This archive report was first published on 26 June 2021.
As of June 20, Africa had recorded around 474,000 new cases, a 21 per cent increase compared with the first 48 days of the second wave.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has attributed the resurgence to a combination of factors, including weak observance of public health measures and increased social interaction and movement.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, stated that the third wave is picking up speed, spreading faster, and hitting harder, with rapidly rising case numbers and increasing reports of serious illness.
‘Africa can still blunt the impact of these fast-rising infections, but the window of opportunity is closing. Everyone everywhere can do their bit by taking precautions to prevent transmission,’ Dr Moeti said.
The WHO is deploying more experts to some of the worst-affected countries, including Uganda and Zambia, as well as supporting South Africa-based regional laboratories to monitor variants of concern.
Despite progress in the COVID-19 vaccination drive, just over 1 per cent of Africa’s population has been fully vaccinated, with 18 African countries having used over 80 per cent of their COVAX vaccine supplies.
Dr Moeti urged regional and national regulatory agencies to recognize all the vaccines Emergency Use listed by WHO, saying ‘vaccine shortages are already prolonging the pain of COVID-19 in Africa. Let us not add injury to injustice.’
