Covid Cases 'drop Significantly' In Africa: WHO
Umer Jamshaid Published January 20, 2022 | 09:56 PM
Cases of Covid have plummeted in Africa and deaths are declining for the first time since the Omicron-dominated fourth wave of the virus reached its peak, the UN said Thursday
Brazzaville, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2022 ) :Cases of Covid have plummeted in Africa and deaths are declining for the first time since the Omicron-dominated fourth wave of the virus reached its peak, the UN said Thursday.
Describing the 56-day flareup as Africa's "shortest upsurge yet," the World Health Organization's African regional office said newly reported cases fell by 20 percent in the week to Sunday, while notified deaths dropped by eight percent.
In a statement issued after a weekly press briefing, the office also said South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first detected, had seen cases trending downward over the past four weeks.
Only North Africa reported an increase in cases last week, "with a 55 percent spike", it said.
Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO's regional director for Africa, warned however: "The continent has yet to turn the tables on this pandemic. So long as the virus continues to circulate, further pandemic waves are inevitable." She said the world's poorest continent should "not only broaden vaccinations, but also gain increased and equitable access to critical Covid-19 therapeutics to save lives and effectively combat this pandemic."Only 10 percent of the African population are fully vaccinated, according to the WHO.
The continent, with a population of 1.2 billion, has been relatively unscathed by the pandemic, reporting 234,913 deaths from 10.5 million cases, according to AFP tallies.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Rock-solid Ruud racks up season-leading win in Barcelona
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
G7 hears calls for 'critical' Ukraine aid
EU seeks to leverage might to confront China, US challenge
5 Customs officials martyred as their vehicle ambushed by terrorists in D I Khan
Pak-New Zealand match called off due to rain
NHA restores traffic on roads affected by recent rains in Balochistan
China to fully support Pakistan's efforts against terrorism: Ambassador Jiang
U.S. envoy calls on Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Poland arrests man over suspected plan to kill Zelensky
EU wants to ease youth movement to and from UK
Police foils attempt of supply mainpuri raw material
More Stories From World
-
At G7, Blinken seeks European support for pressure on China
2 hours ago -
Thousands of Bosnian Serbs rally against UN resolution on Srebrenica
2 hours ago -
Israel assault has turned Gaza into 'humanitarian hellscape': UN
3 hours ago -
Husband of ex-Scottish leader charged over alleged embezzlement: police
3 hours ago -
Ecuador hit by power cuts of up to 13 hours amid drought
3 hours ago -
Hugs or bullets? How Mexico presidential rivals aim to curb violence
3 hours ago
-
Kenya military chopper crash kills defence chief, senior officers
4 hours ago -
Biden hails 'incredible' Kennedy family backing against RFK Jr.
4 hours ago -
Maldives court frees jailed ex-president ahead of vote
4 hours ago -
Probe into Portugal ex-PM Costa appears to collapse
4 hours ago -
Jury selection stalls in Trump criminal trial
4 hours ago -
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
5 hours ago