SADC contributes half Covid-19 numbers in Africa
By ANA Reporter
By Molaole Montsho
Rustenburg – Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairperson Filipe Nyusi says more than 50 percent of all new daily infections of Covid-19 on the African continent have been reported in the SADC region in January. There is a growing concern that infections are being driven in part by a new strain of coronavirus known as 501.V2 which has so far been reported in three SADC countries, according to the Africa Centre for Disease Control, he said in his address on the second wave of Covid-19 in the SADC. Under this scenario, our health systems are rapidly reaching the limit of their capacities and the situation is expected to worsen in the short term.
SA's term at the helm of the AU was 'a baptism of fire' sierraleonetimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sierraleonetimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
President Cyril Ramaphosa.
NATIONAL NEWS - While addressing the nation on Monday, 1 February, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that more Covid-19 vaccines are expected in mid-February, with further vaccines from other companies are expected in the second quarter of 2021.
Ramaphosa said the other 500,000 doses from India will arrive in February, while 12 million are coming from the Covax programme.
The President further said that 9 million doses would be coming from Johnson & Johnson, with Pfizer/BioNTech committing approximately 20 million doses. He added that no one will be given the Covid-19 vaccine against their will.
“With the clear decline in new infections, hospital admissions and deaths, Cabinet has decided to steadily ease a number of restrictions under adjusted Level 3,” he said.
From the president’s desk
GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT: President Cyril Ramaphosa says the Covid-19 crisis has seen the seeds of unity and co-operation come to life and flourish on the African continent Image: SUPPLIED
SA’s term as chair of the AU comes to an end later this week.
As we reflect on our year in this position, I am reminded of the old saying that “in crisis lies opportunity”.
Ours was a baptism of fire, having assumed the chairship in the same month the first case of coronavirus was reported on the continent.
The priorities we outlined for our term, among them furthering peace and security, the economic empowerment of women and deepening economic integration, had to be immediately and dramatically reoriented to deal with the pandemic.