First human trial of COVID-19 vaccine gets under way in the US – EWN

Borders across Europe closing to limit the spread of COVID-19 as the first human trial of a vaccine gets underway in the US.

This undated handout picture courtesy of the British Health Protection Agency shows the coronavirus seen under an electron microscope. Picture: AFP.

JOHANNESBURG - More countries are being placed on lockdown on Tuesday morning with borders across Europe closing to limit the spread of COVID-19 while the first human trial of a vaccine gets under way in the US.

More than 7,000 people have died globally from the coronavirus out of over 182,000 cases.

However, almost 80,000 people have made full recoveries.

In South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the ANC was confident government's COVID-19 preventative measures would work.

Ramaphosa said the party was focused on coming up with a plan to minimise the effects of the spread of the virus.

South Africa has 62 confirmed cases with more expected to be announced in the coming days.

The president declared a state of disaster on Sunday night announcing travel restrictions, school closures and cancelling mass events.

WATCH: South Africas coronavirus interventions

PANIC BUYING

Many grocery shops were overrun on Monday by consumers panic buying and stock-piling items.

Videos on social media show long snaking queues with scores of people standing in close quarters.

South Africans have been urged to be rational when shopping for supplies as so-called panic-buying spikes.

The dean of the Gordon Institute of Business Science Nicola Kleyn said this could also be referred to as rational disaster buying.

Its entirely rationale if people think they wont have access to those things for a period. People want to go home and have a feeling of Ive done what I need to do so I dont need to go out anymore.

To track the latest developments around the coronavirus both in South Africa and abroad, click on this live status report from Strategix.

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First human trial of COVID-19 vaccine gets under way in the US - EWN