coronavirus infections - The African Mirror

Apr

2021

Oxygen leak kills 22 in Indian hospital as coronavirus infections mount

RANJENDRA JADHAV and NEHA ARORA AT least 22 patients died on Wednesday in a hospital in western India after a disruption to their oxygen supply caused by a leaking tank, the health minister said, as a nationwide surge in coronavirus cases soaks up supplies of the gas. The incident in the city of Nashik, one of India's worst-hit areas, happened after the tank of oxygen leaked, said Rajesh Tope, the health minister of Maharashtra, the richest state, where the city is located. "Patients who were on ventilators at the hospital in Nashik have died," Tope said in televised remarks. "The…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Tunisia closes schools until April 30

COVID-19

TUNISIA has announced the closure of all schools until April 30, as well as restrictions on movement, to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. A government spokeswoman said the situation was very serious, and that there would be a 7 p.m. curfew for cars. Intensive care units are near maximum capacity in most hospitals, officials said. With a population of around 11.5 million, Tunisia has recorded 9,639 deaths from almost 282,000 confirmed coronavirus infections.

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

South Africa secure 10 million doses

COVID-19

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH Africa has sealed a deal in terms of which the country will receive 10 million COVID-19 doses from Pfizer. The deal brings to 30 million, the number of doses the country has secured from Pfizer. The deal was announced by SA Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. “I am happy to announce that we have successfully negotiated for another 10 million doses from Pfizer and, of these, we expect just under two million to be delivered in May. This, therefore, means that we have secured 30 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine for this financial year. South Africa…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

South Asia surpasses grim milestone of 15 million COVID-19 cases

WORLD

ANURAG MAAN and ROSHAN ABRAHAM Coronavirus infections in the South Asia sub-region surpassed the grim milestone of 15 million yesterday, a Reuters tally shows, led by India's record daily infections and vaccine shortages. South Asia - India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, and Sri Lanka - accounts for 11% of global cases and almost 6% of deaths. The region accounts for 23% of the world's population of 7.59 billion people. India, the country with the third-highest coronavirus total, accounts for over 84% of South Asia's cases and deaths. The world's second-most populous country reported 145,384 new cases on Saturday, the…

Dec

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

2020

By The African Mirror

Second COVID-19 wave hits West & Central Africa as weather cools

COVID-19

PAUL LORGERIE and EDWARD McALLISTER A second wave of coronavirus infections is hitting West and Central Africa, and experts are warning it could be worse than the first as cooler weather descends on a region where most countries cannot afford a vaccine. Nigeria, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo and Democratic Republic of Congo are all at or near record levels of infection, data compiled by Reuters shows. Infections in Senegal are also rising fast. Compared to the United States and Europe, the region has so far been spared the worst of the pandemic. West and Central African countries are…

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

Suited avatars and digital offices: traders and bankers embrace VR

SCIENCE, TECH AND INNOVATION

ELIZABETH HOWCROFT and SAIKAT CHATTERJEE ONCE the preserve of gamers, virtual reality (VR) has been seized on by the financial sector as a way of enlivening home working for lonely traders or isolated executives and replicating real-world sales, networking or training events. With 90% of employees at some of the world's biggest financial firms now working at home due to a resurgence in coronavirus infections, more and more companies are experimenting with VR. Some practices could stick beyond the pandemic, particularly as home working becomes more widespread. At investment manager Fidelity International, executives experimented with a VR auditorium, taking questions…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Britain resists COVID lockdown as Europe counts cost

WORLD

KATE HOLTON and MADELINE CHAMBERS EUROPE began counting the cost of the sweeping restrictions on social life imposed to contain a surge in coronavirus infections while Britain continued to hold out against following Germany and France in ordering a second lockdown. As the pandemic raced ahead across the continent, Europe has moved back to the centre of the global pandemic, facing the prospect of a prolonged economic slump alongside a public health crisis which has so far seen more than 44 million infections and 1.1 million deaths worldwide. France and Germany have imposed controls almost as strict as the lockdowns…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Tunisia considers curfew to slow second wave of pandemic

COVID-19

TAREK AMARA TUNISIA was expected on Wednesday to announce a curfew in the capital after the governors of four provinces that make up greater Tunis called for action to halt a surge in coronavirus infections. "The decision has come too late but it will help us break the rise in cases," said Imed Souissi, a fruit seller. The governors proposed measures that would include a curfew between 8:00 pm and 5:00 am and a suspension of Friday prayers in mosques. A government decision was expected later on Wednesday, with the curfew likely to take effect from Thursday. Tunisia entirely shut…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

European cities announce new restrictions as COVID-19 cases soar

COVID-19

GUY FAULCONBRIDGE and INGRID MELANDER EUROPEAN countries from Denmark to Greece announced new restrictions on Friday to curb surging coronavirus infections in some of their largest cities, while Britain was reported to be considering a new national lockdown. Cases in the United Kingdom almost doubled to 6,000 per day in the latest reporting week, hospital admissions rose and infection rates soared across parts of northern England and London. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was inevitable that the country would see a second wave of the coronavirus, and while he did not want another national lockdown, the government may…