Africa

WHO's top scientist says Omicron could displace Delta but a new vaccine might not be needed.

Fri, 2021-12-03 12:04 — mike kraft

WHO's top scientist says Omicron could displace Delta The World Health Organization's chief scientist told the Reuters Next conference on Friday the Omicron variant could become dominant because it is highly transmissible, but that a different vaccine may not be needed. Francesco Guarascio,Stephanie Nebehay Reuters

Country / Region Tags:

General Topic Tags:

Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?:

Situation Report

Read more about WHO's top scientist says Omicron could displace Delta but a new vaccine might not be needed.
Log in or register to post comments

South Africa new Covid cases double in 24 hours as Omicron spreads

Thu, 2021-12-02 12:26 — mike kraft

Covid: South Africa new cases double in 24 hours as Omicron spreads The new Omicron variant has now become dominant, the country's top medical scientists say. BBC News

Health officials say the new coronavirus variant Omicron has now become dominant in South Africa and is driving a sharp increase in new infections.

Country / Region Tags:

General Topic Tags:

Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?:

Situation Report

Read more about South Africa new Covid cases double in 24 hours as Omicron spreads
Log in or register to post comments

World overview: Omicron and delta spell return of unpopular restrictions in many but not all countries

Thu, 2021-12-02 11:56 — mike kraft

Omicron and delta spell return of unpopular restrictions | AP News PARIS (AP) — Greeks who are over age 60 and refuse coronavirus vaccinations could be hit with monthly fines of more than one-quarter of their pensions — a get-tough policy that the country's politicians say will cost votes but save lives. AP NEWS

PARIS (AP) — ...

Country / Region Tags:

General Topic Tags:

Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?:

Situation Report

Previous infection protected against Delta. That doesn't seem to be the case with Omicron, South African expert says

Thu, 2021-12-02 11:32 — mike kraft

Previous infection protected against Delta. That doesn't seem to be the case with Omicron, expert says South Africa is seeing an increase in coronavirus reinfections in patients who contract the Omicron variant, Anne von Gottberg, a microbiologist from the country's National Institute for Communicable Diseases, said during a Thursday news briefing. By Rhea Mogul, Adam Renton, Sheena McKenzie & Ed Upright, CNN CNN

...

Country / Region Tags:

General Topic Tags:

Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?:

Analysis

Situation Report

UN migration agency: COVID has ‘radically altered’ mobility

Wed, 2021-12-01 19:16 — mike kraft

UN migration agency: COVID has 'radically altered' mobility | AP News GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. migration agency says the coronavirus pandemic appears to have accelerated “hostile rhetoric” against migrants in the world and “radically altered” mobility, projecting in a new report that travel and other COVID-19-fighting restrictions could dampen migration worldwide as long as they remain. AP NEWS

GENEVA (AP) — ..

Country / Region Tags:

General Topic Tags:

Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?:

Situation Report

Read more about UN migration agency: COVID has ‘radically altered’ mobility
Log in or register to post comments

Vaccines are finally available in many African countries, but some people there, as well as in South Asia, are wary of taking them.

Wed, 2021-12-01 13:31 — mike kraft

JOHANNESBURG — The detection of the Omicron variant in Africa signals the next stage of the battle against Covid-19: getting many more people inoculated in poorer nations where vaccines have been scarcest in order to deter new mutations from developing.

But while world leaders sometimes talk about this as if it were largely a matter of delivering doses overseas, the experience of South Africa, at least, hints at a far more complex set of challenges.

Like many poor countries, South Africa was made to wait months for vaccines as wealthier countries monopolized them. Many countries still do not have anywhere near enough doses to inoculate their populations.

Country / Region Tags:

General Topic Tags:

Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?:

Analysis

Situation Report

WHO: Travel bans hurting global cooperation in countering COVID

Wed, 2021-12-01 13:17 — mike kraft

Live updates: WHO: Travel bans hurting global cooperation | AP News GENEVA — The World Health Organization says travel bans by countries are having an impact on global cooperation against the new omicron variant by causing “challenges” to the sharing of laboratory samples from South Africa that can help get better grips on the new variant. AP NEWS

...

Country / Region Tags:

General Topic Tags:

Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?:

Situation Report

Read more about WHO: Travel bans hurting global cooperation in countering COVID
Log in or register to post comments

As nations tighten travel bans, EU urges vaccinations and WHO cautions against blanket travel bans

Wed, 2021-12-01 10:49 — mike kraft

U.S. and other countries tighten travel rules over Omicron, EU urges vaccination Air travellers to the United States will face tougher COVID-19 testing rules to try to slow the spread of the Omicron variant and other countries tightened border controls as a European leader urged all concerned to "prepare for the worst". David Shepardson,John Chalmers Reuters

...

Country / Region Tags:

General Topic Tags:

Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?:

Situation Report

Read more about As nations tighten travel bans, EU urges vaccinations and WHO cautions against blanket travel bans
Log in or register to post comments

Omicron brings COVID-19 vaccine inequity ‘home to roost’

Mon, 2021-11-29 21:15 — mike kraft

Omicron brings COVID-19 vaccine inequity 'home to roost' | AP News LONDON (AP) — The emergence of the new omicron variant and the world's desperate and likely futile attempts to keep it at bay are reminders of what scientists have warned for months: The coronavirus will thrive as long as vast parts of the world lack vaccines. AP NEWS

Country / Region Tags:

General Topic Tags:

Problem, Solution, SitRep, or ?:

Analysis

Read more about Omicron brings COVID-19 vaccine inequity ‘home to roost’
Log in or register to post comments

WHO warns omicron poses 'very high' global risk as variant spreads

Mon, 2021-11-29 12:03 — mike kraft

LONDON — The global risk of the new omicron variant is “very high,” the World Health Organization said Monday, as more countries reported cases of the variant, sparking worldwide concern that there is more pandemic suffering ahead.

In response to the spike in cases, an increasing number of nations are tightening their borders despite pleas for caution and outbursts of dismay from some.

Country / Region Tags:

General Topic Tags: