Health

A next pandemic is likely to be “worse”, warns on Monday the British scientist Sarah Gilbert, co-creator of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19, calling for investment in research to be better prepared for this eventuality. “This won’t be the last time a virus threatens our lives and livelihoods. The truth …

Nigeria is now added to the British travel red list as the new coronavirus variant Omicron is wreaking havoc in the west african country. Britain has imposed strict testing and quarantine restrictions on people wishing to enter the country. Southern African countries have already been added to the travel red …

The health authorities of Zimbabwe confirmed the presence of the Omicron coronavirus variant and the country is experiencing a high increase in COVID cases. “We are now in a particularly dangerous period once again, where the fourth wave is slowly visiting us with the identification of the B.1.1.529 or the …

The African Union and United Nations have jointly condemned travel bans imposed on southern African countries following the discovery of the Omicron variant. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that the restrictions could lead to “travel apartheid”, describing them as “deeply unfair, punitive and ineffective” in stopping the spread of …

South Africa has seen a sharp rise in coronavirus infections across the country since Monday, as the Omicron variant is wreaking havoc, health officials said. Some 8,500 Covid infections have been registered in the last 24 hours. South Africa was the first country to detect the new variant, Omicron which …

Two health workers have been suspended in the Tanzanian city of Tabora for having sexual intercourse and disturbing their patients in the hospital. According to reports from the Tanzanian press, a doctor and a nurse trainee used to have sex in a room next to which patients were gathered. Disturbed …

The Nigerian government has announced that all civilian workers should receive their doses of covid vaccine as several cases of the Omicron variant have been detected. In absence of proof of vaccination, officials are invited to submit the results of PCR tests dating from 72 hours before being allowed access …

The South African Head of State, Cyril Ramaphosa has said he was disappointed by African leaders who have followed western countries in suspending flights to and from southern African states after the discovery of a new coronavirus variant. He said it was unfortunate, and that he would have preferred if …

Government in Zimbabwe has reimposed a lockdown and mandatory quarantines for all travellers amid rising Covid cases in order to curb the spread of the Omicron variant. President Emmerson Mnangagwa reimposed a curfew from 21:00 to 06:00 local time and said international travellers will be required to be tested on …

The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, voiced concern on Tuesday that some states are introducing blanket measures aimed at the Omicron coronavirus variant that he said were “not evidence-based or effective on their own”. Dr Tedros said these were penalising southern African countries that reported …