Africa

WHO's top scientist says Omicron could displace Delta but a new vaccine might not be needed.

Fri, 2021-12-03 11:04 — mike kraft

WHO's top scientist says Omicron could displace Delta The World Health Organization's chief scientist told the Reuters Next conference on Friday the Omicron variant could become dominant because it is highly transmissible, but that a different vaccine may not be needed. Francesco Guarascio,Stephanie Nebehay Reuters

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South Africa new Covid cases double in 24 hours as Omicron spreads

Thu, 2021-12-02 11:26 — mike kraft

Covid: South Africa new cases double in 24 hours as Omicron spreads The new Omicron variant has now become dominant, the country's top medical scientists say. BBC News

Health officials say the new coronavirus variant Omicron has now become dominant in South Africa and is driving a sharp increase in new infections.

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World overview: Omicron and delta spell return of unpopular restrictions in many but not all countries

Thu, 2021-12-02 10:56 — mike kraft

Omicron and delta spell return of unpopular restrictions | AP News PARIS (AP) — Greeks who are over age 60 and refuse coronavirus vaccinations could be hit with monthly fines of more than one-quarter of their pensions — a get-tough policy that the country's politicians say will cost votes but save lives. AP NEWS

PARIS (AP) — ...

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Previous infection protected against Delta. That doesn't seem to be the case with Omicron, South African expert says

Thu, 2021-12-02 10:32 — mike kraft

Previous infection protected against Delta. That doesn't seem to be the case with Omicron, expert says South Africa is seeing an increase in coronavirus reinfections in patients who contract the Omicron variant, Anne von Gottberg, a microbiologist from the country's National Institute for Communicable Diseases, said during a Thursday news briefing. By Rhea Mogul, Adam Renton, Sheena McKenzie & Ed Upright, CNN CNN

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UN migration agency: COVID has ‘radically altered’ mobility

Wed, 2021-12-01 18:16 — mike kraft

UN migration agency: COVID has 'radically altered' mobility | AP News GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. migration agency says the coronavirus pandemic appears to have accelerated “hostile rhetoric” against migrants in the world and “radically altered” mobility, projecting in a new report that travel and other COVID-19-fighting restrictions could dampen migration worldwide as long as they remain. AP NEWS

GENEVA (AP) — ..

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Vaccines are finally available in many African countries, but some people there, as well as in South Asia, are wary of taking them.

Wed, 2021-12-01 12:31 — mike kraft

JOHANNESBURG — The detection of the Omicron variant in Africa signals the next stage of the battle against Covid-19: getting many more people inoculated in poorer nations where vaccines have been scarcest in order to deter new mutations from developing.

But while world leaders sometimes talk about this as if it were largely a matter of delivering doses overseas, the experience of South Africa, at least, hints at a far more complex set of challenges.

Like many poor countries, South Africa was made to wait months for vaccines as wealthier countries monopolized them. Many countries still do not have anywhere near enough doses to inoculate their populations.

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WHO: Travel bans hurting global cooperation in countering COVID

Wed, 2021-12-01 12:17 — mike kraft

Live updates: WHO: Travel bans hurting global cooperation | AP News GENEVA — The World Health Organization says travel bans by countries are having an impact on global cooperation against the new omicron variant by causing “challenges” to the sharing of laboratory samples from South Africa that can help get better grips on the new variant. AP NEWS

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As nations tighten travel bans, EU urges vaccinations and WHO cautions against blanket travel bans

Wed, 2021-12-01 09:49 — mike kraft

U.S. and other countries tighten travel rules over Omicron, EU urges vaccination Air travellers to the United States will face tougher COVID-19 testing rules to try to slow the spread of the Omicron variant and other countries tightened border controls as a European leader urged all concerned to "prepare for the worst". David Shepardson,John Chalmers Reuters

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Omicron brings COVID-19 vaccine inequity ‘home to roost’

Mon, 2021-11-29 20:15 — mike kraft

Omicron brings COVID-19 vaccine inequity 'home to roost' | AP News LONDON (AP) — The emergence of the new omicron variant and the world's desperate and likely futile attempts to keep it at bay are reminders of what scientists have warned for months: The coronavirus will thrive as long as vast parts of the world lack vaccines. AP NEWS

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WHO warns omicron poses 'very high' global risk as variant spreads

Mon, 2021-11-29 11:03 — mike kraft

LONDON — The global risk of the new omicron variant is “very high,” the World Health Organization said Monday, as more countries reported cases of the variant, sparking worldwide concern that there is more pandemic suffering ahead.

In response to the spike in cases, an increasing number of nations are tightening their borders despite pleas for caution and outbursts of dismay from some.

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