African Countries Face High Risk of Covid-19 Resurgence
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THE AFRICAN STORY ADVERTISE WITH US DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND ISSUE NUMBER 767 VOLUME 2 03 - 09 MAY 2021 Uganda detects Indian variant- raising fears of COVID surge page 3 Tanzania’s new president plans income tax cut, other economic changes AFRICAN page 5 COUNTRIES Children in the Wilderness- Zimbabwe restarts school feeding FACE HIGH RISK scheme OF COVID-19 RESURGENCE page 10 2 Echo Report Echo Newspaper 03 May - 09 May 2021 THE AFRICAN STORY News, Finance, Travel and Sport Telephone: (267) 3933 805/6. E-mail: newsdesk@echo. co.bw Advertising Telephone: (267) 3933 805/6 E-mail: [email protected] Sales & Marketing Manager Ruele Ramoeng [email protected] Editor Bright Kholi [email protected] Head of Design Ame Kolobetso [email protected] African countries face high Distribution & Circulation Mogapi Ketletseng [email protected] Risk of COVID-19 Resurgence Echo is published by YMH Publishing YMH Publishing, Unit 3, Kgale Court, Plot 128, An analysis by the World With more than 4.5 million infections is a real risk in many The pandemic has had GIFP, Gaborone Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed cases and over 120 countries even if the region’s widespread impact across many Postal address: shown that the risk of COVID-19 000 deaths to date, the continent case count in recent weeks sectors, with key health services P O BOX 840, resurgence remains high in has not experienced a surge in appears to be stable,” said in several African countries Gaborone, several African countries due to cases since January and the Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO still reeling from disruptions Botswana Telephone: (267) 3933 805/6. poor adherence to public health epidemic curve has plateaued Regional Director for Africa experienced more than a E-mail: [email protected] measures, mass gatherings, low for six weeks. However, the during a virtual press conference year since the first cases were www.echo.co.bw testing and vaccination rates. relatively low number of cases on Thursday. “Combatting confirmed on the continent. Three countries face very high has encouraged complacency COVID-19 fatigue appears to Of the 40 countries responding DISCLAIMER: risk of COVID-19 resurgence, and there are signs of reduced be the key battle in our collective to a WHO survey conducted Echo Newspaper welcomes concise letters from readers. 20 face high, 22 moderate risk, observance of preventive response to the pandemic.” earlier this year, 95% reported Letters must carry the and only one country faces measures. Most countries in the region disruptions of varying degree. full name and address of low risk, according to the risk Recent political rallies in are experiencing community While the survey shows there the sender. Letters must assessment of 46 countries. countries such as Benin, Cote transmission, yet 31 out of the has been an improvement in conform to the laws of The risk was estimated using d’Ivoire, Guinea and Kenya 46 countries analysed performed service provision, with 41% Botswana and to the Press Council of Botswana’s Code seven indicators with data from caused a spike in new cases. fewer than 10 tests per 10 000 of services disrupted between Of Ethics. Letters will also be the past four weeks, including Upcoming elections in Cabo people per week in the past January and March 2021 edited for length, libel and COVID-19 cases per million Verde, Ethiopia, The Gambia, four weeks. This suggests that compared with 64% in the last language. people; the percentage of change Sao Tome and Principe and the number of cases reported in quarter of 2020, the persistent in new cases; the percentage Zambia could trigger a rise in the past 28 days may not reflect high levels of disruption to of change in new deaths; the cases due to mass gatherings. the true situation as countries health services even after many reproductive number (the rate “We cannot be lulled into continue to target only people countries have eased restrictions at which an infection spreads); a false sense of security. The with symptoms for testing. is concerning. The COVID-19 the pandemic trend; the average devastating surge of cases and A new upsurge of COVID-19 pandemic appears to be having weekly number of tests per 10 deaths in India, and increases in infections is a real risk in many a long-term impact on health 000 people; and the percentage other regions of the world, are countries even if the region’s services. of the population that has clear signs that the pandemic is case count in recent weeks “The pandemic’s shockwaves received at least one vaccine not yet over in African countries. appears to be stable have persisted, but we must dose. A new upsurge of COVID-19 “Most new cases are still not work hard to ensure that they Read more Echo being detected among known do not become intractable and stories on our contacts. Investigation of further weaken health system’s Facebook page by clusters of cases and contact capacity to cope with potential tracing are worryingly low in surges in COVID-19 infections,” scanning the QR most countries in the region,” Dr Moeti said. code below with Dr Moeti said. “We must scale Most countries have your mobile phone up testing including through implemented policies to revamp rapid diagnostic tests to enhance essential services, but more response to the pandemic.” support is needed to enhance Additionally, it is important the welfare of health workers, for countries to step up case restore people’s confidence in finding in areas with widespread seeking health services and community transmission, build stronger safeguards for increase capacity to isolate health system to better cope cases and reorganize the with shocks. health workforce including by redeploying health workers (APO) to the most-affected areas. Echo Newspaper 03 May - 09 May 2021 Road to Zambia Elections 3 not immediately have further information. The spokesperson in the ministry of Health, Emmanuel Ainebyoona told Reuters the country’s coronavirus task- force was to discuss the situation on Friday. So far, Uganda, like many African countries, has experienced a relatively mild COVID-19 outbreak. But concerns it could be vulnerable to contagion from the Indian variant are underscored by its large Indian community and strong relationship between the two countries as India is a major exporter to Uganda. As of Tuesday, Uganda had reported 41,797 infections and 342 deaths, health ministry data showed. On Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned India’s intense outbreak was a reminder that Africa must stay vigilant. The head of the health agency John Nkengasong said the African Union will convene a meeting of African health ministers on May 8 to “put everybody on alert”. India reported more than Uganda detects Indian variant- raising 379,000 new coronavirus cases and 3,645 new deaths on Thursday alone. It was the highest fears of COVID surge number of deaths reported in a single day in the world’s second Uganda has detected the Indian of cases just when its outbreak Pontiano Kaleebu, head of the The variant, he said, had most populous country since the variant of the novel coronavirus, has waned. government-run Uganda Virus been detected in recent days start of the pandemic. igniting fears the East African “Yes, we have got one Research Institute (UVRI) told on a Ugandan who had returned nation could suffer a resurgence individual who has that variant,” Reuters on Friday. from a visit to India. He did (Reuters.) 4 Echo Report Echo Newspaper 03 May - 09 May 2021 African countries commit to double agricultural productivity -Development banks and partners to markets, and promoting The International Fund for for millions of Africans. By infrastructure and equipment pledge over $17 billion to increase agricultural research and Agricultural Development said modernizing African agriculture, Invest in new businesses to food security development. it aimed to provide an additional small-holder farmers will be in transform agricultural produce A coalition of multilateral The various parties adopted $1.5 billion to support national a better position to bring more to support small producers. development banks and a communiqué outlining these efforts to transform food and affordable food to consumers Create a financing facility for development partners has commitments at the end of the agricultural systems in Africa and create decent livelihoods food security and nutrition in pledged over $17 billion in event. over the next three years. IFAD for millions of young Africans Africa financing to address rising Of the overall amount pledged, will also invest more in creating involved in the processing, The forum communiqué hunger on the African continent, more than $10 billion came the pre-conditions for increased storage and marketing of food.” reflected these action points, and to improve food security. from The African Development agricultural productivity. The The Arab Bank for Economic emphasizing the call for a These funds were pledged on Bank, which said it would invest organization is helping to develop Development in Africa (BADEA), financing facility for food the final day of a two-day high- $1.57 billion on scaling up 10 a growing pipeline of investments committed up to $1.5 billion security in Africa. It was felt level dialogue called Feeding selected priority commodities to restore land, create jobs and over the period 2020-2024 that this would be an appropriate Africa: leadership to scale up over the next five years. This build resilience to climate change in agriculture. The Islamic channel for scaling up climate successful innovations. The will help countries achieve in the Sahel region. This will Development Bank Group said resilience and successful African Development Bank and self-sufficiency.