WHO warns of rising COVID-19 infections and potential new variants

WHO warns of rising COVID-19 infections and potential new variants

COVID-19 infections are up worldwide, including at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where over 40 athletes have tested positive, the UN World Health Organisation warned on Tuesday. WHO experts are also concerned that more severe variants of the coronavirus may soon be on the horizon as wastewater surveillance also suggests the circulation of the virus is between 2 to 20 times higher than current figures indicate. COVID-19 is still very […]

August 7, 2024 39

Africa

How to get vaccines to remote areas? In Sierra Leone they’re delivered by foot, boat or motorbike

By Niccolo Francesco Meriggi, University of Oxford In Sierra Leone almost 59% of the population live in remote, rural areas. Roads may be non-existent or in bad condition, making it very difficult for rural dwellers to access healthcare. This is one of the key reasons why COVID-19 vaccination rates in the country are low. During an innovative vaccine programme mobile vaccine clinics were dispatched to the furthest […]

April 19, 2024 31

Africa

Inflation in Nigeria is still climbing while it has slowed globally: here’s why

By Stephen Onyeiwu, Allegheny College Just as Nigerians were gradually digging out from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were hit by high inflation. The Nigerian economy contracted by 6.1% at the peak of COVID in the second quarter of 2020. Unemployment rate rose from 27% in the second quarter of 2020 to 33% in the fourth quarter of the same year. The World Bank estimated […]

March 14, 2024 27

Health / Medical

Namibia recordsnew Covid-19 cases, country doesn’t have vaccines

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has announced that as of 20 February 2024, there are 28 active cases and 3 hospitalisations. No deaths due to Covid-19 were recorded, while Rehoboth has had a localised increase in Covid-19 cases. With the WHO having announced that Namibia has no COVID-19 vaccines in stock, we contacted Health Executive Director Ben Nangombe.

February 22, 2024 84

Africa

This popular floating restaurant was on the rocks until Frida Njeri took over

By Velma Pamela, bird story agency There are no land rates for this bar and restaurant that floats on the sea waters of the Lamu Island in Kenya. People have lived here for over 700 years. Lamu Old Town is older than Zanzibar, and other settlements in East Africa where Bantu, Arabic, Persian, Indian, and European influences fused into the Swahili culture. The town, with its relatively […]

February 22, 2024 18

Africa

Uganda record increase in Covi-19 cases

Uganda's Health Ministry has issued a warning following a recent surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. The government has re-introduced preventive measures in some of the worst affected areas, adding the disease remains a threat. Isabel Nakirya reports.

February 7, 2024 37

World

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says his Government responded to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as it could

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says his Government responded to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as it could have with the information available at the time. Speaking at the UK's Covid enquiry, he claimed all decisions taken were made in the best interests of the country. Stuart Smith has more on the day's testimony, from London. ENG BORIS JOHNSON ON COVID

December 7, 2023 35