COVID-19 - The African Mirror

Feb

16

2021

J&J’s vaccine study in S.A gets the nod

COVID-19

WENDELL ROELF SOUTH Africa's drugs regulator has approved an implementation study of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine, clearing the way to start the country's first inoculations among frontline health workers. South Africa has yet to launch its COVID-19 vaccination programme and the government has decided to go with the J&J dose after trial results this month showed AstraZeneca's two-shot vaccine was less effective against the new variant of the coronavirus dominating South African infections. "SAHPRA has approved the implementation study," the regulator said in response to Reuters questions, adding it was still reviewing its separate application for full market use.…

Feb

16

2021

By The African Mirror

South African hotel turns to machines to beat pandemic

COVID-19

KIRTHANA PILLAY STAFF at Hotel Sky in Johannesburg's wealthy Sandton district adhere to strict COVID-19 protocols, wearing masks and physically distancing from guests as much as possible; all, that is, except Lexi, Micah and Ariel. For the three concierges couldn't breathe germs on you even if they wanted to: they're robots. Robot hospitality is not new - Japanese hotels have been deploying them for years and in 2015 Tokyo's Henn'na, or 'Strange', hotel became the first to be fully staffed by machines. Several robot-staffed Tokyo hotels are now using them to serve guests with mild COVID-19 symptoms. But Hotel Sky,…

Jul

27

2021

By The African Mirror

World Bank, COVAX unveil plan to speed vaccine supplies to developing countries

COVID-19

ANDREA SHALAL THE World Bank and the COVAX global vaccine distribution program have unveiled a financing mechanism to speed the supply of doses to developing countries, where COVID-19 inoculation rates lag far behind those of richer nations. The mechanism allows COVAX to make advance purchases - at more competitive prices - from vaccine manufacturers based on aggregate demand across countries, using financing from the World Bank and other multilateral development banks. "Accessing vaccines remains the single greatest challenge that developing countries face in protecting their people from the health, social, and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic," World Bank President…

Jul

27

2021

By The African Mirror

Mixed AstraZeneca-Pfizer shot boosts COVID antibody level – study

COVID-19

SANGMI CHA A mixed vaccination of first AstraZeneca and then a Pfizer COVID-19 shot boosted neutralizing antibody levels by six times compared with two AstraZeneca doses, a study from South Korea showed. The study involved 499 medical workers - 100 receiving mixed doses, 200 taking two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech shot and the remainder getting two AstraZeneca shots. All showed neutralizing antibodies, which prevent the virus from entering cells and replicating, and the result of the mixed schedule of vaccines showed similar amounts of neutralizing antibodies found from the group that received two Pfizer shots. A British study last month…

Jul

27

2021

By The African Mirror

Libya imposes two-week curfew

COVID-19

LIBYA’S Government of National Unity has announced a two-week curfew in some local councils where there is a rise in COVID-19 infection cases. The curfew, which will take effect as of July 27, will be imposed in some selected municipalities in the western and central regions of the country. The government said the curfew will be from 6 pm to 6 am, and all commercial activities will be closed except for institutions that provide public, security, and medical services.

Feb

15

2021

By The African Mirror

Rwanda says begins COVID-19 vaccinations

COVID-19

RWANDA has commenced COVID-19 vaccinations with limited supplies of vaccines acquired through unnamed international partners and said the programme had started with frontline healthcare workers. The central African country has been battling a surge in infections of COVID-19 which forced the government to re-impose a lockdown last month in the capital Kigali. Authorities banned movement in and out of the city, except for essential services and for tourists. In a tweet, Rwanda's ministry of health said the country's National Vaccination Program had begun "vaccinating high-risk groups, notably frontline healthcare staff, with WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines acquired through international partnerships in limited…

Feb

14

2021

By The African Mirror

South Africa to reopen 20 land border crossing points

COVID-19

SOUTH Africa will reopen 20 land border crossings to allow normal travel, lifting restrictions implemented last month to control rising coronavirus infections, the Home Affairs Ministry said yesterday. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi speaking during the Stop TB Conference held at DoubleTree in Hilton Hotel, Cape Town. 31/01/2014 Kopano Tlape GCIS The ministry said land border points, including those with Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana, would reopen after being closed on January 11. "The active and orderly management of people through our borders is an important part of the country's overall risk-adjusted approach to control the spread of Covid-19," said Home Affairs…

Feb

14

2021

By The African Mirror

‘Not perfect but our drug saves lives’

COVID-19

PUSHAKALA ARIPAKA and LUDWIG BURGER THE production of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine has not been perfect but the shot will have a big impact on the pandemic, its chief executive has said, as the drugmaker pledged to double output by April and the African Union gave its backing for the shot. The two-dose inoculation, developed with Oxford University, has been hailed as a "vaccine for the world" because it is cheaper and easier to distribute than some rivals. But its rapid approval in Europe and elsewhere has been clouded by doubts over its most effective dosage and interval between doses. Data…

Feb

14

2021

By The African Mirror

Vaccine response among children tested

COVID-19

THE University of Oxford has launched a study to assess the safety and immune response of the COVID-19 vaccine it has developed with AstraZeneca Plc in children for the first time, it said on Saturday. The new mid-stage trial will determine whether the vaccine is effective on people between the ages of 6 and 17, according to an emailed statement from the university. Around 300 volunteers will be enrolled and first inoculations are expected this month, Oxford said. The two-dose Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been hailed as a 'vaccine for the world' because it is cheaper and easier to distribute than…

Jul

26

2021

By The African Mirror

SA eases COVID-19 restrictions, lifts booze ban

COVID-19

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER BUOYED by scientific data that show that the country is over the peak of the COVID-19 third wave, South Africa has eased restrictions, allowing for alcohol sales and public gatherings including those of religious and political nature. The downgrading of SA from lockdown alert level four to three, was announced by the country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa in a special address to the nation. Ramaphosa said the decline in the infection made it possible to ease the restrictions. He announced these new measures: Sale of alcohol will be permitted: Monday to Thursday - 10am - 6pm for off-sales…