HEALTH - The African Mirror

Dec

30

2020

FACTBOX-COVID variants, found in UK and South Africa, travel the world

COVID-19

BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said a variant of the coronavirus, which could be up to 70% more transmissible, is spreading rapidly in Britain. A separate variant, first found in South Africa, is also causing concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is not enough information to determine whether the new variants could undermine vaccines being rolled out internationally. The following countries are among those that have reported variants of the novel coronavirus, first identified in China a year ago, among their populations. * SWITZERLAND has documented five cases of the variant from Britain and two cases of…

Dec

29

2020

By The African Mirror

Siya Kolisi’s wife tests positive for COVID-19

COVID-19

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER RACHEL Kolisi, the first lady of South African rugby, has gone into self-isolation after being infected with COVI/D-19. Kolisi, wife of the Springbok captain and mother of their two boys, has been forced to complete the rest of festive season on her own, communicating with her husband and children through the window. Siya, who has tested negative, shared his experience with thousands of followers on social media, all of whom praised him for being supportive to his wife. “Date nights have changed a bit. It’s been a roller coaster experience, I tested negative which I’m incredibly grateful…

Dec

29

2020

By The African Mirror

COVID-19 claims the lives of South African politicians

COVID-19

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER TWO prominent South African politicians and two leading trade unionists have died within days of each from COVID-19, as the second wave of the pandemic gains momentum, with South Africa passing the one millions mark in infections. Nomvuso Shabalala, an ANC member of parliament and former deputy mayor of Ethekwini, Dr Nchaupe Mokoape, the former president of the Azanian People’s Organisation and the South African Students Organization and David Simpunzi, the secretary-general of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Patrick Mkhize died within days of each other. In its tribute to Shabalala (60), who was a…

Dec

29

2020

By The African Mirror

Here’s where efforts to end HIV in eastern and southern Africa must focus

HEALTH

THE World AIDS Day commemoration of 2020 took place in the midst of a global pandemic. It served as another reminder that people are not only susceptible to pathogens, but to the political, social and economic inequities that determine vulnerability to infections. KAYMARLIN GOVENDER, Research Director at The Health Economics and HIV and AIDS Research Division (HEARD), University of KwaZulu-Natal JANET SEELEY, Professor of Anthropology and Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine MITZY GAFOS, Associate Professor in the department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ROSELYN KANYEMBA, Post-doctoral reseacher, University of…

Dec

28

2020

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s total COVID-19 cases cross 1 million mark amid second wave

COVID-19

PROMIT MUKHERJEE SOUTH Africa's total coronavirus infections since the first case in March crossed a million on Sunday, its Health Ministry said, just days after a new faster-spreading variant was confirmed to be present in the country. The grim milestone comes nine days after the country, the worst hit in Africa, reported 900,000 cases. The country had taken two weeks to reach 900,000 from the 800,000 seen early in December. Several hospitals and medical centres have reported wards overflowing with patients with many healthcare workers cancelling their vacations to tackle a huge influx of patients. Mediclinic International Plc, among the…

Dec

26

2020

By The African Mirror

The new coronavirus variant in South Africa: Are concerns justified?

COVID-19

SOUTH Africa has identified a new variant of the novel coronavirus, which authorities believe is driving a surge in COVID-19 infections that could overwhelm its healthcare system. Several countries, including Britain which has found the mutant variant in cases linked to South Africa, have banned flights from South Africa, disrupting holiday travel and frustrating tour operators. WHAT IS THE NEW VARIANT? The new variant, referred to as 501.V2, was discovered by a network of scientists around South Africa who have been tracking the genetics of the SARS-COV-2 virus. The variant appears to be focused in the south and southeast regions…

Dec

26

2020

By The African Mirror

Hong Kong imposes 21-day quarantine for visitors, adds South Africa to banned list

COVID-19

HONG KONG has extended a compulsory quarantine by an extra seven days to 21 days for all visitors outside China, effective Friday, in stepped-up efforts to prevent a new variant of the novel coronavirus from spreading. Authorities also banned all people who have stayed in South Africa in the past 21 days from boarding for Hong Kong. Hong Kong has already banned all flights arriving from the United Kingdom from Monday and the city said on Wednesday two students who returned from the UK were likely to be infected with the new super-virulent strain of COVID-19. In a statement midnight…

Dec

26

2020

By The African Mirror

Canada expands added screening to travellers from South Africa amid COVID-19 variant worries

COVID-19

CANADA has expanded enhanced screening and monitoring measures to travelers arriving from South Africa, citing the rise of a more infectious variant of COVID-19 in that country, similar to one that has emerged in the United Kingdom. This follows a move on Wednesday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to extend to January 6 a ban on passenger flights arriving from Britain, citing the variant. It also announced added screening for travellers, from Britain. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on AI and Quantum Computing. No cases of the variant have been found in Canada so far, Health Canada said in a…

Dec

25

2020

By The African Mirror

South Africa set to surpass COVID’s first wave peak

COVID-19

THE rate of coronavirus infections in South Africa will soon surpass the peak hit in the first wave earlier in the year, the health ministry has warned, as the country battles a new, faster-spreading variant of the respiratory disease. Positive cases increased by 14,046, pushing total infections to 954,258, the ministry said. The positivity rate - or the percentage of all coronavirus tests performed that are actually positive - was at 26%, around double the average rate of infection the country had seen before December when the virus showed signs of waning. South Africa's health department has identified a new…

Dec

25

2020

By The African Mirror

Logistics firms reap “vaccine economy” benefits as EU gears up for roll-out

COVID-19

JOHN MILLER JOERN Schneemann thought he would be helping manage logistics for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics this year. Then, the COVID-19 crisis intervened, pushing the event back to 2021. Instead, the head of Swiss logistics company Kuehne + Nagel's European Expo & Events unit has been setting up vaccination centres in convention and sporting venues in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia state, the nation's most-populous with 18 million residents. Schneemann's pandemic pivot illustrates how logistics firms like Kuehne + Nagel, Germany's Deutsche Post DHL, Denmark's DSV Panalpina and Spain's Grupo Logista have turned COVID-19 disruption into opportunity, grabbing a share of the…