WHO issues warning on increase in Covid-19 cases

As the end-of-year festivities begin, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning about the rise in coronavirus cases.

The UN health agency in a statement said Africa has recorded an increase in Covid-19 cases in the last four weeks, adding that there is need for vigilance. Africa began recording a rise in Covid-19 infections in late November.

The good thing is that the numbers are not as high as was the case in the same period in 2020 and last year, WHO said.

However, the continent recorded an increase in the number of coronavirus fatalities by 14 per cent.

The deaths were low by four per cent compared to the previous year. Even with the increase in numbers, hospitalisation and severe cases remain very low, meaning there is no significant strain on hospitals. Despite the recent increase in the number of cases, there is hope of Africa being spared the challenges of the last two years when rising figures and deaths hit ordinary life and caused devastation in families and communities. “We must remain vigilant, increase vaccination coverage and be ready to adopt more stringent preventive measures if necessary,” WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said. “Investments made in the Covid-19 fight in the last three years are paying off, with the region better able to cope with the virus and its health emergency response systems bolstered. We should not go back to where we were two years ago.” Botswana started registering an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases early last month. Between the 27th and 3rd of December,the country recorded 254 new cases with no deaths. As part of a move to integrate Covid-19 into routine health services, WHO recommends that countries adopt testing strategies that focus on detecting new cases, particularly in vulnerable populations. Only 26 per cent of Africans are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.