Postponed until further notice: Joint virtual media briefing by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and the Minister of Health on the latest scientific results on new COVID-19 variant

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, and the Minister of Health, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, will jointly host a virtual media briefing on the latest scientific results on COVID-19 variant.

Genomic research has proved to be a potent tool in the fight against COVID- 19. Investigations by South African genomic scientists into the evolutionary characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 resulted in the detection of the new variant, dubbed 501Y.V2.

In this regard, government has been working with local scientists from the KwaZulu-Natal Research Informatics and Sequencing Programme (KRISP).

KRISP is the first in the world to uncover the findings, showing that the 501Y.V2 variant has a number of mutations on its spike protein, which increases the efficacy of the virus to infect humans and potentially posing problems of vaccine escape.

This work is continuing through the Department of Science and Innovation, and the department allocated KRISP R25 million over the next 12 months to complete the sequencing of 10 000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes in South Africa and the rest of the African continent.

This media briefing will amongst others provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of increased transmissibility (which is increasingly supported by data) and if there is any evidence of increased pathogenicity (a different disease profile/progression), or whether reinfection can occur.

Scientists from KRISP have been meeting with the world's top scientists every two weeks to discuss the evolution of SARS- CoV-2 lineages. The centre has been sequencing SARS‐CoV‐2 genomes locally and sharing its findings.

The media briefing will take place as follows:

Date: Thursday, 25 February 2021

Time: 10h00

Venue: Zoom link: https://gcis.zoom.us/j/98485471582?pwd=L09nRmlVa1liMElIbkhka0hVdFZXZz09

                    Passcode: 404830

 Media Participation: Journalists may view the briefing via live streaming on the links below.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/GovernmentZA

Twitter: http://twitter.com/GovernmentZA

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GovernmentZA

Enquiries:

Ishmael Mnisi – 066 037 8859

Issued by GCIS on behalf of the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and the Department of Health