REGIONAL COVID-19 UPDATES – 16 February 2021:

General:

COVID vaccine weekly: why AstraZeneca vaccine received WHO backing even as South Africa paused rollout.

Source: https://theconversation.com/covid-vaccine-weekly-why-astrazeneca-vaccine-received-who-backing-even-as-south-africa-paused-rollout-154861

South African variant: What is behind the Covid-19 surge in southern Africa?

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-56038263

Africa Covid deaths skyrocket as official toll nears 100,000

Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/africa-covid-deaths-skyrocket-official-toll-nears-100000/

‘Double masking’ could improve protection from Covid-19 by up to 90 per cent

Source: https://www.dorsetechoco.uk/news/19090378.double-masking-improve-protection-covid-19-90-per-cent/

African countries unsure whether to use Oxford/AstraZeneca jab

Source: https://www.ft.com/content/89ab2393-02d0-4f6c-a86d-2bad4eb9f10f

South Africa:

Covid-19: South Africa to reopen border crossings

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-56058458

South Africa pauses AstraZeneca vaccine rollout after study shows it offers less protection against variant

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/07/health/south-africa-astrazeneca-vaccine-study/index.html

Daily Covid-19 update: Steady decline as SA records 1,744 new cases, 78 deaths

Source: https://citizen.co.za/news/covid-19/infection-updates/2440901/daily-covid-19-update-steady-decline-as-sa-records-1744-new-cases-78-deaths/

Covid-19 projections in South Africa

Source: https://covid19.healthdata.org/south-africa?view=infections-testing&tab=trend&test=infections

South African scientists on pandemic’s frontline

Source: https://www.ft.com/content/644a898b-d878-4383-8b87-ff3178c10c21

Zimbabwe

‘Don’t open border with SA’: Doctors fear impact of Covid-19 variant in Zim

Source: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/2021-02-12-dont-open-border-with-sa-doctors-fear-impact-of-covid-19-variant-in-zim/

FIRST 200,000 CORONAVIRUS VACCINES EN ROUTE TO ZIMBABWE

Source: https://ewn.co.za/2021/02/14/first-200-000-coronavirus-vaccines-en-route-to-zimbabwe

Zimbabwe pledges to start Covid-19 vaccination campaign next week

Source: https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/zimbabwe-pledges-to-start-covid-19-vaccination-campaign-next-week-20210213

In Zimbabwe, some businesses struggle, others adapt and thrive

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/2/11/in-zimbabwe-some-businesses-struggle-others-adapt-and-thrive

Malawi:

Malawi Health Workers Face Harassment over COVID-19 Deaths

Source: https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/malawi-health-workers-face-harassment-over-covid-19-deaths

Inside Malawi’s Covid-19 wards, the impact of vaccine nationalism is all too clear

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/08/africa/malawi-covid-19-vaccine-nationalism-intl/index.html

Malawi citizens buy urgently needed, basic Covid medical equipment

Source: https://mg.co.za/africa/2021-02-15-malawi-citizens-buy-urgently-needed-basic-covid-medical-equipment/

Eswatini:

eSwatini will not use AstraZeneca vaccine after S.Africa trial data

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-eswatini/eswatini-will-not-use-astrazeneca-vaccine-after-safrica-trial-data-idUSKBN2AA0KK

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 update (12 February 2021)

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2021/02/13/coronavirus-eswatini-covid-19-update-12-february-2021/