REGIONAL COVID-19 UPDATES – 26 February 2021

General

New coronavirus variant identified in New York: researchers

Source: https://www.iol.co.za/news/world/new-coronavirus-variant-identified-in-new-york-researchers-e6dfcf36-d7de-5bea-a6ee-f61f6ddcb0a2

Coronavirus variants update: One has spread to over 90 countries, two on WHO watchlist

Source: https://www.news24.com/health24/medical/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-variants-update-one-has-spread-to-over-90-countries-two-on-who-watchlist-20210226-3

COVID-19 vaccine doses shipped by the COVAX Facility head to Ghana, marking beginning of global rollout

Source: https://www.who.int/news/item/24-02-2021-covid-19-vaccine-doses-shipped-by-the-covax-facility-head-to-ghana-marking-beginning-of-global-rollout

More vaccines for SADC countries

Source: https://southerntimesafrica.com/site/news/more-vaccines-for-sadc-countries

South Africa

Discovery warns of death spike in third Covid-19 wave for South Africa

Source: https://businesstech.co.za/news/trending/471370/discovery-warns-of-death-spike-in-third-covid-19-wave-for-south-africa/

SA has found about 4000 Covid-19 re-infections

Source: https://www.news24.com/fin24/economy/sa-has-found-about-4000-covid-19-re-infections-20210225

SA Records 1,676 New Covid-19 Infections, 144 Deaths in Last 24 Hours

https://ewn.co.za/2021/02/26/1-676-new-covid-19-infections-144-deaths-recorded-in-sa

Covid-19: Gauteng health dept to close 500-bed Nasrec field hospital

Source: https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/covid-19-gauteng-health-dept-to-close-500-bed-nasrec-field-hospital-20210225

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe to buy 1.2 mln more COVID-19 vaccine doses from China

Source: https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/zimbabwe-to-buy-1-2-mln-more-covid-19-vaccine-doses-from-china/

Zimbabwe to begin Covid-19 vaccinations this week

Source: https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/zimbabwe-to-begin-covid-19-vaccinations-this-week-20210216

Court bans ‘traumatic’ Covid-19 death cellphone alerts in Zimbabwe

Source: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/2021-02-19-court-bans-traumatic-covid-19-death-cellphone-alerts-in-zimbabwe/

Malawi

Malawi sacks heads of Covid-19 taskforce amid audit of use of funds

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/16/malawi-heads-covid-19-taskforce-audit-funds-lazarus-chakwera

Oxygen scarce for COVID patients

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/international/oxygen-scarce-for-covid-patients-shortage-affecting-health-care-in-africa-latin-america_215740?profile=1373

Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (24 February 2021)

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2021/02/25/coronavirus-malawi-covid-19-update-24-february-2021/

Eswatini

Eswatini king recovers from COVID, thanks Taiwan for sending drug

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/20/eswatini-king-recovers-from-covid-takes-drugs-sent-by-taiwan

UK Emergency Medical Team deployed to Eswatini to support coronavirus response
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-emergency-medical-team-deployed-to-eswatini-to-support-coronavirus-response

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

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-eswatini-idUSKBN2AA0KK