Stellenbosch University Professor Andreas Diacon is the force behind a 500-person clinical trial aimed at determining whether the BCG vaccines many South Africans got as children to protect against TB are indeed a shield against Covid-19. The trial involves revaccination of BCG that’s been universally applied in South Africa since 1973. Numerous reports have pointed out a correlation between infection rates for countries where BCG is universally administered as being far lower than in those countries like the USA, Italy and Belgium where it was never used.

In this snapshot of the headlines: * South Africa has reintroduced the ban on the sale and distribution of alcohol, is imposing a curfew and enforcing stricter face-mask rules as hospitals come under pressure from Covid-19. Listen to his key points. * The ANC has released its plan to get pension funds to help pay for Eskom. * Old Mutual is under pressure in Zimbabwe, and may be delisted. * Stock market update: Sasol, Tsogo Sun, Nedcor.

The National State of Disaster has been extended to 15 August. Although the country will remain at level three of the lockdown strategy, some strict measures have been reintroduced - including bans on the sale and distribution of alcohol and family and other social visits - and everyone will be subject to a nightly curfew from 9pm until 4am. President Ramaphosa has also promised strict measures to ensure implementation of Covid-19 lockdown rules. This is his full address.

Duncan Artus is stepping up to become chief investment officer for Allan Gray - an investment company that has attracted huge funds on the back of past superior performance but that has disappointed its clients in recent years. In this interview with BizNews founder Alec Hogg, he picks up on the systems and process they have to appoint people. He discusses Sasol, a day trading favourite, too.

The ANC unveiled its plan for economic recovery post Covid-19 and although its plan has some of the broad measures suggested by B4SA; it includes a proposal that pension funds should take over restructured assets of Eskom. - Linda van Tilburg

South Africa's economy was under pressure before Covid-19. Now it is in a very dark place. For B4SA it is over a cliff and it needs a "parachute". B4SA has provided the details of a plan it believes can get SA back on track. Listen to Business Unity SA's spokesperson Martin Kingston set out why the plan should be implemented soon - and the details of how to fix SA.

The decision to impose lockdown has come in for a lot of criticism these days, especially as the economic costs of the lockdown continue to mount. In this episode, Felicity Duncan and BizNews editor Jackie Cameron discuss the rationale behind lockdown, looking at the accuracy of Covid-19 predictions and the lingering effects of the virus. They ask whether lockdown was the right call or a tragic error. They also take a look at the hottest story of the week – business interruption insurance. As hundreds of South African businesses try to claim for their losses due to Covid-19 closures, insurers have been trying to get themselves off the hook. This episode looks at what insurers are saying, what the courts are saying, and what is likely to happen to these claims.

Epidemiologist Dr Jo Barnes warns about another scary side of the Covid-19 story: many of us will be left alive, but permanently impaired. In this interview with BizNews founder Alec Hogg, she picks up on a heated debate about flawed Covid-19 statistics, saying that the focus on death rates is distracting us from the real issues. Silly restrictions have left many South Africans not taking precautions seriously. She believes the official death rate does not reflect reality, particularly in rural areas where hospitals are “completely falling apart”.

In today's news headlines: * Gauteng, the richest province in South Africa, has become the centre of the country’s coronavirus outbreak; * South Africa’s manufacturing output fell 49.4% year on year in April during a nationwide lockdown, says Reuters; * The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has filed an urgent application with the High Court to liquidate JP Markets for trading in over-the-counter derivatives without a licence; and * The FSCA has slammed insurers that have refused to pay out business interruption claims and says it will take action.

The Kisby Fund is a tech-savvy financial approach to assisting small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). Its charismatic chair Mark Barnes tells BizNews founder Alec Hogg that the secret to economic dignity is well-funded small enterprises that foster job creation. Barnes is a well-known visionary, widely credited for the financial and cultural turnaround at the Post Office. In this, the first in a three-part interview, he reveals some of the ingredients to the 'secret sauce' he has been cooking. - Ronda Naidu

Old Mutual’s Andrew McPherson was among the first South Africans to test positive for Covid-19. He reflects on what life is like three months later and says he still has problems, for example he has not recovered his sense of smell. Although he has suffered from Covid-19, and wears a mask to be a responsible citizen, McPherson believes the world has had an over-reaction to dealing with Covid-19. He speaks to BizNews founder Alec Hogg. - Editor

In episode 58 of Inside Covid-19, we assess the anxiety about sending children back to school and media reports the coronavirus is now airborne; we revisit with two of our medical experts, forthright epidemiologist Dr Jo Barnes who sees a bright side for the nation after the very hard road ahead; and Stellenbosch University Prof Andreas Diacon who updates us on the BCG trial, for many a great hope in the fight against the coronavirus; we also get some insights from one of the first South Africans to contract the virus, Old Mutual executive Andrew McPherson; and hear from the Outsurance CEO why his company has broken with the industry norm and is actually paying up on Business Interruption claims. - Alec Hogg

Doctor Noluthando Nematswerani is with us as one of our regular visitors here on the BizNews Inside Covid-19 podcast. She looks at how infections, and with that, hospital admissions in South Africa are escalating, in this interview with BizNews founder Alec Hogg.

In today's news headlines: * The Zondo commission into state capture has cost a staggering R700m so far - and still no arrests in sight; * South Africa could run out of capacity in Intensive Care Units, the health minister has warned; * SAA has a new scheme to help its employees, and plans to cut the number of layoffs; * Scandal-hit Steinhoff International agreed to sell its stake in the struggling French unit of home furnishings chain Conforama; and * Santam was among the worst performers on the JSE after its bosses refused to pay up for business interruption insurance even though a court has ruled that Covid-19 linked claims are valid.

This week a Western Cape High Court ruled in favour of a Cape restaurant, Café Chameleon. Insurance Claims Africa, fighting for 500 business in the country to get their claims paid out, says the decision is precedent-setting. But the country’s biggest short-term insurer, Santam, announced yesterday that it is sticking to its policy of separating the lockdown from the Covid-19 pandemic and is not paying out. It will wait for its court case in September to get further clarity on its position, but Chief Executive Officer, Lizé Lambrechts said the insurer is confident it has taken the right stance. There is a storm brewing globally over how the insurance industry has reacted to Covid-19 claims, with billboards in New York urging the worldwide industry to do “the right thing”. In South Africa, there is one insurance company, OUTsurance (which is majority owned by Rand Merchant Insurance Holdings) that is an outlier in the industry. Chief Executive Officer, Danie Mathee told BizNews that its brand and reputation is more important than fighting against claims. - Linda van Tilburg

The Kisby fund is bringing in money from investors who want to put their money into getting good businesses back on track as they emerge from the Covid-19 crisis. Sean Emery, a driving force behind the fund, shares the details of the inner workings of the fund, noting that the Kisby Fund is not taking any of the many vulture investors circling SA companies that are under pressure. Instead, the Kisby Fund is attracting investors who are committed to helping businesses grow by providing fairly priced finance to foster sustainable entrepreneurship.

Prof Alan Whitesite, an HIV/Aids specialist who like many other medical academics has become obsessed with Covid-19, shares his thoughts on the latest developments. Now based in the UK, the ex-KZN University and now the Global Health prof at Waterloo University, keeps a close watch on developments in his old country and his new one. He also shares an in-depth weekly blog on Biznews.com.

Nick Hudson, an actuary at PANDA, gives an update on their projection models from an interview in June and on how South Africa has more to worry about than Covid 19.

In today's news headlines: * A small Cape Town restaurant, Café Chameleon, triumphed against Guardrisk Insurance, part of insurance giant Momentum Metropolitan Holdings; * Consumer confidence has crashed to lowest level since 1985; * An anti-arms activist, Terry Crawford-Browne has called for a Parliamentary investigation into arms exports from South Africa; and * More jobs than expected could be saved at Edcon.

The reluctance of the big insurers like Santam to pay claims for Covid-19 business interruption is threatening thousands of jobs. There has been a first victory for a Cape restaurant against Guardrisk, but Santam has dug in its heels and says it is convinced that the lockdown during Covid-19 is not covered by its policies. - Linda van Tilburg

In episode 57 of Inside Covid-19, South Africa’s healthcare system is holding up despite a surge in hospitalisations; the court rules against Guardrisk, with costs, after it is sued by a Cape Town restaurant demanding settlement on a Business Interruption insurance claim - but Santam still refuses to budge; and some in-depth perspectives on the Covid-19 experience in South Africa and elsewhere from UK-based Professor Alan Whiteside. - Alec Hogg

Cafe Chameleon went to court against Guard risk insurance. In this interview with Alec Hogg, Insurance Claims Africa CEO Ryan Woolley discusses the implications for businesses fighting for Covid-19 business interruption pay-outs.

Reflecting on the "crazy markets", stockbroker David Shapiro says he thinks the economy that we come out of is not going to be the same as before Covid-19. Also covered in this episode: Tesla, Toyota, Spotify and gold.

Santam's chief risk officer Asher Grevler says he is appalled at the damage being wrought on the company's client base. Including those who thought they were covered against the pandemic by their Business Interruption insurance policies. But in the view of SA's largest short-term insurer, despite companies having been forced to close, there's no liability for the insurer. Grevler argues that it was SA's Government, not Covid-19, that caused them damage. So it refuses to settle their claims.

Only in South Africa. The two year old Gabola church, where booze is a critical part of the service, is running into trouble with the lockdown-inspired ban on alcohol. - Reuters