VOW 88.1 The Covid Report

The Covid Report

At the onset of the Covid- 19 pandemic in South Africa when President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster in March 2020, Voice of Wits launched an hour- long daily talk show, The Covid Report. This show focuses on the impact the virus has on various sectors of society. Some of the topics covered include; stories of recovery, how people living in informal settlements are dealing with the pandemic, the impact of the virus on schooling- focusing on home schooling. The LIVE show airs 6 and 7pm Monday to Thursday and is available on podcast after that.
Weekly English South Africa Technology · Music
232 Episodes
112 – 132

Fertility treatments amid the coronavirus pandemic

In South Africa, infertility occurs in 15% to 20% of the population. That means one in every six couples struggle to conceive. Thanks to the advancement of technology, many of the couples who struggle to conceive are able to consider other options of family planning. The Cape Fertility Clinic has…
23 Jul 2020 26 min

Alcohol ban good for health-care system amid the Covid19 crisis

The negative effects of alcohol on society and the health-care system has always been around. It’s just harder to manage and cope with it when we’re going through a pandemic. As the alcohol sales ban is lifted now, the decline in alcohol-related injuries and trauma cases seen in hospitals in…
22 Jul 2020 29 min

Alcohol ban will lead to more job losses

Worker union Fawu says the decision by the government to reinstate the alcohol ban could lead to thousands of job losses. President Cyril Ramaphosa had said there was evidence that the lifting of the ban on the sale of alcohol led to an increase in hospital admissions for patients who…
22 Jul 2020 21 min

Child abandonment on the rise during the coronavirus pandemic

South Africa has one of the highest rates of infant abandonment in the world. The national lockdown exacerbated this as being under lockdown posed a lot of hardships for many households, leaving many people without jobs and not knowing where their next income will come from. Speaking on the rise…
21 Jul 2020 34 min

How safe are the PPEs and sanitisers currently available in the market?

We focus on personal protective equipment (PPE), these are the products that are currently in demand to protect people from contracting and spreading Covid-19. These products include masks, thermometers, sanitizers, disinfectants and gloves. The SABS provides the platform for quality services and products which is the key differentiator in an…
16 Jul 2020 17 min

How small business owners are innovating during the pandemic and creating jobs

Small businesses, including those run by women and young entrepreneurs have been hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown regulations put in place to slow down the infection of the coronavirus. Hluvuko Designs is one of these businesses, but the company was able to quickly innovate and change focus…
16 Jul 2020 8 min

How to better manage your finances during the pandemic

Almost eight in 10 South Africans say their household income has been cut by the Covid-19 pandemic, while one in ten had already lost their jobs – this is according to new research from consumer credit reporting agency, TransUnion; an 15 JULY 2020 The Covid Report household finances additional 7…
15 Jul 2020 39 min

How long will it take before a covid-19 vaccine is available for all?

The race is on to find a vaccine for the SARS-CoV-2 which causes Covid19 virus. Wits University is currently running vaccine trials, w speak to Dr Clare Cutland, is a scientific coordinator at the Wits African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise Consortium and works with the Respiratory and meningeal pathogens research…
14 Jul 2020 28 min

How to keep your identity safe amid the covid-19 crisis

Identity theft is rife in South Africa, with nearly half of consumers having either fallen victim to identity theft, or knowing someone who has, according to TransUnion research. Siphoshile Mbuli and Gamelihle Bovana speak to Kriben Reddy, a Senior Director at TransUnion.
14 Jul 2020 23 min

Recovering from a Covid-19 infection, the story of a 17 year old Grade 11 learner

Nikita Johnson is a 17-year-old Grade 11 learner who recently contracted the coronavirus recently. Nikita is self isolating in her mother’s bedroom in Johannesburg. She has cautioned people to stay away from social gatherings. She says her biggest challenge in fighting the virus is staying in isolation and mental health,…
13 Jul 2020 16 min

Early childhood development centres are-open amid a Covid-19 pandemic

The Pretoria High Court ruled on Monday 6 July that private nursery schools that comply with Covid-19 safety measures can open immediately. Siphosihle Mbuli and Gamelihle Bovana speak Anton van der Merwe, who is the SA Childcare Association’s Group Managing Director. They also spoke to Tansy Venter who is a…
8 Jul 2020 55 min

Has online learning compromised the quality of higher education?

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many industries and sectors to change and embrace technology. Institutions of Higher learning have had to forgo contact learning and interactions among the academic community and resort to online learning in an attempt to try and save the academic year. The question is, how has…
6 Jul 2020 45 min

Using technology to fight covid-19

As the Covid-19 pandemic rages, technologists have been rushing to build apps, services, and systems for contact tracing – identifying and notifying all those who come in contact with a carrier. Despite the many services that may seem convenient and help us fight the virus, however we know very little…
2 Jul 2020 20 min
112 – 132