COVID19 Regional Updates 03 December 2021.

General:

Update on Omicron:

Source: https://www.who.int/news/item/28-11-2021-update-on-omicron

WHO says vaccines will protect against severe Omicron; South Africa registers 8,561 new cases.

Source: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-12-01-who-says-vaccines-will-protect-against-severe-omicron-south-africa-registers-8561-new-cases/

Denver reimposes mask mandate; South Africa registers 868 new cases

Source: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-11-23-denver-reimposes-mask-mandate-south-africa-registers-868-new-cases/

As omicron spreads, studies suggest that travel bans alone don’t do much good

Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/11/28/1059619823/omicron-travel-bans-covid

The U.S. is better prepared to fight omicron variant, CDC director says

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/11/30/covid-omicron-variant-live-updates/

New COVID variant dubbed ‘omicron’ by WHO; vaccine makers already have contingency plans: Latest updates

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/11/26/fast-spreading-and-mutating-covid-variant-south-africa-worrying-who-experts/8759122002/

Southern Africa

Omicron was in Europe long before travel bans on southern Africa

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/01/world/coronavirus-newsletter-intl-01-12-21/index.html

UN Chief Denounces COVID ‘Travel Apartheid’ Against Southern Africa

Source: https://www.voanews.com/a/un-chief-denounces-covid-travel-apartheid-against-southern-africa-/6336093.html

Malawi

Want a Christmas bonus? Get vaccine first, Malawi bank tells staff

Source: https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/banks/want-a-christmas-bonus-get-vaccine-first-malawi-bank-tells-staff-20211201

Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 Endorses Pfizer-BioNTtech Vaccine for 12+ Year Olds

Source: https://allafrica.com/stories/202111300160.html

Eswatini

A religious COVID-19 vaccine mission like no other – opinion

Source: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/eswatini-a-religious-covid-19-vaccine-mission-like-no-other-opinion-685282

Zimbabwe

President Slams West Over Covid-19 Restrictions

Source: https://allafrica.com/stories/202112020156.html

Zimbabwe Announces 14-Day Quarantine, 9-Hour Curfew to Contain Omicron

Source: https://www.voanews.com/a/zimbabwe-quarantine-curfew-omicron/6335368.html

Zimbabwe begins new round of Covid-19 vaccination

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2021/12/01/zimbabwe-begins-new-round-of-covid-19-vaccination/

South Africa

Covid: South Africa ‘punished’ for detecting new Omicron variant

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-59442129

Covid-19 vaccination rates among people with HIV worryingly low in SA, global study shows

Source: https://www.news24.com/health24/medical/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccination-rates-among-people-with-hiv-worryingly-low-in-sa-global-study-shows-20211203-4

3 lockdown scenarios for South Africa – including fourth wave restrictions over Christmas Source: https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/542974/3-lockdown-scenarios-for-south-africa-including-fourth-wave-restrictions-over-christmas/