South Africa has virus testing backlog of nearly 100,000
4 years, 7 months ago

South Africa has virus testing backlog of nearly 100,000

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa says it has a backlog of nearly 100,000 unprocessed tests for the coronavirus, a striking example of the painful shortage of testing kits and reagents across Africa as cases steadily rise. Across Africa slightly under 2 million tests for the virus have been conducted, Nkengasong said, far below the target of testing 13 million people — or 1% of the continent’s population of 1.3 billion. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with some 200 million people, has one of the lowest coronavirus testing rates in the world with 286 tests per million people. “Africa is a continent that needs its own internal capacity to produce diagnostic kits,” South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize told reporters on Thursday.

Health Africa South Africa Nigeria Tests Testing South Countries African Million Virus Million People  testing  africa  south  backlog  shortages  tests  million  virus  countries  nearly  african  health  100000

History of this topic

Congo reports more than 1,000 new mpox cases in a week. African authorities ask for vaccines
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Congo reports more than 1,000 new mpox cases in a week. African authorities ask for vaccines

Associated Press  

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Congo reported more than 1,000 new mpox cases in the last week up to Tuesday as African health authorities asked for desperately needed vaccines to help fight its “growing” threat on the continent. While mpox has been reported in 12 of Africa’s 54 countries during these outbreaks, the vast central African nation of Congo has …

Continue COVID-19 testing to check emergence of new virus variants: WHO chief
1 year, 4 months ago

Continue COVID-19 testing to check emergence of new virus variants: WHO chief

The Hindu  

Warning that many countries aren’t testing enough and that new SARS-CoV-2 virus variants may emerge, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, on Wednesday said that testing and being vigilant is vital in continuing the fight against COVID-19. “While COVID is now behind us and India did its best during the time, we can expect new and more …

South Africa ends COVID restrictions as fifth wave fades
2 years, 6 months ago

South Africa ends COVID restrictions as fifth wave fades

Al Jazeera  

The country has recorded the most coronavirus cases and deaths in Africa, with more than 3.9 million confirmed infections and 101,000 deaths South Africa has repealed COVID-19 rules that made masks mandatory in indoor public spaces, limited the size of gatherings and imposed entry requirements at its borders, the health minister said on Thursday. But health minister Joe Phaahla said …

South Africa in new surge of COVID from versions of omicron
2 years, 8 months ago

South Africa in new surge of COVID from versions of omicron

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa is experiencing a surge of new COVID-19 cases driven by two omicron sub-variants, according to health experts. “We are seeing a slight, a small increase in hospitalizations and really very few deaths.” South Africa’s new cases have gone from an average of 300 per day in early April to about 8,000 per day this week. South …

NTAGI May Advise Govt to Do Serosurvey of Children Aged 5-12 Years before Starting Their Covid Vaccination
2 years, 8 months ago

NTAGI May Advise Govt to Do Serosurvey of Children Aged 5-12 Years before Starting Their Covid Vaccination

News 18  

India logged 3,377 new COVID-19 cases taking the country’s total tally of cases to 4,30,72,176, while the active cases rose to 17,801, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The active cases comprise 0.04 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.74 per cent, the ministry said. A decision …

Up to 65% of Africans have been infected with the coronavirus, far more than thought
2 years, 9 months ago

Up to 65% of Africans have been infected with the coronavirus, far more than thought

LA Times  

A resident gets tested for a coronavirus infection in Johannesburg. The World Health Organization said that by last September, about 65% of people tested in Africa had some exposure to the virus, translating into about 800 million infections. In a new analysis released Thursday, the U.N. health agency reviewed 151 studies of the virus in Africa based on blood samples …

Time of Pandemics
2 years, 9 months ago

Time of Pandemics

Al Jazeera  

Antibodies, vaccine trials and the social factors determining health – what can we learn from the HIV experiences in the global south, in this time of COVID-19? This exploration, by South African filmmaker Rehad Desai, unpicks connections between the two pandemic experiences, from a global south perspective. This HIV vaccine research, and its extensive clinical trial infrastructure in South Africa, …

Covid-19 Returns? US, China & Others Witness Jump In Daily Caseload — All You Need To Know
2 years, 9 months ago

Covid-19 Returns? US, China & Others Witness Jump In Daily Caseload — All You Need To Know

ABP News  

New Delhi: Months after a decline in daily Covid-19 cases worldwide in January, several countries have once again started witnessing a surge in daily infections with World Health Organisation stating that there were more than 11 million new Coronavirus infections reported last week globally - about an 8% rise - and 43,000 new deaths. South Korea South Korea reported a …

At long last, WHO issues coronavirus testing advice
2 years, 10 months ago

At long last, WHO issues coronavirus testing advice

LA Times  

A woman is tested for a coronavirus infection at the Lenasia South Hospital near Johannesburg in South Africa. The advice comes months after critics said the lack of recommendations from the global health agency was compromising efforts to stop the pandemic in poor countries. At a press briefing on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency was concerned …

Africa CDC director urges youths to boost COVID vaccinations
2 years, 11 months ago

Africa CDC director urges youths to boost COVID vaccinations

Associated Press  

ABUJA, Nigeria — Africa’s top health official is launching a campaign to enlist young people to encourage vaccinations, as just 11.3% of the continent’s 1.3 billion people are vaccinated against COVID-19. Youths will be encouraged “to play an active role” in ramping up inoculations across the continent where the vaccination rate is far below other regions in the world, Africa …

Africa CDC: Continent on course to vaccinate 70% this year
2 years, 11 months ago

Africa CDC: Continent on course to vaccinate 70% this year

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — The African continent is on course to reach its target of vaccinating at least 70% of its population against COVID-19 by the end of 2022, the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters on Thursday. The continental public health agency said it has been encouraged by a surge in vaccinations in countries like …

India vs South Africa: Entire tour to take place behind closed doors, announces CSA
3 years ago

India vs South Africa: Entire tour to take place behind closed doors, announces CSA

Firstpost  

CSA said in a statement that a joint decision had been taken with the BCCI to bar spectators from the grounds due to the massive surge in coronavirus infections in South Africa. Johannesburg: No tickets will be sold to the general public for the forthcoming Test and ODI series between South Africa and India because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, …

South Africa’s president back to work after COVID isolation
3 years ago

South Africa’s president back to work after COVID isolation

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has returned to work following a week of isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, his office announced Monday. Ramaphosa had mild symptoms and was treated at his official residence in Cape Town by South Africa’s military health service as the country battled a wave of the virus dominated by the highly transmissible omicron …

South Africa sees fewer hospitalisations as Omicron cases surge
3 years ago

South Africa sees fewer hospitalisations as Omicron cases surge

Al Jazeera  

Health officials say fewer coronavirus patients require hospitalisation despite a rise in the number of COVID-19 infections. COVID-19 infection rates are soaring across South Africa as a result of the highly mutated Omicron variant of the coronavirus, but fewer people have died or required hospital treatment compared with previous waves of the disease, according to health officials. The discovery of …

South Africa hit by fourth COVID-19 wave: What we know about country's surge in cases
3 years, 1 month ago

South Africa hit by fourth COVID-19 wave: What we know about country's surge in cases

Firstpost  

South Africa is being hit by a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the Omicron variant which has been detected in seven of the country’s nine provinces, Health Minister Joe Phaahla said on Friday As some parts of the globe still reel from the Delta variant of COVID-19, the emergence of the new Omicron variant has nations worried. South …

WHO deploys team in South Africa to tackle Omicron variant
3 years, 1 month ago

WHO deploys team in South Africa to tackle Omicron variant

India TV News  

Highlights The WHO has deployed a team of officials to South Africa's Gauteng province, The Gauteng province has accounted for almost 80% of the infections over the past week. The World Health Organization has deployed a team of officials to South Africa's Gauteng province, the epicentre of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, for ramping up surveillance measures and contact tracing …

9 percent of tested travelers arriving from South Africa infected with coronavirus
3 years, 1 month ago

9 percent of tested travelers arriving from South Africa infected with coronavirus

NL Times  

About 9 percent of airline passengers who arrived in the Netherlands from South Africa and were tested for coronavirus received a positive result. The statistic was reported by the Kennemerland branch of the GGD municipal health service, which put out an urgent call for all such passengers to get tested at Schiphol Airport if the Netherlands is their final destination. …

WHO deploys team to South Africa's Gauteng province to tackle Omicron variant
3 years, 1 month ago

WHO deploys team to South Africa's Gauteng province to tackle Omicron variant

India Today  

The World Health Organization has deployed a team of officials to South Africa's Gauteng province, the epicentre of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, for ramping up surveillance measures and contact tracing efforts as the country grapples with rising infections, an official said on Thursday. “We are deploying a surge team in Gauteng province to support surveillance and contact tracing,” Dr …

South African president calls for lifting of Omicron travel bans
3 years, 1 month ago

South African president calls for lifting of Omicron travel bans

Al Jazeera  

Cyril Ramaphosa says travel restrictions ‘scientifically unjustified’ as more countries report cases of new, highly mutated variant. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on countries to “urgently” reverse “scientifically unjustified” travel restrictions linked to the discovery of a new variant of the coronavirus. “These restrictions are unjustified and unfairly discriminate against our country and our southern African sister countries.” …

South Africa returnee tests positive for Covid-19 in Maharashtra's Thane
3 years, 1 month ago

South Africa returnee tests positive for Covid-19 in Maharashtra's Thane

India Today  

A man who travelled from South Africa to India has tested positive for Covid-19 in Dombivli area of Maharashtra's Thane district. The man's samples have been sent for genome sequencing to ascertain if he was carrying the newly found Omicron variant of coronavirus. On Saturday, two travellers from South Africa had tested positive for Covid-19 in Bengaluru. Read | ‘New …

Two South Africans test positive for COVID-19 in Bengaluru, to be checked for Omicron
3 years, 1 month ago

Two South Africans test positive for COVID-19 in Bengaluru, to be checked for Omicron

Firstpost  

Noting that ten countries have been identified as high risk, Bengaluru Rural Deputy Commissioner K Srinivas said all those coming from there are made to compulsorily undergo tests, and those tested positive are being quarantined Bengaluru: Amid fears of the spread of new Covid strain ‘Omicron’ looming large, two South African nationals have tested positive for the coronavirus, and their …

WHO to meet on Friday to assess new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa
3 years, 1 month ago

WHO to meet on Friday to assess new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa

Deccan Chronicle  

United Nations/Geneva: The World Health Organization is monitoring the new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529 first detected in South Africa and will hold a "special meeting" on Friday to discuss if the heavily mutated strain will become a variant of interest or a variant of concern, a top official said. Kerkhove said WHO colleagues in South Africa are planning to undertake a …

Frequent mutations, rapid spread: All about the new coronavirus variant in South Africa
3 years, 1 month ago

Frequent mutations, rapid spread: All about the new coronavirus variant in South Africa

Hindustan Times  

A new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa's most populous Guanteng district has sent governments around the world in a state of high alert – especially in view of the fact that the variant, according to infectious diseases experts, displays a high number of mutations and rapid spread among young people. The new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, currently …

Africa CDC says 11 countries on continent facing a 4th COVID-19 wave
3 years, 1 month ago

Africa CDC says 11 countries on continent facing a 4th COVID-19 wave

China Daily  

People wait before receiving the vaccine against coronavirus disease at a mass immunization venue inside Cairo University, in Cairo, Egypt, Sept 8, 2021. The fourth wave of the pandemic is currently gripping countries including Algeria, Egypt, Kenya and Tunisia, Africa CDC head John Nkengasong said on Thursday. The continent has seen an average 6 percent decrease in new COVID-19 cases …

What do we know about the new COVID strain found in South Africa?
3 years, 1 month ago

What do we know about the new COVID strain found in South Africa?

Al Jazeera  

The discovery of new variant with a high number of mutations raises concerns about COVID-19 transmissions, triggering travel restrictions. A new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa with a high number of mutations has raised concerns among scientists and triggered travel restrictions by a number of countries amid fears of coronavirus transmissions. South Africa Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the …

‘Serious concern’ as South Africa detects new coronavirus variant
3 years, 1 month ago

‘Serious concern’ as South Africa detects new coronavirus variant

Al Jazeera  

South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla says the variant is behind an ‘exponential’ increase in COVID infections. “Unfortunately we have detected a new variant which is a reason for concern in South Africa,” Tulio de Oliveira, from the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa, told a news conference. Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the variant was of “serious concern” …

Scientists are mystified, and wary, as Africa avoids COVID-19 disaster
3 years, 1 month ago

Scientists are mystified, and wary, as Africa avoids COVID-19 disaster

LA Times  

At a busy market in a poor township outside Harare, Nyasha Ndou kept his mask in his pocket as hundreds of other people, mostly unmasked, jostled to buy and sell fruits and vegetables displayed on wooden tables and plastic sheets. “The police demand bribes, so I lose money if I don’t move around with a mask.” Days earlier, Zimbabwe recorded …

World faces shortage of syringes as COVID vaccine doses rise
3 years, 2 months ago

World faces shortage of syringes as COVID vaccine doses rise

Associated Press  

NAIROBI, Kenya — African health officials and the United Nations are warning of a looming shortage of more than 2 billion syringes for mainly low- and middle-income countries around the world as the supply of COVID-19 doses rises, and routine vaccinations could be affected, too. Routine childhood vaccinations “are going to be impacted,” said Sibusiso Hlatjwako of the health organization …

Syringe shortfall threatens Africa’s COVID vaccine drive
3 years, 2 months ago

Syringe shortfall threatens Africa’s COVID vaccine drive

Al Jazeera  

UNICEF is predicting an ‘imminent shortfall’ of up to 2.2 billion of the single-use syringes used to give jabs. Africa’s struggle to inoculate people against COVID-19 risks being hobbled by a shortage of syringes just as supplies of vaccines flood into the continent, the World Health Organization said. UNICEF, the United Nation’s fund for children, is predicting an “imminent shortfall” …

Africa detecting just 1 in 7 COVID-19 cases, says WHO study
3 years, 3 months ago

Africa detecting just 1 in 7 COVID-19 cases, says WHO study

Associated Press  

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Only one in seven COVID-19 infections in Africa are being detected, meaning the continent’s estimated infection level may be 59 million people, according to a new study by the World Health Organization. “With limited testing, we’re still flying blind in far too many communities in Africa,” said Matshidiso Moeti, regional director for the WHO in Africa …

South Africa launches drive to vaccinate 500,000 in 2 days
3 years, 3 months ago

South Africa launches drive to vaccinate 500,000 in 2 days

Associated Press  

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — South Africa launched a new COVID-19 vaccination drive Friday and will try to give doses to 500,000 people in two days to reinvigorate a flagging campaign that’s coming up against hesitancy and complacency in the continent’s worst-affected country. Ramaphosa is attempting to entice people to get shots by tying vaccination rates to a return to …

WHO: COVID-19 vaccination triples in Africa but still low
3 years, 4 months ago

WHO: COVID-19 vaccination triples in Africa but still low

Al Jazeera  

Africa CDC head says less than 3 percent of continent’s population have been vaccinated and blames vaccine inequality. COVID-19 vaccinations in Africa have tripled during the past week, though protecting even 10 percent of the continent by the end of September remains “a very daunting task,” the Africa director of the World Health Organization has said. The WHO Africa director …

To boost vaccinations, South Africa opens jabs to all adults
3 years, 4 months ago

To boost vaccinations, South Africa opens jabs to all adults

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — At the busy taxi stand near Soweto’s Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital, a health worker with a megaphone called out to commuters, calling them to come and get a COVID-19 vaccination. “Our main purpose is to reach out to the taxi drivers, the commuters and the hawkers that are found within this area.” Faced with slowing numbers of people …

South African firm to make Pfizer vaccine, first in Africa
3 years, 5 months ago

South African firm to make Pfizer vaccine, first in Africa

Deccan Chronicle  

JOHANNESBURG: A South African firm will begin producing the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, the first time that the shot will be produced in Africa, Pfizer announced Wednesday. The Biovac Institute based in Cape Town will manufacture the vaccine for distribution across Africa, a move that should help address the continent’s desperate need for more vaccine doses amid a recent surge of …

Africa on 'destructive pathway' due to Delta variant, says WHO amid record surge
3 years, 6 months ago

Africa on 'destructive pathway' due to Delta variant, says WHO amid record surge

Hindustan Times  

African is witnessing an unprecedented resurgence of coronavirus disease cases as the third wave of the pandemic continues its “destructive pathway” in the continent, the World Health Organization said on Thursday. This week, Africa reached the sombre milestone of six million Covid-19 cases amid a low vaccination rate. “We’ve seen hospital admissions in around 10 countries increase rapidly and at …

South Africa's new coronavirus cases surge to record levels
3 years, 6 months ago

South Africa's new coronavirus cases surge to record levels

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy South Africa s resurgence of …

Driven by delta variant, COVID-19 surges across Africa
3 years, 6 months ago

Driven by delta variant, COVID-19 surges across Africa

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — Driven by the delta variant, a new wave of COVID-19 is sweeping across the African continent where new cases, hospital admissions, and deaths are increasing. The delta variant, reported in 16 African countries, has become dominant in South Africa, which accounts for more than half of Africa’s new cases. “More transmission means more serious illness and more deaths, …

Driven by delta variant, COVID-19 surges across Africa
3 years, 6 months ago

Driven by delta variant, COVID-19 surges across Africa

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Driven by the delta variant, …

South Africa tightens restrictions to fight resurgent virus
3 years, 6 months ago

South Africa tightens restrictions to fight resurgent virus

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Battling a fast-increasing surge of …

South Africa announces sweeping coronavirus rules in face of variant-driven third wave
3 years, 6 months ago

South Africa announces sweeping coronavirus rules in face of variant-driven third wave

LA Times  

Members of the Tshwane Special Infectious Unit on COVID-19 pick up a suspected COVID-19 patient in Pretoria, South Africa, during the country’s second wave of coronavirus infections on Jan. 15. South Africa is imposing a sweeping set of new coronavirus restrictions as the country faces a third, variant-driven wave of infection that threatens to outpace the previous two. “The peak …

‘This IS INSANE': Africa desperately short of COVID vaccine
3 years, 7 months ago

‘This IS INSANE': Africa desperately short of COVID vaccine

Associated Press  

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — In the global race to vaccinate people against COVID-19, Africa is tragically at the back of the pack. “It is extremely concerning and at times frustrating,” said Africa CDC Director Dr. John Nkengasong, a Cameroonian virologist who is trying to ensure some of the world’s poorest nations get a fair share of vaccines in a …

Alarm in Africa: Virus surges, vaccines grind to ‘near halt’
3 years, 7 months ago

Alarm in Africa: Virus surges, vaccines grind to ‘near halt’

Associated Press  

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — COVID-19 vaccine shipments have ground to “a near halt” in Africa while virus cases have spiked 20% over the last two weeks, the World Health Organization said Thursday, a bleak scenario for the continent on both those critical fronts. More than 1 million J&J doses that should have already been put to use remain on …

As COVID-19 collides with HIV/AIDS, the pandemic may be taking an ominous turn
3 years, 7 months ago

As COVID-19 collides with HIV/AIDS, the pandemic may be taking an ominous turn

LA Times  

A nurse talks to a patient who is HIV-positive in Ngodwana, South Africa. While the South African patient was diagnosed with HIV back in 2006, doctors had been unable to control her viral load with standard antiretroviral therapy, and her immune system’s population of CD4+ T cells — which may play a role in clearing coronavirus infection — were very …

South Africa Detects First Cases of Coronavirus Variant from India
3 years, 8 months ago

South Africa Detects First Cases of Coronavirus Variant from India

News 18  

South Africa’s health ministry said on Saturday it had detected the first four cases of a new coronavirus variant that emerged in India and was responsible for a surge of infections and deaths in the Asian country. Testing had also picked up 11 cases of the variant B.1.1.7 first detected in the UK, the health ministry said in a statement. …

South Africa confirms sale of 1 million unused AstraZeneca vaccines
3 years, 9 months ago

South Africa confirms sale of 1 million unused AstraZeneca vaccines

India TV News  

South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has confirmed that the sale of one million doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine received from the Serum Institute of India last month has been concluded. The vaccines were sold to 14 African countries after South Africa suspended its planned usage to vaccinate healthcare workers when it was found to have limited efficacy against …

Developing nations demand equal access to coronavirus vaccines
3 years, 10 months ago

Developing nations demand equal access to coronavirus vaccines

Al Jazeera  

South Africa, India, and more than 100 other nations have called on the World Trade Organization to temporarily waive patents for COVID-19 vaccines, saying they are being prevented from immunising their people. Endorsing requests for a waiver, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said earlier this month: “If a temporary waiver to patents cannot be issued now, during these unprecedented times, …

Around half the South African population may have had COVID-19, serosurvey indicates
3 years, 10 months ago

Around half the South African population may have had COVID-19, serosurvey indicates

Firstpost  

Around half of South Africa’s population may have already been infected by coronavirus, a figure far higher than the documented tally, a study and analysis of death figures suggest. Samples taken from almost 5,000 blood donors across four South African provinces in January showed that between 32 and 63 percent had antibodies to the coronavirus. The figure compares with clinically …

Despite COVID jab roll-out in South Africa, frustrations remain
3 years, 10 months ago

Despite COVID jab roll-out in South Africa, frustrations remain

Al Jazeera  

Johannesburg, South Africa – When the South African government launched its much-anticipated coronavirus vaccination campaign on Wednesday, Johanna Monama did not pay much attention. “You feel like the government is failing them.” South Africa’s economy was already in recession before the first COVID case was reported early last March. Reports of suspicious deals between government officials and businesses relating to …

Coronavirus | Four cases of South Africa variant of virus found
3 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus | Four cases of South Africa variant of virus found

The Hindu  

Four cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant strain from South Africa and one case of the Brazil variant have been detected in the country, the Health Ministry confirmed on Tuesday. Giving details of these cases, which he said have been tested and isolated, Indian Council for Medical Research Director-General Balram Bhargava said, “South African variant of SARS-CoV-2 which has spread to …

Four detected with South Africa strain of Covid-19 in India in January
3 years, 10 months ago

Four detected with South Africa strain of Covid-19 in India in January

Live Mint  

The Union Government today said that four cases of covid-19 with South Africa strain have been detected in the country in January. In India, the South Africa strain has been detected in four returnees -- one from Angola, one from Tanzania and two from South Africa in January, ICMR Director General Balram Bhargava said. "In India, the South African strain …

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