by Thinus Ferreira
TV channels and TV news channels have ramped up their Covid-19 novel coronavirus coverage in light of the growing global pandemic with special documentaries in the works as well as TV specials.
The Discovery Channel (DStv 121) is readying a special quick-turn documentary, Coronavirus: The Silent Killer.
Discovery Inc. was asked when it will air on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa and Africa and said the documentary is being aired in the United States at the end of March and is expected to reach South Africa shortly after that.
The documentary special looks at the world's most dangerous new supervirus, with Discovery that aims to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding its origins and exploring the different ways people can address the contagion.
Discovery plans to release a series of virus-related shows that will be airing in the following weeks on some of its channels.
The NBC News anchor Lester Holt will anchor the NBC News Special Report: Coronavirus Pandemic that will be shown on NBC in the United States and simulcast on MSNBC (StarSat 263) on Friday morning, 20 March at 04:00 (South African time).
As developments and massive global impacts continue to unfold around the pandemic, a team of the network’s correspondents will provide real-time information around what viewers need to know about the coronavirus.
The one-hour broadcast will also include expert analysis and health advice from NBC’s Coronavirus Crisis Team, including NBC News and MSNBC correspondent Dr John Torres and top virologist and NBC News and MSNBC medical contributor Dr Joseph Fair.
CNN International (DStv 401) will broadcast a CNN Facebook Global Town Hall - Coronavirus: Fact and Fears on Friday morning 20 March between 02:00 and 04:00 (South African time) anchored by CNN's Anderson Cooper and Dr Sanjay Gupta.
They will be joined by health experts Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Dr Celine Gounder, clinical assistant professor of medicine and infectious diseases at New York University.
Anderson Cooper and Dr Sanjay Gupta will focus on the latest facts, what the current situations are both in the United States and globally and what people can expect to happen in the coming weeks. They will also interview a patient who is taking part in the clinical trial for a possible coronavirus vaccine.
