WHO continues calls for vigilance against the virus
Shireen Darmalingam
Global cases update:
- Cases have surpassed 472.65 million, while the death toll has breached 6.10 million; recoveries are at 408 million.
- The US has 81.44 million cases, accounting for 17% of global cases; the US death toll is 993,840.
- India has 43.01 million cases and 516,574 deaths; Brazil has 29.64 million cases and 657,3631 deaths.
- Infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci has indicated that US cases are likely to rise again, although a surge may be avoided.
- Japan has lifted the quasi-state of emergency measures in Tokyo and other regions across the country.
- Europe is facing a resurgence of virus risks as cases spread rapidly on the back of the Omicron variant.
- Cases in Germany and Austria are reaching new highs; cases in the Netherlands have doubled since lifting curbs on 25 February.
- Hong Kong has scrapped some of its travel restrictions; China has ceded that its zero-Covid policy is damaging the economy.
- Indonesia has also ended all its quarantine requirement rules for fully vaccinated travellers.
- Globally, more than 11.1 billion doses have been administered across 184 countries at a rate of 19.7 million doses a day.
Africa cases update:
- Africa’s Covid-19 cases are at 11.65 million; fatalities are at 252,066.
- Morocco has 1.16 million reported cases, Nigeria 255,103, Ghana 160,863, Kenya 323,289.
- African countries continue to rely on vaccinations to contain the virus.
- So far, about 435 million vaccine doses have been administered on the continent. This translates into 15% of the adult population being fully vaccinated.
- The WHO continues to reiterate calls for vigilance against the virus to avoid another spike in infections.
South Africa cases update:
- SA currently has the 27th highest caseload, at 3.704 million; 566 new cases were reported yesterday.
- Active cases are at 14,628; Gauteng leads the way, with 4,288 active cases, followed by Kwazulu-Natal with 3,691.
- There were 9 Covid-19 deaths reported yesterday; deaths are at 99,725.
- 3.59 million people (or 96.9%) have recovered from the virus.
- 23.599 million tests have been conducted since 5 March 2020; 17,697 tests were conducted yesterday; the SA positivity rate is 3.9%.
- 33.023 million vaccines have been administered in SA to date; 7,105 vaccines were administered yesterday.
- 17.329 million people, or 43.54% of the SA adult population, have been fully vaccinated.
- The Department of Health has published new rules for the government to manage the current Covid pandemic and future pandemics.
- The new regulations will replace the state of disaster regulations.
- The regulations, which covers major issues including entry to and from the country, the wearing of masks and vaccinations, still need to be approved.
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