacity than needed," Mantshantsha said.
Antibodies found that could treat Covid-19
Chinese scientists have isolated antibodies they say are “extremely effective” at blocking the ability of the new coronavirus to enter cells, which could be helpful in treating or preventing Covid-19. Zhang Linqi, at Tsinghua University in Beijing, said a drug made with antibodies such as the ones his team had found could be used more effectively than the current approaches. In January, the scientists began analysing antibodies from recovered Covid-19 patients, which showed what Zhang described as a “strong” ability to bind with the virus’ proteins. Among the first antibodies tested, four were able to block viral entry and, of those, two were “exceedingly good” at doing so, Zhang said. — Reuters
First repatriation flight on way to Brazil
A flight bound for Sao Paulo in Brazil departed OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) confirmed. This was the first repatriation flight permitted in terms of revised regulations announced on Tuesday by transport minister Fikile Mbalula. Acsa said 321 passengers boarded the LATAM flight. The crew did not disembark. Acsa said the aircraft carried an additional 16 crew members so it could do a crew change at the airport. “The 16 crew members for the flight into South Africa therefore returned to Brazil as passengers,” said Acsa group executive for corporate affairs Refentse Shinners.
LGBTI+ communities unite for online Global Pride
Organisations running LGBT+ Pride marches have joined forces to hold the first online Global Pride event on June 27, after hundreds of real-life gatherings were shelved due to the coronavirus pandemic. Global Pride will be livestreamed worldwide, said Steve Taylor, spokesperson for the European Pride Organisers’ Association (EPOA). More than 200 LGBT+ rights marches have been postponed or cancelled, according to EPOA, which estimates that up to 22 million people attend at least one Pride in Europe every year. Gay Star News, an LGBT+ news outlet, has held a “Digital Pride” online since 2016, but Taylor said this was the first time physical Pride marches would be held virtually. — Reuters
Man 'sets girlfriend's house alight, killing five'
A 32-year-old man was arrested after allegedly setting his girlfriend's house alight, killing five people. Police spokesperson Capt Khaya Tonjeni said the house in Seymour in the Eastern Cape was engulfed in flames in the early hours of Monday. A resident who contacted the police saw the man allegedly setting the house alight, Tonjeni said. “He called in members of the community and a 32-year-old male suspect was arrested and handed over to the police.” Five people, including the man’s girlfriend, 30, her mother, 46, her sister, 24, a five month-old boy and a 34-year-old man died.
Virus-testing tent thieves urged to get tested
Thieves who stole a coronavirus testing tent from outside an Auckland, New Zealand, hospital have put themselves at risk of contracting the virus and should get tested, police warned. East Health Trust chief Loretta Hansen said staff discovered the tent was missing on Tuesday morning. “Some fool, idiot, come and stole our tent,” she said in a Facebook video. “It was bolted in by concrete and they just chopped it off.” “If you have got that tent ... we're quite happy if you could just let us know anonymously where we can pick it up from. You might save yourself a bit of trouble,” said police.
Thursday, April 2 2020
LOCKDOWN LESSONS
HOW THE PANDEMIC IS AFFECTING CHILDREN ... AND EVERYONE ELSE
The upsides to a pandemic: from jobs to teaching, it’s not all bad news
A climate boost, new work opportunities, an uptick in innovation, rethinking how we learn – there are many positives
We will fight it with torches, bricks and cutting machines, vow kids
Watch four young friends strategising on how they will rid SA of Covid-19
SA parents cram online lessons on how to teach their kids
Several learning sites say inquiries about homeschooling and learning material have flooded in
SMART NEWS
IN ONE TAKE
Defend SA from its cops, army before it’s too late
ANALYSIS | While Bheki Cele has since urged them to show compassion, his off-the-cuff initial response was telling
She fought one pandemic. Now this one has claimed her
The world-renowned medical scientist and professor won many awards for her groundbreaking work
Virus victim was a talented ad man, writer and artist who loved God
Tributes flood in for Louis Wilsenach, 79, praising him as an ‘amazing’ and ‘unique’ mentor
Don’t scoff: overeating during lockdown may widen SA’s girth
Health experts fear scores of Saffers will turn to their fridges and cupboards for Covid-19 comfort
How a Loskop has changed what we know about the Great Dying
A centimetre of ash in the Free State has filled a scientific gap in what happened 252 million years ago
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SNAPSHOT
6 things you need to know
Eskom has 'a lot more capacity than needed'
Antibodies found that could treat Covid-19
First repatriation flight on way to Brazil
LGBTI+ communities unite for online Global Pride
Man 'sets girlfriend's house alight, killing five'
Virus-testing tent thieves urged to get tested
THE VISUAL SIDE
Research by medical specialists in Hong Kong shows how long Covid-19 can survive on different surfaces and in different environments. The surfaces tested included paper, tissue paper, wood, cloth, glass, a banknote, stainless steel, plastic and the inner and outer layer of a surgical mask.
CROSSWORDS
GIVE YOUR BRAIN SOME EXERCISE
Today’s cryptic crossword
It's time to put your brain to work
Today’s quick crossword
How fast can you get it done?
LIFE
ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT MATTER
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