Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | The emergence of Omicron has somehow vindicated what China has been doing to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic, a Bloomberg report said recently. In an article published on Wednesday, Bloomberg said as countries across the world scrambled this week to impose border and travel curbs …
Read More »Gov’t heightens surveillance in light of new Covid variant
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government has intensified surveillance measures on most of the points of entry to curb the spread of Omicron, a new COVID-19 variant, the Minister of Health has said. While presenting a statement on the Floor of Parliament on 02 December 2021, the Minister of …
Read More »Zimbabwe to start administering booster doses as omicron variant sets in
Harare, Zimbabwe | Xinhua | Zimbabwe will start administering COVID-19 booster shots to frontline workers, people with chronic diseases, and the elderly with immediate effect, a senior Ministry of Health and Child Care official said on Friday. The announcement came as the country on Thursday confirmed its first case of the …
Read More »Zimbabwe confirms presence of omicron variant in country
Harare, Zimbabwe | Xinhua | Zimbabwean Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Constantino Chiwenga on Thursday confirmed the presence of the omicron variant in the country. He urged the nation to step up vigilance and adherence to COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures to curb a fourth …
Read More »Vaccines save lives even if there’s a reduction in efficacy: WHO expert
Genea, Switzerland | Xinhua | Despite the current uncertainty over the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, people should still get vaccinated because it will save lives, a World Health Organization (WHO) expert said on Wednesday. Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead for the WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, said at a WHO press briefing …
Read More »U.S. judge temporarily blocks Biden’s vaccine mandate for health workers
Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | A U.S. federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday to temporarily block President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate. The mandate requires certain health workers across the country to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The injunction was issued by Judge Terry Doughty of the U.S. District Court for …
Read More »NBL’s COVID-19 vaccination number crosses 20,000 mark after Fort Portal event
Fort Portal, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Nile Breweries vaccination drive dubbed “Play Your Part” has seen 20,065 people vaccinated in 26 districts around Uganda, greatly surpassing the targeted 10,000 by 100%. The stationery drive was concluded last weekend in Fort Portal, western Uganda during the Ekyooto Ha Mpango festival …
Read More »Global vaccination plan only way to stop pandemic, says UN chief
New York, U.S. | Xinhua | United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres argued on Tuesday that “the only way out of a global pandemic and out of this unjust and immoral situation is through a global vaccination campaign.” The secretary-general was speaking at a meeting at the UN headquarters in New York …
Read More »Blanket travel bans will not prevent int’l spread of Omicron variant: WHO
Geneva, Switzerland | Xinhua | The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, even as dozens of countries have already introduced such restrictions. Although labeling Omicron as a “variant of concern”, the WHO said blanket travel …
Read More »Governments should allow popular debate on COVID-19 restrictions – Experts
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Governments that continue to implement COVID-19 restrictions must allow the people to voice their concerns to lead to better management of the pandemic, experts have said. Speaking at the 8th virtual townhall meeting themed ‘continuous religious freedom concerns during COVID-19 in Uganda’ on Nov.29, Sean …
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