Latest Developments
“A new highly mutated variant of the COVID-19 virus has been identified in South Africa as the country continues to battle high infections and death rates from the pandemic. Due to the fast evolving nature of the pandemic, this new variant from South Africa—the continent’s worst hit country with over 2.8 million cases—poses new challenges to regional efforts to contain the pandemic.”
“The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has said the number of persons who have died from COVID-19-related complications in the state has reached 506… He said 11 persons died from COVID-19-related complications on the reported day, increasing the state’s fatality figure by the virus to 506.”
“Rwanda’s Health Ministry said Monday that it has started a third phase of mass COVID-19 vaccinations using the Pfizer vaccine targeting adults 18 years and over in the capital Kigali. The ministry expects to reach over 90% of eligible people over a two-week operation at multiple vaccination sites across the districts of Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge before extending the vaccinations to other secondary cities.”
“Morocco’s Health Ministry has been warning citizens about the importance of taking preventive measures, including wearing masks properly. The ministry also urged citizens eligible for the vaccine to visit the nearest center to receive the vaccination.”
“’The third wave remains stubbornly in our midst, with a resurgence moving decisively from Gauteng to coastal provinces,’” Health Minister Joe Phaahla said during the weekly COVID-19 update.”
“Ratings action from Fitch on Egypt’s Commercial International Bank (CIB) shows that the country’s banking sector is poised for recovery, analysts say.”
“In less than one week, Nigeria has been consistent in smashing previous records of highest daily tallies in months to indicate how swift the unofficial third wave of COVID-19 is spreading.”
“‘Patients, particularly young ones, are arriving in respiratory distress,’ Dr. Khardiata Diallo, head of infectious disease at Fann hospital in Dakar, said, her voice cracking with exhaustion. ‘We’ve never had this number of cases, deaths and severe cases. Frankly, this third wave threatens to drown us.'”
“Rwanda on Tuesday announced tighter coronavirus lockdowns in 50 administrative areas as new cases surge. The measures were designed to keep people mostly at home in areas with the highest infection rates based on a health assessment, said local government minister Jean Marie Vianne Gatabazi.”
“As the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across Africa, the continent has become the most vulnerable region hit by the more transmissible Delta variant of the disease due to lack of vaccines and health facilities.”
A hub for information, analysis, and the global response to COVID-19’s impact on Africa