Over the past 4 weeks there’s been an 11% rise in new instances, he mentioned.
“COVID continues to be very a lot right here with us and, in truth, after we have a look at the numbers we see that there are some member states which can be truly going into a brand new wave and we’re monitoring that intently,” he mentioned. “When we’ve a transparent evaluation, subsequent week we will report back to you if the brand new waves are holding or if these have been rapidly introduced underneath management.”
He didn’t point out which international locations face a brand new wave of infections, however South Africa is one in all them. Africa’s most superior financial system has been essentially the most affected by COVID-19, the supply of the majority of confirmed instances and deaths.
COVID-19 has contaminated 12.1 million individuals throughout Africa’s 54 nations, accounting for two% of instances globally, and at the least 256,000 have died, based on figures from the Africa CDC.
Vaccination charges in Africa proceed to be low, largely due to quick provides and likewise partially due to hesitancy amongst some. Solely 25% of Africa’s individuals are totally vaccinated and underneath 3% have acquired booster doses.
Amid “this phenomenon we’re seeing of numbers going up,” Ogwell mentioned, nationwide well being authorities ought to deal with testing extra individuals for COVID-19.
“Once we see the numbers rising and the testing comparatively low, it is a sign that we must be cautious in public,” he mentioned. “And likewise we have to get ourselves vaccinated to keep away from severe sickness and even dying when one is uncovered to COVID. We all know what we have to do.”
