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COVID-19 tracker 14 December 2020

Covid-19 vaccines in the spotlight this week

Shireen Darmalingam

Global update:

  • Global cases have surpassed 72.64 million, while the death toll has surpassed 1.61 million; recoveries are at 50.86 million.
  • The US now has 16.73 million cases, accounting for 22% of global cases; the US death toll is 306,459.
  • India has 9.88 million cases and 143,393 deaths; Brazil 6.90 million cases and 181,419 deaths; Russia 2.65 million cases and 46,941 deaths.
  • The first doses in the US COVID-19 vaccine campaign are due to be administered today as the US pandemic rages. It is expected that as much as 80% of the population could be inoculated by summer. Congress is still deadlocked about a pandemic stimulus package.
  • The UK rolled out its vaccination programme last week as infections continue to spread. Millions are expected to receive the vaccine by Christmas. The UK’s NHS noted that people with a significant history of allergies shouldn't receive the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine on a precautionary basis. This comes as two people experienced reactions to the vaccine. The companies commented that “in the pivotal phase 3 clinical trial, this vaccine was generally well tolerated with no serious safety concerns reported by the independent data monitoring committee”.
  • The European Council expects the first vaccines to be approved in the EU "in the coming weeks”.
  • Italy has overtaken the UK as having Europe's highest Covid-related death toll; Germany is scheduled to enter a hard lockdown this week. 

Africa update:

  • Africa’s COVID-19 cases are at 2.39 million; fatalities are at 56,428.
  • Morocco has 399,609 reported cases, Nigeria 73,175, Ghana 52,933, Kenya 91,892.
  • As the rest of the world races to acquire vaccines, Africa faces challenges in acquiring and deploying the vaccinations across the continent. Africa aims to have 60% of its population vaccinated in the next 2-3 years, according to the African Union’s disease control group. While some European countries expect to begin vaccinations this year, vaccinations in Africa are unlikely to begin until midway through 2021.

South Africa update:

  • SA currently has the 18th highest caseload, with 860,964, an increase of 7,999 new cases.
  • Covid-19 deaths rose by 170 yesterday, to 23,276; 761,011 people have recovered from the virus.
  • Gauteng has the highest number of confirmed cases, at 245,360 (accounting for 28.5% of the total); 5,111 deaths have been reported. 
  • The Western Cape has 154,851 (accounting for 18.0% of the total) and 5,097 deaths, while KwaZulu-Natal has 141,372 (accounting for 16.4% of the total) and 3,457 deaths.
  • The Eastern Cape has 148,528 cases (accounting for 17.3% of the total) and 5,493 deaths.
  • 5.85 million tests have been conducted since 5 March; 39,423 tests were conducted yesterday.
  • Following meetings with the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) over the weekend, President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation later tonight on developments around the pandemic. With a spike of infections in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng, we could see further regional restrictions being announced to curb the spread of the virus. The president has already announced restrictions on alcohol sales in the hotspot region of Nelson Mandela Bay as well as an amendment to the curfew there. The government has also urged South Africans to exercise caution when travelling internationally over the festive season so that they do not end up stranded abroad.
* Please note that this is the last publication of the Covid-19 tracker for 2020. Publication will resume on 11 January 2021.

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