Over the last two years, we’ve all more than likely gone for a Covid-19 test and experienced that horrible sensation of having a stick shoved up your nostril. But what brings more discomfort than the sensation of having your insides tickled is the cost of the test, which has been R850 for the most part.
The Competition Commission is investigating the three large private lab companies namely, Lancet, Ampath and Pathcare for why they have been charging the universal fee of R850, which has added up to a whopping R8 billion windfall over the last 20 months scored off of 10.65-million PCR tests.
Rob Rose writes that these labs may be making more money from the tests than they should (Subscribe to read), given the research and expert commentary over what a more appropriate price for a Covid-19 test should be set at.
Meanwhile, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) announced on Wednesday that it had approved vaccine booster shots for use in the country.
The decision means that adults over the age of 18 will be eligible to get a booster shot around six months after they received their second dose of the vaccine.
Early research indicates that the latest variant, Omicron, does weaken immune protection but it can be bolstered with a booster shot.
“…boosting with an additional dose of the vaccine raised antibodies, giving a similar level of the protective proteins as observed against earlier versions after the standard two shots, the vaccine partners said Wednesday,” reports Bloomberg.
The move comes amid President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ongoing discussions and consultations with cabinet and Covid-19 advisors over whether to introduce vaccine mandates and new restrictions.
News24 reports that the presidents’ cabinet is still undecided on whether to impose vaccine mandates but have called for the lifting of “unfair travel bans” imposed on South Africa and took the decision to extend the state of disaster for the 19th time, which means it would now expire on January 15, 2022.
Here’s a roundup of interesting opinions, analyses, and editorials:
Prosecutions head Shamila Batohi ‘not prepared to discuss in Parliament’ why Hermione Cronje left Investigating Directorate, insists there’s no crisis – Daily Maverick
JONATHAN JANSEN | Make the circle bigger but safe before it’s too late – Sunday Times Daily (Subscribe to read)
Phillip de Wet: ANC’s expropriation without compensation defeat is bad news for investment – News24 (Subscribe to read)
TRACEY DAVIES: Shell – the devil and the deep blue sea – Financial Mail
EDITORIAL: IMF’s warnings against paralysis getting louder — for good reason – Business Day
There should never be a place to hide for looters – The Citizen (Subscribe to read)
