Heavily mutated coronavirus variant puts scientists on alert | THE INDEPENDENT | Researchers in South Africa are racing to track the concerning rise of a new variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The variant harbours a large number of mutations found in other variants, including Delta, and it seems …
Read More »Wakiso RDC demands accountability of Covid Funds
Wakiso, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Wakiso District Justine Mbabazi has asked the District medical team to account for funds that were allocated to handle COVID-19 emergency responses in the district. The accountability she is demanding fo is for the inland travel allowances of …
Read More »U.S. scrambles to take actions over Omicron variant’s chilling effect
United States imposed travel restrictions on southern African countries New York, U.S. | Xinhua | The newly-discovered Omicron variant of COVID-19 in South Africa has raised fears about the global trajectory of the pandemic, while some countries including the United States have raced to impose travel restrictions on southern African countries. …
Read More »Musenero explains UGX8M mice for Covid-19 vaccine trials
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero has defended the cost of mice that are going to aid the process of developing a Covid-19 vaccine in Uganda. Musenero who is facing a parliamentary investigation over the management of 31 billion Shillings initially …
Read More »Mother enrolls children into bricklaying to beat lockdown hardships
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The COVID-19 induced lockdown has become a turning point for Madrine Namulema, a former market vendor who has since rediscovered her potential for making reasonable earnings from hard labour. Namulema, a mother of four, has found a fortune in making clay bricks as an alternative …
Read More »Egypt suspends direct flights with southern African countries over new COVID-19 variant
Cairo, Egypt | Xinhua | The Egyptian government suspended direct flights with a number of southern African countries due to concerns over the new COVID-19 variant Omicron. The decision was made late on Friday after a meeting of the ministerial crisis management committee headed by Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, according …
Read More »EU to halt air travel from southern African countries
Brussels, Belgium | Xinhua | The European Union (EU) wants to activate the so-called “emergency brake” to stop air travel from the southern African region to delay the spread in Europe of a new COVID-19 variant, the European Commission said on Friday. “The European Commission will propose, in close coordination with …
Read More »Africa CDC urges strong COVID-19 prevention measures amid emergence of new variant
Vaccination remains a key tool to prevent severe cases and deaths from COVID-19 infection Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Xinhua | The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Friday urged African health authorities to intensify COVID-19 prevention measures amid the emergence of a new variant. The Africa CDC …
Read More »EU to lift authorization requirement for vaccine exports
Brussels, Belgium | Xinhua | The European Union will not renew its mandatory approval system for COVID-19 vaccine exports when it expires at the end of the year, the European Commission said on Friday. This means that vaccine producers will no longer have to request authorization to export vaccines outside the …
Read More »Anti-Atwine protesters case pushed to January
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Law Development Center (LDC) Magistrate Court has pushed to January the case in which two people are accused of inciting violence by dropping a casket demanding the immediate resignation of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine for allegedly mishandling COVID-19 response …
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