Brazzaville, Congo | Xinhua | Africa is being hit by the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic driven by the Omicron variant, after recording the fastest weekly surge in new cases since May 2020, said an official of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday. “Africa is now officially in the …
Read More »Parents, schools embroiled in fees dispute ahead of reopening
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There is a deepening row between school operators and parents on the recovery of school fees paid during the term that prematurely ended in June this year, at the start of the second COVID-19 lockdown. Several parents had just paid school fees for their children …
Read More »UN chief warns against criminal exploitation of COVID-19 recovery resources
United Nations | Xinhua | United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday warned against criminal exploitation of COVID-19 recovery resources. In a video message to the ninth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (CoSP9) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, the top UN official warned …
Read More »Omicron variant can partially escape immunity induced by Pfizer vaccine: Study
The Omicron coronavirus variant partly escapes the protection offered by the Pfizer vaccine Johannesburg, South Africa | Xinhua | A laboratory research has suggested that the Omicron variant can partially escape antibody immunity induced by the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The research, led by Professor Alex Sigal from the Africa Health …
Read More »Covid-19 herbal concoction places Gulu University among top exhibitors at EAC trade expo
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Covilyce 1, a herbal concoction produced by Gulu University for COVID-19 treatment was on Sunday announced as one of the top three products exhibited at the 21st East African Community Micro and Small Enterprise Trade Expo held in Mwanza Province, Tanzania. Gulu University followed Geoffrey …
Read More »Nigeria to ban arrivals from 4 countries to reciprocate restrictions over new COVID-19 variant
Lagos, Nigeria | Xinhua | The Nigerian government on Sunday announced its intention to ban arrivals from Canada, Britain, Argentina and Saudi Arabia from Tuesday, after the four countries added Nigeria on their red list and banned foreign travels from the country after detection of a new coronavirus variant. The decision …
Read More »South African president tests positive for COVID-19
Johannesburg, South Africa | Xinhua | South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is receiving treatment for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive for the virus, said the Presidency in a statement released on Sunday night. The president, who is fully vaccinated, started feeling unwell after leaving the State Memorial Service in honor …
Read More »Brazil’s supreme court requires foreigners to enter with full vaccination
Sao Paulo, Brazil | Xinhua | Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court (STF) determined on Saturday that all foreigners entering the country should present a certificate verifying that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The decision was made at the request of the Brazilian political party Sustainability Network given the federal …
Read More »UNICEF urges gov’t to increase health, education budget amidst Covid-19
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The United Nations International Children’s Fund has urged the government to invest more funds in the health and education sector. The call was made today during the celebrations to commemorate the UN children’s health agency turning 75 years. The agency was set up on December 11, …
Read More »Covid-19 vaccine stock outs hit greater Luwero districts
Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Districts in greater Luwero are facing a shortage of Covid-19 vaccines. On Tuesday this week, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng re-echoed the need to seek vaccination after she confirmed seven cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant. Aceng said that the new COVID-19 variant is not severe among people …
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