Covid-19 Regional Updates 26 August 2021

General

WHO says no conclusive data yet on need for COVID-19 booster shot.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-says-no-conclusive-data-yet-need-covid-19-booster-shot-2021-08-25/

WHO sees signs of global COVID-19 plateau.

Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/08/who-sees-signs-global-covid-19-plateau

China criticises U.S. ‘scapegoating’ over COVID origin report.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-criticises-us-scapegoating-covid-origin-report-be-released-2021-08-25/

Southern Africa

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe extends COVID-19 vaccination to younger age groups

Source: https://newsaf.cgtn.com/news/2021-08-26/Zimbabwe-extends-COVID-19-vaccination-to-younger-age-groups-131DdxIfgdO/index.html

Zimbabwe to use IMF funds to support beleaguered currency

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/8/25/zimbabwe-to-use-imf-funds-to-support-beleaguered-currency

Zim activists want lockdown lifted

Source: https://www.enca.com/news/watch-zim-activists-want-lockdown-lifted

Malawi

Covid-19 deaths remain high in Malawi

Source: https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/covid-19-deaths-remain-high-in-malawi-5218b561-3560-50b5-903d-4488add40cf7

Malawi Receives First Doses of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

Source: https://www.voanews.com/africa/malawi-receives-first-doses-johnson-johnson-vaccine

Malawi’s president pushes for equal vaccine access

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2021/08/18/south-african-summit-malawi-s-president-pushes-for-equal-vaccine-access/

eSwatini

Pope lends support to fight against Covid-19 in Eswatini

Source: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-08/pope-donation-eswatini-ventilator-ponce-de-leon-hospital.html

Connect us please: Eswatini youth for change

Source: https://blogs.worldbank.org/youth-transforming-africa/connect-us-please-eswatini-youth-change

South Africa

COVID-19 in SA: 10,346 new cases, 369 deaths recorded

Source: https://www.enca.com/news/covid-19-sa-10346-new-cases-369-deaths-recorded

Big shift in South Africa’s Covid-19 vaccine plan

Source: https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/515814/big-shift-in-south-africas-covid-19-vaccine-plan/

Minister Modise says heads will roll over Cuban Covid-19 drug procurement

Source: https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/minister-modise-says-heads-will-roll-over-cuban-covid-19-drug-procurement-8ea6ab62-6fc1-4d22-9d88-4ac6ac0b7f1d

Phumla Williams | Behind the state’s communications strategy to encourage Covid-19 vaccinations Source: https://www.news24.com/news24/columnists/guestcolumn/phumla-williams-behind-the-states-communications-strategy-to-encourage-covid-19-vaccinations-20210825