Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [24/04/2020]

South Africa plans to ease its lockdown on 1 May, as it gradually begins to open up the country again.

Not all businesses will be able to re-open, as the restrictions will only be lifted on certain sectors, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in an announcement yesterday.

Meanwhile, Envisionit Deep AI, a healthtech startup funded by Founders Factory and Netcare, has launched an online version of Radify, an artificial intelligence (AI) solution for radiologists and medical doctors.

South Africa plans to ease its lockdown on 1 May, but not all businesses will be able to open immediately

With the coronavirus (Covid-19) headlining news all over the world, Ventureburn has launched a regular daily roundup on the virus and how it is affecting Africa’s tech startup sector.

Those with any news releases relating to Covid-19 and Africa’s tech startup sector can send these to editor@memeburn.com.

Here then is the latest on the coronavirus and African tech startups:

Gradual easing of lockdown: The South African government plans to ease its lockdown on 1 May, as it gradually begins to open up the country again. Not all businesses will be able to re-open, as the restrictions will only be lifted on certain sectors, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in an announcement yesterday.

Tax measures explained: SA’s finance minister, Tito Mboweni, has provided more details on the second set of measures that are aimed at assisting individuals and businesses through the Covid-19 pandemic, the government’s news agency SAnews reported yesterday. The measures are expected to provide about R70-billion in support, either through reductions in taxes otherwise payable or through deferrals of tax payments for tax compliant businesses. See the details here.

Healthtech offers free AI tool: Envisionit Deep AI has just launched an online version of Radify, an artificial intelligence (AI) solution for radiologists and medical doctors. The startup — founded in Johannesburg in January last year by paediatric radiologist Jaishree Naidoo (who serves as CEO and is pictured above), Terence Naidu and Russian-born Andrei Migatchev — is offering the solution free of charge to support medical professionals that use X-rays in the identification and treatment of Covid-19. Following support from the UK-SA Tech Hub and an investment by Founders Factory and Netcare in February, the startup set up an office in London to take the business global.

Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [23/04/2020]
Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [22/04/2020]
Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [21/04/2020]
Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [20/04/2020]

Featured image: Envisionit Deep AI CEO Jaishree Naidoo (Supplied)