“WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said that hospital admissions for severely ill COVID-19 patients had reached unprecedented levels in about 10 countries; at least six countries were facing shortages in intensive care unit beds and medical oxygen.”
“Second lockdown is poised to throw the economy, especially small-scale further into uncertainty.”
“The latest diagnostics and symptoms manifested in COVID-19 patients in Rwanda confirm the presence of Delta Variant in the country, an official has said. Dr Daniel Ngamije, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, said the current virus spreads faster, is deadlier and has symptoms different from what was known before.”
“East Africa is in the throes of a public health crisis as its healthcare systems sag under the weight of a rapid third wave of COVID-19, largely blamed on the deadly Delta strain.”
“Zambia has re-imposed strict measures, including closing schools, to curb the spread of COVID-19 as it battles to keep the third wave at bay.”
“Rwanda has seen a spike in coronavirus infections in the past week with the positivity rate rising from 0.5 percent to 4.3 percent. Kigali was noted as the epicentre with more than half of the infections. A cabinet meeting on June 12, resolved, among others, that business activities shall close by 8pm and residents will observe a 9pm-5am curfew. The previous curfew ran from 10pm to 4am.”
“The airline industry in Africa recorded a passenger revenue loss of about $10.21 billion for the year 2020, with passenger numbers dropping from 95 million in 2019 to 34.7 million in 2020, representing a year-on-year decline of 63.7 percent.”
“The third infection wave was preceded by a dangerous COVID-19 strain during the first three months of 2021. The Health ministry has already confirmed presence of the so-called Nigerian, South African, Kigali, British, Brazilian and Indian Covid-19 strains within the country but lacks verifiable figures on the total number of people affected.”
“The amount of the financing was not disclosed, but the IMF and World Bank put Sudan’s total external debt at an estimated $49.8 billion as of the end of 2019. “
“According to both Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organisation, Africa region, the continent has to act now, collectively and decisively, to avoid being in a similar situation.”
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