Surge in African Covid Cases Causing Fewer Deaths, WHO Says
A surge in new Covid-19 cases in Africa in the past week is causing fewer deaths than previous surges, WHO said.
(Bloomberg) -- A surge in new Covid-19 cases in Africa in the past week is causing fewer deaths than previous surges, the World Health Organization said.
Still, more waves could be building up as updated forecasts predict that the continent may not achieve its 70% vaccination target until August 2024, the global health body said in a statement on Tuesday.
“We are cautiously optimistic that deaths and severe illness will remain low in the current wave, but slow vaccine rollout in Africa means both will be much higher than they should be,” WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said in an emailed statement.
Africa recorded more than 196,000 new cases in the week ended Dec. 12, up from 107,000 in the previous week -- an 83% surge, the WHO said. Cases are doubling every five days, the shortest period reported this year, while the number of deaths dropped by 19%.
“This is the fastest surge recorded since May last year,” Moeti said. “Africa’s now officially in the fourth wave, which is partly due to the omicron variant.”
More than 22,700 cases of the omicron variant have been detected in 59 countries, including in 11 nations in Africa.
The continent has received 350 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines with 80% of those arriving in the past four months. About 20 million inoculations are shipped to the continent each week.
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