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Covid-19: Africa Deaths Rising Rapidly Amid More Infectious Variant and "Prevention Fatigue"
Posted
January 19, 2021
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6:18Now PlayingCoronavirus deaths in multiple African countries are rapidly increasing amid "prevention fatigue" and a more transmissible new variant emanating from South Africa.
“Unfortunately, our deaths are increasing very rapidly,” Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director John Nkengasong said in a briefing.
Deaths from Covid-19 jumped 21% over the previous week in Africa, with more than 5,400 reported cases, AP reported on January 14. The continent had more than 3.2 million confirmed virus cases by January 19, including more than 79,000 deaths, as a second wave of infections is “hitting very, very hard.”
The case fatality rate in Africa is now 2.4%, above the global rate of 2.2%. Some 20 African countries have case fatality rates above the global average, including Sudan at 6%, Egypt at 5.5%, Mali at 3.9%, Congo at 3.1% and South Africa at 2.8%.
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NEW: South Africa’s genomic scientists have found the new coronavirus variant driving the country’s resurgence of new cases is about 50% more transmissible than earlier versions.
The 501Y.V2 strain identified last month “can attach to human cells more efficiently” than its predecessors, Salim Abdool Karim, co-chair of the Covid-19 ministerial advisory committee, said in a presentation. However, data show it is not more likely to cause hospitalization or death, he said Monday.
South African Covid-19 cases began to accelerate in November and the following month scientists announced the discovery of the new mutation. President Cyril Ramaphosa went on to introduce stricter lockdown rules, including a ban on alcohol sales and a nighttime curfew.
Other variants have been identified in countries including the U.K. and Brazil, leading to concerns that increasingly dangerous versions of the pathogen may hamper the global roll out of vaccines and cause further economic devastation. FULL STORY
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