• Login
NORVANREPORTS.COM |  Business News, Insurance, Taxation, Oil & Gas, Maritime News, Ghana, Africa, World
  • Home
  • News
    • General
    • Political
  • Economy
  • Business
    • Agribusiness
    • Aviation
    • Banking & Finance
    • Energy
    • Insurance
    • Manufacturing
    • Markets
    • Maritime
    • Real Estate
    • Tourism
    • Transport
  • Technology
    • Telecom
    • Cyber-security
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Tech-guide
    • Social Media
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • Opinions
  • Reports
    • Banking/Finance
    • Insurance
    • Budgets
    • GDP
    • Inflation
    • Central Bank
    • Sec/Gse
  • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • Entertainment
    • Travel
    • Environment
    • Weather
  • NRTV
    • Audio
    • Video
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
NORVANREPORTS.COM |  Business News, Insurance, Taxation, Oil & Gas, Maritime News, Ghana, Africa, World
No Result
View All Result
Home Home

New Covid-19 variants fuelling Africa’s second wave

5 years ago
in Home, home-news
2 min read
0 0
0
47
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

COVID-19 cases and deaths are surging in Africa as new, more contagious variants of the virus spread to additional countries.

More than 175,000 new Covid-19 cases and more than 6,200 deaths were reported in Africa in the last week while infections rose by 50 percent on the continent between 29 December 2020 and 25 January 2021 when compared with the previous four weeks.

In the past week, there has been a small dip in cases in South Africa, but 22 countries continue to see their case numbers surge. Deaths rose two-fold in the same four-week period, with over 15,000 concentrated in 10 mainly southern and northern African nations.

The 501Y.V2 variant, first identified in South Africa, is predominant and powering record case numbers in South Africa and the sub-region. It has been found in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, the French Indian Ocean region of Mayotte, Zambia and in 24 non-African nations.

‘The variant which was first detected in South Africa has spread quickly beyond Africa and so what’s keeping me awake at night right now is that it’s very likely circulating in a number of African countries,’ said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.

The variant that was initially detected in the United Kingdom has been found in The Gambia and Nigeria. Further research is needed to determine whether the new strain causes more severe illness.

WHO is working to track and tackle new variants by helping countries build and boost the complex genomic surveillance capacities needed to detect and respond to new variants, shipping samples to sequencing laboratories and providing supplies and technical guidance.

RelatedPosts

Nigeria Exiting Years of Economic Doldrum But Hard Road Ahead Still

ChatGPT Captures 48.36% of All AI Tool Traffic

Aid to Regional Partnerships: Japan’s New Strategic Approach to Economic Engagement with Africa

With the Africa Centres of Disease Control and Prevention, WHO helped set up a Covid-19 genomic sequencing laboratory network with laboratories in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda.

WHO calls on all countries to ship at least 20 samples to sequencing laboratories every month to help map the fast-evolving situation and best target responses at all levels.

‘In addition to the new variants, Covid-19 fatigue, and the aftermath of year-end gatherings risk powering a perfect storm and driving up Africa’s second wave and overwhelming health facilities,’ said Dr Moeti. ‘Africa is at a crossroads. We must stick to our guns and double down on the tactics we know work so well. That is mask wearing, handwashing and safe social distancing. Countless lives depend on it.’

Facing a second wave of infections, African nations must ramp up testing, the isolation of contacts and the treatment of patients, as well as enhancing proven prevention measures.

‘Our shared goal is to get ahead of the virus. Unfortunately, the journey will be longer, harder and far more costly in the absence of consistent, all-of-society commitments to blocking infection,’ said Dr Moeti.

Dr Moeti spoke during a virtual press conference today facilitated by APO Group. She was joined by Professor Tulio de Oliveira, Director, KwaZulu-Natal Research and Innovation Sequencing Platform, University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, and Dr Amadou A Sall, Director of Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal.

Source: africabriefing
Via: norvanreports
Tags: Africa Centres of Disease Control and PreventionAfrica’s second waveNew Covid-19 variantsWorld Health Organisation (WHO)
No Result
View All Result

Highlights

President Mahama in Singapore to Court Investment and Deepen Bilateral Ties

GRA Says Cedi Rebound Cuts Government Revenues by 30%

Here’s Why Uber’s CEO Believes China is Winning the EV Race

Appiah Adomako Writes: Ghana Needs a Surgical Approach to Minimum Investment Capital Requirement

Serie A: Jonathan David Shines on Serie A Debut as Juventus Overcomes Parma

La Liga: Mbappe, Vini Jnr on Target as Real Madrid Beat Real Oviedo

Trending

Features

Nigeria Exiting Years of Economic Doldrum But Hard Road Ahead Still

August 25, 2025

Nigeria Exiting Years of Economic Doldrum But Hard Road Ahead Still After years of a whirlwind, things...

ChatGPT Captures 48.36% of All AI Tool Traffic

August 25, 2025

Aid to Regional Partnerships: Japan’s New Strategic Approach to Economic Engagement with Africa

August 25, 2025

President Mahama in Singapore to Court Investment and Deepen Bilateral Ties

August 25, 2025
A customer counts Ghana cedi banknotes at the Nima market in Accra, Ghana on Monday, March 11, 2024

GRA Says Cedi Rebound Cuts Government Revenues by 30%

August 25, 2025

Who we are?

NORVANREPORTS.COM |  Business News, Insurance, Taxation, Oil & Gas, Maritime News, Ghana, Africa, World

NorvanReports is a unique data, business, and financial portal aimed at providing accurate, impartial reporting of business news on Ghana, Africa, and around the world from a truly independent reporting and analysis point of view.

© 2020 Norvanreports – credible news platform.
L: Hse #4 3rd Okle Link, Baatsonaa – Accra-Ghana T:+233-(0)26 451 1013 E: news@norvanreports.com info@norvanreports.com
All rights reserved we display professionalism at all stages of publications

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
    • Agribusiness
    • Aviation
    • Energy
    • Insurance
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate
    • Maritime
    • Tourism
    • Transport
    • Banking & Finance
    • Trade
    • Markets
  • Economy
  • Reports
  • Technology
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Cyber-security
    • Social Media
    • Tech-guide
    • Telecom
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • Opinions
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Travel
    • Environment
    • Weather
  • NRTV
    • Audio
    • Video

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
NORVANREPORTS.COM | Business News, Insurance, Taxation, Oil & Gas, Maritime News, Ghana, Africa, World
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.