Inside Covid-19

In episode 49 of Inside Covid-19, good news if you’re a careful driver or have a well-run small business; why remote doctor consults (telemedicine) is here to stay; an update on the search for an effective way to identify those with Covid-19 antibodies; the CEO of Sun International explains what the opening up of hotels means for the group on whom 20,000 livelihoods depend; and we take another look at Dexamethasone, the anti-inflammatory drug made in South Africa by Aspen Pharmacare, which is being hailed globally as a breakthrough saving the lives of 30% of critically ill coronavirus patients during a large trial in the UK. - Alec Hogg

Episode 48 of Inside Covid-19 is highlighted by the effective ending of South Africa’s lockdown of almost three months. In an address to the nation this evening President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that previously closed business sectors such as sitdown restaurants, hotels, hairdressers, spas and even cinemas and casinos will re-open soon, albeit with strict social distancing guidelines. Also coming up, we visit with Discovery CEO Adrian Gore and get the inside track on excitement around the 80 year old drug Dexamethasone, produced by Durban headquartered Aspen, after a 4,500 person Oxford University trial showed it delivered a 30% drop in mortalities among Covid-19 patients. There’s scary news out of South America which is now officially the world’s new coronavirus hotspot, we hear how restaurants which have opened elsewhere have had to adjust, and speak to Vumacam’s CEO Ricky Croock about the way criminals have adjusted to the new normal. - Alec Hogg

In episode 47 of Inside Covid-19 we hear fresh and (if you're rich) some rather frightening ideas from rock star economists Joe Stiglitz and Thomas Piketty on how countries should pay the bill for the war against the pandemic: a blanket 25% levy on multinationals especially tax dodging tech titans; a wealth tax of between 6 and 8% on assets of the world’s rich; and a hike in the marginal tax rate to 90% on the earnings of the super rich. Also tonight, our London correspondent Linda van Tilburg shares context on stories from our partners on a surge in India’s infections; why a flu jab may help ward off a Covid-19 infection - although not in the way you may think – and sensible reasons why wearing a mask when you’re out and about is just like having your seatbelt on in the car. And we close off tonight’s programme with a plea to the government from SA’s Tourism Business Council for its members to test their Covid-19 precautions on domestic tourists and prove that in September they will be safe to honour foreign bookings worth R120bn. - Alec Hogg

In episode 46 of Inside Covid-19, South Africa’s business confidence index falls to an almost impossibly low 5 points of a potential 100; we explore the change in banking behaviour with spending plummeting and savings rising; a University of Free State breakthrough in measuring viral loads of sewerage that will aid management of outbreaks by location; also, we hear about what will be needed for SA to attract foreign direct investment post the pandemic; and highlights of today’s Biznews webinar with political economy specialists Moeletsi Mbeki and Jakkie Cilliers. - Alec Hogg

In episode 45 of Inside Covid-19, some solid practical moneycraft advice during a time when 89% of South Africans are worried how they’re going to pay their bills; we hear from the Chinese owners of Village Main Reef on challenges the pandemic has brought for its deep level mines that are now in care and maintenance; retired rugby superstar Bryan Habana helps fellow athletes find a way to overcome the issues flowing from the pandemic; and insights into why coronavirus mortalities in some nations is far lower than others. - Alec Hogg

In episode 44 of Inside Covid-19 we examine the Western Cape’s infection and mortality rates, compare them with experiences elsewhere; after schools opened today, we take a close look at how this impacted the spread of the coronavirus in other countries; highlights from a fascinating interview with Stellenbosch University epidemiologist Dr Jo Barnes who warns against believing Pollyanna forecasts for SA; we visit Madrid which reopened restaurants and café’s today and take heart from experiences elsewhere in Europe where life is slowly returning to normal. - Alec Hogg

In episode 43 of Inside Covid-19, some practical do’s and don’ts for families whose children are returning to school next week; the High Court judgement forcing Government to recant on many lockdown regulations; we eavesdrop on SA Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago talking to a foreign audience; the Cape’s Tygerberg hospital is bracing for a fresh spike; and part two of our Biznews colleague Chris Bateman’s tale of living with cancer during the age of Covid-19. - Alec Hogg

In episode 42 of Inside Covid-19, with schools set to re-open on Monday, there’s professional advice on how families can minimize virus-related risks this will introduce; actuarial body PANDA wants Government’s official coronavirus mortality modellers to share their assumptions after their projections have proved consistently inflated; we share the intensely personal experience of living with cancer during Covid-19 with our Biznews colleague Chris Bateman; and hear from New York University professor Scott Galloway who is proposing a Corona Corps of young Americans wanting to help fight the virus in Africa. - Alec Hogg

In episode 41 of Inside Covid-19, we take a look at why South Africa’s testing regime is changing to take account of recent learnings; we hear the voices of 30 Gauteng doctors sending an unusual message of hope to South Africa; there’s an analysis of why people in sunnier climates fight off Covid-19 better; the IMF’s number two tells us why the global lender of last resort is well positioned to help countries like SA overcome the financial cost of fighting the pandemic; and we pop into the education minister’s discussion with the media on why schools didn’t open today as planned. - Alec Hogg

In episode 40 of the Inside Covid-19 podcast, ANC Top Six member Paul Mashatile tells the UK's prestigious Chatham House that South Africa’s post pandemic economic strategy is an updated and sharpened version of the Reconstruction and Development Plan of the 1990s; Discovery’s chief actuary unpacks the relevance of South Africa’s Covid-19 Reproduction or R Rate which is around 1.5; we investigate the quest to find a rapid and cheap coronavirus test; and have a look at how Boeing and Airbus expect to make it safe to fly – without catching the virus. - Alec Hogg