Should South Africans be concerned by the high number of daily coronavirus cases being reported? In recent days South Africa has seen a spike in the number of new Covid-19 cases, with 148 deaths due to the pandemic. But what Impact will the easing of the national lockdown have on the number of Infections? To answer this we're joined on the line by...

Guest: Professor Salim Abdool-Karim, Epidemiologist and infectious diseases specialist and Chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID19

Satawu responds to Prasa’s proposed voluntary severance packages: As financial woes continue to batter the state owned company due to coronavirus pandemic - voluntary severance packages have been proposed to union members at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. Trade union Satawu is in a state of shock with the attitude that has been adopted by Prasa executives and joining us to elaborate further is…..

Guest: Tinzi Lubabalo, Satawu’s National Coordinator for Prasa

World News today: “The United States government through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is committing funds to support South Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic”

Guest: Lana Marks, US Ambassador to South Africa

How is Limpopo doing in the fight against Covid19? About seven days ago, the province was reported to have screened 2.7m people for COVID-19. Also the Health MEC in the province revealed that her department has deployed a team of more than 10,000 people to conduct household screening.

Guest: Dr Phophi Ramathuba, MEC for Health in Limpopo

BSS: There has been a surge in reports pertaining to the politicization of distribution of food amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In different parts of the country political parties have accused each other of trying to score political points through food distribution and depriving the most vulnerable who are not affiliated to the party. In KZN the IFP have accused the ANC of preventing them from distributing food to the destitute. In turn, the ANC in KZN says the IFP are politicizing the situation by distributing food in full party regalia and brand cars. On Both Sides of the Story we're asking you: Are political parties politicizing food distribution during Covid-19?

Guest: IFP MP and national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa
Guest: ANC ward councillor, Richard Nyembezi

A 61-year- old life serving prisoner has died from COVID-19 related complications at the West Bank Female Prison in East London this week. According to the president of the South African Sentenced and Awaiting Trial Prisoners Organisation, Phindile Zweni, the Butterworth woman was arrested in 2000 for murder and culpable homicide and was sentenced for life in 2008.

Guest: Phindile Zweni, President of the South African Sentenced and Awaiting Trial Prisoners Organisation

Comair today announced the group will enter business rescue to safeguard the interests of the company and its stakeholders after the Covid-19 crisis disrupted the implementation of a turnaround plan.

GUEST: Guy Leitch, editor of SA Flyer Magazine

a day used to mobilise people around the world to increase adherence to hand hygiene in health care facilities, thus protecting health care workers and patients from infections. As the world continues to battle Covid19 - the main goal of the Global Hand Hygiene Day campaign is to recognize that handwashing is one of the most effective actions you can take to prevent infections.

Guest: Dr Kgosi Letlape, Eye surgeon in private practice and the Co-founder of Africa Harm Reduction Alliance

About 4.5 million Italians returned to work Yesterday. Italy as you may recall is one of the countries that were hardest hit by Covid19. Currently, more than 210,000 people in the country have been infected and the government imposed strict lockdown policies on March 9 in its efforts to flatten the curve.

Guest on the line (Sweden) Vito Laterza, Associate Professor in Development Studies at the University of Agder, Norway, and chief editor of the blog Corona Times

The British American Tobacco South Africa has given Co-operative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma an ultimatum to amend regulations that prohibit the sale of tobacco products by today or face legal action. Earlier President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the sale of cigarettes would be allowed under Level 4 regulations. However, last week Dlamini-Zuma reversed Ramaphosa's announcement when she said the ban would remain in place. In his weekly letter to the nation President Ramaphosa says these measures have been guided by international bodies and the experience of other countries. On Both Sides of the Story we're asking you, whether the ban on cigarettes should remain or be lifted...

Guest: Sinenhlanhla Mnguni - Chairperson of the Fair-trade Independent Tobacco Association (fita)

Guest: Dr Yusuf Saloojee - The former Director and current board member of the National Council Against Smoking