Johannesburg, South Africa | Xinhua | South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday came out of self-isolation after contracting COVID-19 and resumed work, the Presidency said. Ramaphosa thanked South Africans and “leaders and friends internationally” who sent messages of good wishes. “The President wishes all persons infected with COVID-19 a safe …
Read More »European Commission authorizes fifth vaccine against COVID-19
Brussels, Belgium | Xinhua | The European Commission on Monday granted conditional marketing authorization for Nuvaxovid, the fifth COVID-19 vaccine authorized in the European Union (EU). The authorization of the vaccine, developed by Novavax, followed a scientific recommendation based on an assessment of the safety, effectiveness and quality of the vaccine …
Read More »COVID-19 virus harms human immune system: Research
Jerusalem, Israel | Xinhua | Israeli researchers have found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, harms the human immune system, Ben-Gurion University (BGU) in southern Israel said on Monday. In a genetic study published in the journal iScience, BGU researchers tried to find out what causes the “stormy” nature of …
Read More »MOH: Poor response by elderly persons to vaccination
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health is concerned about the low response of elderly persons in the ongoing vaccination campaign against Covid-19 disease, Doctor Allan Muruta, the Commissioner for Integrated Epidemiology and Surveillance services has indicated. In March this year, the Ministry of Health launched a …
Read More »Acholi cultural festival suspended for the second year
Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The annual Acholi cultural festival has been suspended for the second year in a row due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Around this time of the year, the Acholi Cultural institution has been organizing a cultural gala to showcase the beauty of Acholi culture. The event …
Read More »Africa’s Covid-19 cases surpass 9 million mark amid call for local manufacturing of vaccines
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Xinhua | The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa surpassed the 9-million mark on Wednesday as the continent strives for adequate access to vaccines. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said that as of Wednesday evening, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases …
Read More »Rapid increase in Omicron COVID cases “imminent”: ECDC
Stockholm, Sweden | Xinhua | A rapid increase in the number of Omicron COVID-19 variant cases is imminent, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned on Wednesday. The European Union’s (EU) health watchdog also urged countries to rapidly intensify their vaccination efforts, and reintroduce and strengthen other measures …
Read More »Pfizer confirms high efficacy of COVID-19 antiviral pill
New York, U.S. | Xinhua | U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. Tuesday said final results show that its novel COVID-19 oral antiviral tablets could reduce risk of hospitalization or death by close to 90 percent for high-risk patients. The results, based on an analysis of over 2,000 patients in a phase …
Read More »UK clears COVID travel red list as Omicron takes hold
London, UK | Xinhua | Given that the Omicron variant has already taken hold in Britain, all 11 countries on England’s COVID travel red list are to be taken off from 0400 GMT on Wednesday, British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Tuesday. Javid made the announcement in the parliament, adding …
Read More »Coronavirus: Experts call for cost-benefits analysis amid lockdowns
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There have been many concerns about getting people to recover from the mental stress caused by COVID-19 lockdowns as many authorities move to reopen their countries fully. However, other countries have reinstated some restrictions to battle new variants like Omicron, which according to some experts …
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