President Ramaphosa to address virtual COVID-19 conference

President Cyril Ramaphosa and World Health Organization Director General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, are expected to address a virtual national conference on COVID-19 on Friday.

The conference will be hosted by Dr Blade Nzimande, the Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister and Dr Zweli Mkhize, Health Minister respectively.

The COVID-19 conference will bring together scientists, governments, business and civil society from all over the world in open discussion towards a greater understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on society and the economy.

It will also focus on health innovations, technologies, and social & economic sustainability during and after the pandemic.

However, there is also a growing pressure to develop new diagnostic tools and treatments regimes, while the burden on health resources and economics remains high.

The conference will comprise of three panel discussions:

The panel on health research will discuss health innovation in support of COVID-19 (therapeutics, diagnostics, testing, and tracking). It will also consider research experiences and research collaboration in managing COVID-19 and pandemics in general.

The two other panels will focus on data modelling and analysis in managing COVID-19, and on the socio-economic impact of the disease and possibilities for economic recovery.

The panelists include:

* Professor Salim Abdool Karim, Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 Chairperson

* Professor Sarah Agbor, African Union Commissioner for Human Resources, Science, and Technology

* Among others.

Then conference will take place under the theme: “Harnessing science, technology, and innovation in response to COVID-19: A national and international effort.”