Professor Salim Abdool Karim on the latest COVID-19 cases in SA

It has been one of the most baffling aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthy young men and women have become infected with the virus and developed life-threatening side effects. But at the same time, many of their contemporaries have simply shrugged off the condition. Scientists are tracking small differences in DNA to explain why the disease has different effects. Professor Salim Abdool Karim, co chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19 joint winner of the John Maddox Prize for 2020. Along with Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the United States, Karim was on Monday "recognised for going beyond the line of duty as government advisors on health". Karim is advising the government on its COVID-19 response.​