Covid19 Regional Updates 4 February 2022

General

Pandemic or endemic: Where is COVID heading next?

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/29/pandemic-or-endemic-where-is-covid-heading-next

Africa may have reached the pandemic’s holy grail

Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/01/28/1072591923/africa-may-have-reached-the-pandemics-holy-grail

U.S. would seek global approach to updating Covid-19 vaccines, official says

Source: https://www.statnews.com/2022/01/18/u-s-would-seek-global-approach-to-updating-covid-19-vaccines-official-says/

Disruptions in China can lead to ‘ripple-effects’ across global supply chain, says HSBC

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/31/china-covid-zero-disrupts-supply-chains-impacts-global-recovery-hsbc-.html

B.C. now has access to Pfizer’s Paxlovid to fight severe illness from COVID-19

Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/8585978/bc-live-covid-update-february-1/

Southern Africa

Malawi

Malawi: Govt Misses Deadline on Release of K22bn Covid-19 Funds

Source: https://allafrica.com/stories/202202030124.html

Malawi: World Bank Group Pulls Out of Malawi Covid-19 Cushion Fund Program

Source: https://allafrica.com/stories/202202010682.html

Eswatini

Eswatini – Coronavirus: Addition of AstraZeneca vaccine to COVID-19 vaccination booster doses

Source: https://african.business/2022/01/apo-newsfeed/eswatini-coronavirus-addition-of-astrazeneca-vaccine-to-covid-19-vaccination-booster-doses/

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: Covid-19 Deaths, Infections Start Edging Down

Source: https://allafrica.com/stories/202201060502.html

Zimbabwean president thanks China for additional 10m vaccines

Source: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-01-13/Zimbabwean-president-thanks-China-for-additional-10m-vaccines-16MSp0kUFYk/index.html

South Africa

New level 1 lockdown rules for South Africa – including changes for schools

Source: https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/554496/new-level-1-lockdown-rules-for-south-africa-including-changes-for-schools/

SA’s new Covid-19 rules scrap ‘quarantine’ – but you can still be locked up if you are coughing

Source: https://www.businessinsider.co.za/covid-19-regulations-still-allow-for-involuntary-isolation-if-not-asymptomatic-2022-2

Government cuts Covid isolation period to 7 days as rules eased

Source: https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/south-africa/government-cuts-covid-isolation-period-to-7-days-as-rules-eased/