London, UK | Xinhua | Given that the Omicron variant has already taken hold in Britain, all 11 countries on England’s COVID travel red list are to be taken off from 0400 GMT on Wednesday, British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Tuesday. Javid made the announcement in the parliament, adding …
Read More »Coronavirus: Experts call for cost-benefits analysis amid lockdowns
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There have been many concerns about getting people to recover from the mental stress caused by COVID-19 lockdowns as many authorities move to reopen their countries fully. However, other countries have reinstated some restrictions to battle new variants like Omicron, which according to some experts …
Read More »Africa faces fourth wave of COVID-19 due to Omicron variant: WHO
Brazzaville, Congo | Xinhua | Africa is being hit by the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic driven by the Omicron variant, after recording the fastest weekly surge in new cases since May 2020, said an official of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday. “Africa is now officially in the …
Read More »Health minister demands robust data entry of vaccinated persons
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Minister for Health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has tasked district leaders in the Ankole sub-region to recruit more data entrants at vaccination centres. Dr Aceng was speaking at the launch of the accelerated Covid-19 vaccination campaign for the 13 districts forming the Ankole sub-region …
Read More »UN chief warns against criminal exploitation of COVID-19 recovery resources
United Nations | Xinhua | United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday warned against criminal exploitation of COVID-19 recovery resources. In a video message to the ninth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (CoSP9) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, the top UN official warned …
Read More »Karamoja health authorities demand J&J vaccines to inoculate pastoralists
Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Health authorities in Karamoja have asked for more Johnson & Johnson vaccines to help them vaccinate pastoralists whose movement is highly unpredictable. During the dry spell, pastoralists from Karamoja move in search of water and pastures. There are concerns by health authorities that the targeted …
Read More »Omicron variant can partially escape immunity induced by Pfizer vaccine: Study
The Omicron coronavirus variant partly escapes the protection offered by the Pfizer vaccine Johannesburg, South Africa | Xinhua | A laboratory research has suggested that the Omicron variant can partially escape antibody immunity induced by the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The research, led by Professor Alex Sigal from the Africa Health …
Read More »Dr Atwine praises Rotary, Kentim’s role in COVID-19 vaccination
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health Dr Diana Atwine has visited Kentim University School of Health Sciences in Kyanja to boost their ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign. She appreciated the good work Rotarians, health workers and Kentim University management are doing in the fight against COVID-19. …
Read More »Nigeria to ban arrivals from 4 countries to reciprocate restrictions over new COVID-19 variant
Lagos, Nigeria | Xinhua | The Nigerian government on Sunday announced its intention to ban arrivals from Canada, Britain, Argentina and Saudi Arabia from Tuesday, after the four countries added Nigeria on their red list and banned foreign travels from the country after detection of a new coronavirus variant. The decision …
Read More »South African president tests positive for COVID-19
Johannesburg, South Africa | Xinhua | South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is receiving treatment for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive for the virus, said the Presidency in a statement released on Sunday night. The president, who is fully vaccinated, started feeling unwell after leaving the State Memorial Service in honor …
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