
<p>While most cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus have been reported in the U.S. , Europe, and China, the virus is spreading rapidly across the African continent. </p>



<p>The confirmed worldwide cases for the virus have surpassed 200 million with the current figure being at 222,262,640</p>



<p>The death toll continues to rise globally now surpassing 4 million. It is currently at 4,593,598.</p>



<p>The world is currently dealing with a new variant of the virus known as the &#8216;Delta Variant&#8217;. The variant is known to be in over 85 countries globally. </p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>A<em>frica has just marked the continent’s most dire pandemic week ever. But the worst is yet to come as the fast-moving third wave continues to gain speed and new ground. The end to this precipitous rise is still weeks away. Cases are doubling now every 18 days, compared with every 21 days only a week ago. We can still break the chain of transmission by testing, isolating contacts and cases and following key public health measures.”</em> <strong><em><em>said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa</em></em></strong> <strong><em>on July 8 2021</em></strong></p></blockquote>



<p>The U.S. leads with 666,627 deaths. Brazil comes second with 583,866. India&#8217;s deaths are at 441,433; Mexico is with 263,470 deaths, and Peru is with 198,523.</p>



<p>China, where the virus originated from, maintains that the country&#8217;s death toll is at 4,634.</p>



<p>The figure of the global recoveries stands at 198,882,734.</p>



<p>The African continent now has a total figure of 8,003,746 confirmed cases of Covid-19, while the death toll stands at 200,275. The continent has made 7,162,070 recoveries. </p>



<p>World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said in an online briefing Thursday (1 July) that &#8220;The speed and scale of Africa’s third wave are like nothing we’ve seen before.&#8221;  </p>



<p>&#8220;The continent is on the verge of exceeding its worst week ever in this pandemic,&#8221; Moeti said</p>



<p>Here are the country-wide numbers for Africa:</p>



<figure id="main_table_countries_today" class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th>Country</th><th>Total<br>Cases</th><th>Total<br>Deaths</th><th>Total<br>Recovered</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Africa</td><td>8,003,746</td><td>200,275</td><td>7,162,070</td></tr><tr><td>Algeria</td><td>198,313</td><td>5,445</td><td>135,232</td></tr><tr><td>Angola</td><td>48,790</td><td>1,282</td><td>44,054</td></tr><tr><td>Benin</td><td>16,946</td><td>135</td><td>11,890</td></tr><tr><td>Botswana</td><td>162,186</td><td>2,309</td><td>155,403</td></tr><tr><td>Burkina Faso</td><td>13,851</td><td>171</td><td>13,575</td></tr><tr><td>Burundi</td><td>12,585</td><td>38</td><td>773</td></tr><tr><td>Cabo Verde</td><td>36,012</td><td>316</td><td>34,725</td></tr><tr><td>Cameroon</td><td>84,210</td><td>1,357</td><td>80,433</td></tr><tr><td>CAR</td><td>11,296</td><td>100</td><td>6,859</td></tr><tr><td>Chad</td><td>4,996</td><td>174</td><td>4,816</td></tr><tr><td>Comoros</td><td>4,086</td><td>147</td><td>3,909</td></tr><tr><td>Congo</td><td>13,588</td><td>183</td><td>12,421</td></tr><tr><td>Djibouti</td><td>11,785</td><td>157</td><td>11,592</td></tr><tr><td>DRC</td><td>55,307</td><td>1,061</td><td>30,858</td></tr><tr><td>Egypt</td><td>290,395</td><td>16,801</td><td>242,623</td></tr><tr><td>Equatorial Guinea</td><td>9,939</td><td>129</td><td>8,971</td></tr><tr><td>Eritrea</td><td>6,648</td><td>38</td><td>6,601</td></tr><tr><td>Eswatini</td><td>44,234</td><td>1,156</td><td>38,871</td></tr><tr><td>Ethiopia</td><td>316,174</td><td>4,785</td><td>284,895</td></tr><tr><td>Gabon</td><td>26,177</td><td>168</td><td>25,775</td></tr><tr><td>Gambia</td><td>9,789</td><td>328</td><td>9,379</td></tr><tr><td>Ghana</td><td>121,307</td><td>1,069</td><td>113,267</td></tr><tr><td>Guinea</td><td>29,877</td><td>358</td><td>27,742</td></tr><tr><td>Guinea-Bissau</td><td>5,902</td><td>121</td><td>4,967</td></tr><tr><td>Ivory Coast</td><td>57,056</td><td>477</td><td>54,804</td></tr><tr><td>Kenya</td><td>241,134</td><td>4,800</td><td>229,762</td></tr><tr><td>Lesotho</td><td>14,395</td><td>403</td><td>6,830</td></tr><tr><td>Liberia</td><td>5,459</td><td>148</td><td>2,715</td></tr><tr><td>Libya</td><td>318,069</td><td>4,363</td><td>230,995</td></tr><tr><td>Madagascar</td><td>42,884</td><td>957</td><td>41,311</td></tr><tr><td>Malawi</td><td>60,852</td><td>2,217</td><td>49,374</td></tr><tr><td>Mali</td><td>14,942</td><td>542</td><td>14,135</td></tr><tr><td>Mauritania</td><td>34,297</td><td>737</td><td>31,832</td></tr><tr><td>Mauritius</td><td>11,466</td><td>32</td><td>1,854</td></tr><tr><td>Mayotte</td><td>19,925</td><td>175</td><td>2,964</td></tr><tr><td>Morocco</td><td>886,008</td><td>13,145</td><td>828,148</td></tr><tr><td>Mozambique</td><td>148,054</td><td>1,881</td><td>137,891</td></tr><tr><td>Namibia</td><td>125,772</td><td>3,414</td><td>120,812</td></tr><tr><td>Niger</td><td>5,888</td><td>199</td><td>5,624</td></tr><tr><td>Nigeria</td><td>195,890</td><td>2,556</td><td>184,882</td></tr><tr><td>Rwanda</td><td>90,145</td><td>1,134</td><td>45,362</td></tr><tr><td>Réunion</td><td>50,346</td><td>342</td><td>47,752</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Helena</td><td>2</td><td></td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Sao Tome and Principe</td><td>2,692</td><td>37</td><td>2,461</td></tr><tr><td>Senegal</td><td>73,257</td><td>1,812</td><td>64,582</td></tr><tr><td>Seychelles</td><td>20,323</td><td>108</td><td>19,767</td></tr><tr><td>Sierra Leone</td><td>6,374</td><td>121</td><td>4,364</td></tr><tr><td>Somalia</td><td>17,947</td><td>1,005</td><td>8,896</td></tr><tr><td>South Africa</td><td>2,824,063</td><td>83,617</td><td>2,599,667</td></tr><tr><td>South Sudan</td><td>11,526</td><td>120</td><td>11,195</td></tr><tr><td>Sudan</td><td>37,715</td><td>2,837</td><td>31,675</td></tr><tr><td>Tanzania</td><td>1,367</td><td>50</td><td>183</td></tr><tr><td>Togo</td><td>22,625</td><td>197</td><td>17,669</td></tr><tr><td>Tunisia</td><td>675,191</td><td>23,846</td><td>639,708</td></tr><tr><td>Uganda</td><td>120,714</td><td>3,061</td><td>95,679</td></tr><tr><td>Western Sahara</td><td>10</td><td>1</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Zambia</td><td>207,294</td><td>3,620</td><td>202,500</td></tr><tr><td>Zimbabwe</td><td>125,671</td><td>4,493</td><td>117,036</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption><a href="https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/">Data From World O Meter</a></figcaption></figure>



<p><em>Note: The numbers will be updated as new information is available. </em></p>


South African truck drivers receive COVID-19 vaccine

[IN NUMBERS] Coronavirus Update: COVID-19 In Africa


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong> The World Health Organization <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/weekly-epidemiological-update-on-covid-19---31-august-2021" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a> it has identified a new coronavirus “variant of interest,” named mu—also known by its scientific name, B.1.621—in its weekly pandemic update Tuesday, warning it was becoming increasingly prevalent in Colombia and Ecuador and shows signs of possible resistance to vaccines.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Since mu was first identified in Colombia in January 2021, there have been “sporadic reports” of cases and outbreaks in South America and Europe, the WHO said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While the global prevalence of mu among sequenced Covid-19 cases has fallen below 0.1%, the WHO said its prevalence has “consistently increased” in Colombia and Ecuador, where it is now responsible for around 39% and 13% of infections, respectively.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Reports on the variant’s prevalence should be “interpreted with due consideration” given the low sequencing capacity of most countries, the agency said.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Mu has a number of mutations that suggest it could be more resistant to vaccines, the health agency warned, but said further research would be needed to confirm this.</p>



<p>Preliminary data show a reduced effectiveness of vaccines “similar to that seen for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/19/health/beta-variant-covid-19.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beta</a>&nbsp;variant,” the WHO said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>All viruses mutate over time and most mutations have little to no impact on the virus’ behavior. The WHO keeps&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/en/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">track</a>&nbsp;of “variants of interest,” those which have mutations “predicted or known to affect virus characteristics” like transmissibility, resistance to vaccines and disease severity. Mu is the fifth variant of interest to be monitored by the WHO since March. There are also four “variants of concern” the health agency tracks—alpha, beta, gamma and delta—which, in addition to meeting the criteria to be a variant of interest, have more significant changes, such as reducing the effectiveness of vaccines. The WHO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/31-05-2021-who-announces-simple-easy-to-say-labels-for-sars-cov-2-variants-of-interest-and-concern" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">introduced</a>&nbsp;a naming convention concerning variants in May to avoid the stigma and consequences when a variant is named after where it was first discovered.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>While wealthy countries hoard limited vaccine supplies for booster campaigns, many parts of the world have not yet had a chance to begin vaccinating. Limited vaccine coverage and the rapid spread of the coronavirus makes an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/08/18/stockpiling-vaccines-risks-new-variants-emerging-and-rising-covid-cases-study-finds-as-us-readies-booster-campaign/?sh=3a255afa132a">ideal</a>&nbsp;environment for new virus variants to emerge. The WHO said it would be monitoring “the epidemiology of the mu variant in South America, particularly with the co-circulation of the delta variant… for changes”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>3,857. That’s how many genome sequences—analyzed samples of the virus taken from patients that can be used to track how it moves through the population—on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gisaid.org/hcov19-variants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GISAID</a>, an open source genome repository, have been designated as mu in the past four weeks. The vast majority of these—1,544—have been reported in the U.S., and Colombia (844), Mexico (352) and Spain (351) also report a high number of sequences. This figure will be affected by both sequencing capacity, surveillance and the total number of cases in an area.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/07/23/a-new-covid-variant-is-being-investigated-in-the-uk-after-being-detected-in-countries-including-the-us-and-japan/?sh=6631f8a03298">A New Covid Variant Is Being Investigated In The U.K. After Being Detected In Countries Including The U.S. And Japan</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2021/08/12/a-new-killer-on-the-loose-b1621/?sh=44e2aacf3d1f">A New Covid Variant On The Loose: B.1.621</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.statnews.com/2021/08/30/inside-pfizer-labs-variant-hunters-race-to-stay-ahead-of-pandemic-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inside Pfizer’s labs, ‘variant hunters’ race to stay ahead of the pandemic’s next twist</a> (STAT News)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Robert Hart, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


Scientist in a protective suit holds and compares two different Coronavirus of different color in his hands. Creative image.

WHO Tracking New Covid Variant Named Mu, Warns It Could Be More Resistant To Vaccine


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong> A new study out of South Korea found that taking an AstraZeneca vaccine shot followed by a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shot boosted Covid-19 antibody levels six times more than receiving two Astra-Zeneca doses, as some governments around the world are giving the green light to mix Covid-19 vaccine shots for extra protection against the virus.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>The study was conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and it took a look at the effects of mixing certain vaccine doses and vaccine efficacy against coronavirus variants Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, as first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/mixed-astrazeneca-pfizer-shot-boosts-covid-antibody-level-study-2021-07-26/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;by Reuters.</p>



<p>About 499 medical workers took part in the study, with about 200 workers receiving two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, 200 workers receiving two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 100 workers receiving mixed doses of both the vaccines.</p>



<p>All three groups acquired antibodies, with the group that mixed AstraZeneca and Pfizer showing similar levels of antibodies as the group that received the two Pfizer shots.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The study also found that each of the vaccine doses were most effective against the Alpha variant, but&nbsp; showed decreased effectiveness between 2 ½ to 6 times on Beta, Gamma and Delta variants.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>Back in June, Oxford University led a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/06/28/uk-study-offers-new-evidence-you-can-mix-and-match-coronavirus-vaccines/?sh=64cc30081082">study</a>&nbsp;to find out if mixing and matching vaccines was viable. It found that taking an AstraZeneca vaccine shot followed by a Pfizer shot created the highest T-cell response, which are immune cells that attack and destroy infected cells. The vaccine combo also generated more antibodies than taking a Pfizer shot followed by an AstraZeneca shot. Both the Oxford University study and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency study show that vaccines can still provide a strong immunity response to the virus if mixed and matched. The United States&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centers for Disease Control</a>&nbsp;does not recommend mixing doses from different vaccines since it has not yet evaluated if that practice is safe and effective. However, some countries like Germany and Spain allow for mixed shots, allowing people to receive Pfizer and Moderna shots even after they have already gotten AstraZeneca’s first dose. Canada’s health officials also started to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/canada-mixing-covid-19-vaccines-astrazeneca-pfizer-moderna-naci-1.6048152" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recommend&nbsp;</a>mixing vaccine shots last month, if people are unable to take two of the same vaccine doses.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h3>



<p>As the Delta variant continues to grow internationally, more people are reporting taking multiple vaccine doses. Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57571791" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">received</a>&nbsp;the Moderna jab at the end of June, a few months after she received her first AstraZeneca shot. One U.S. doctor received the one-shot Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine in Seattle, but then, after moving to Canada, got one shot of the Pfizer vaccine for added protection, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/26/delta-people-are-mixing-and-matching-covid-vaccines-over-concerns-about-variant.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>&nbsp;by CNBC. The U.S. does not consider people who have had different doses of vaccines as fully vaccinated.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-out-for">WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR</h3>



<p>Pfizer said it will be creating a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/08/pfizer-says-it-is-developing-a-covid-booster-shot-to-target-the-highly-transmissible-delta-variant.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">booster</a>&nbsp;shot to target the Delta variant. Trials for the booster shot&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsmv.com/news/pfizer-booster-shot-trial-underway-in-nashville/article_5447ab60-edf5-11eb-b977-6b315cb7c729.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">began</a>&nbsp;in Nashville on Monday. Moderna also announced it will be developing a booster shot, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-vaccine-booster-shot-what-we-know/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trial</a>&nbsp;results expected by September. Some doctors are even&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/20/dr-vin-gupta-encourages-jj-vaccine-recipients-to-get-a-pfizer-or-moderna-booster.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">encouraging</a>&nbsp;those who received the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine to consider getting either a Pfizer or Moderna booster shot, even though it is unclear how the booster shots may work with other vaccines.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/06/28/uk-study-offers-new-evidence-you-can-mix-and-match-coronavirus-vaccines/?sh=64cc30081082">U.K. Study Offers New Evidence You Can ‘Mix And Match’ Coronavirus Vaccines</a>&nbsp;(<em>Forbes</em>)</p>



<p><a href="http://mymusictaste.com/artist/68f14b7dcc835375b53d0ea65f4dedd7/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Americans are ‘mixing and matching’ Covid vaccines over concerns about the delta variant</a> (<em>CNBC</em>)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Kimberlee Speakman, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


Dept of Correctional Services Vaccination Rollout Launch in South Africa

Mixed AstraZeneca-Pfizer Vaccine Boosts Covid Antibody Levels, Korea Study Finds


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong>: The Chinese government on Thursday rejected the World Health Organisation’s plan for the second phase of investigation into the origins of Covid-19—which will also examine the possibility that the virus may have escaped from a Wuhan lab—signaling further politicization of the investigation that has previously been hampered by Beijing’s unwillingness to share important data.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>Zeng Yixin, the vice minister of China’s National Health Commission (NHC), told reporters he was “shocked” by the plan to investigate the lab leak hypothesis and said “it is impossible for us to accept such an origin-tracing plan.”</p>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-coronavirus-pandemic-united-nations-a20391afec60601f3d666efc3c18b61d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">According to</a>&nbsp;the Associated Press, Zeng dismissed the theory as a rumor “that runs counter to common sense and science.”</p>



<p>Responding to the WHO’s earlier statement about the investigation being hampered by the lack of raw data from Chinese authorities, Zeng reiterated Beijing’s stance that some data could not be completely shared due to privacy concerns.</p>



<p>Zeng insisted that the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s labs have no virus that can directly infect humans and noted that a WHO-led team of experts had visited the lab earlier this year and concluded that a leak was highly unlikely.</p>



<p>The vice minister also dismissed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/intelligence-on-sick-staff-at-wuhan-lab-fuels-debate-on-covid-19-origin-11621796228?reflink=share_mobilewebshare" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">media reports</a>&nbsp;that staff and graduate students at the institute had fallen sick due to the virus and then transmitted it to others.</p>



<p>The vocal push back from Beijing comes a week after WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for better cooperation from China and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-world-news-health-science-coronavirus-pandemic-c0c594f9060f676c0ea48c2d1c69daec" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">noted</a>&nbsp;that there had been a “premature push” to rule out the lab leak theory.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>In March, the World Health Organization and China&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-convened-global-study-of-origins-of-sars-cov-2-china-part" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a>&nbsp;a joint study that offered preliminary insight into the origin of the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus. The report suggested that the outbreak was likely caused by the virus jumping from bats to humans through an intermediary animal and also labeled the lab leak hypothesis as “extremely unlikely.” It was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/30/who-criticises-chinas-data-sharing-as-it-releases-covid-origins-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sharply criticized</a>&nbsp;by the U.S., U.K., Canada and several other countries who accused China of “withholding access to complete original data and samples”. The lab leak theory—initially pushed by fringe groups—has seen a rise in mainstream interest after President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewster/2021/05/26/biden-says-intelligence-agencies-have-coalesced-around-two-likely-scenarios-for-origin-of-covid-19/?sh=266488003fb2">ordered</a>&nbsp;U.S. intelligence agencies to examine the origin of the pandemic in May. U.S. intelligence agencies have two prevailing theories at the moment with branches believing that it was transmitted from animals, while another branch believes it came from a lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which does research work on bat viruses.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-china-coronavirus-pandemic-united-nations-a20391afec60601f3d666efc3c18b61d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China rebuffs WHO’s terms for further COVID-19 origins study</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-will-not-follow-whos-suggested-plan-2nd-phase-covid-19-origins-study-2021-07-22/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China rejects WHO plan for study of COVID-19 origin</a> (Reuters)</p>



<p><em><strong>By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff</strong></em></p>


News Conference On Chinese Vaccines Against COVID-19 In Beijing

China ‘Shocked’ By WHO’s Plan To Investigate Covid-19 Lab Leak Theory


<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>San Diego-based physician Dr. Jennings Ryan Staley pleaded&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/doctor-selling-covid-19-cure-pleads-guilty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guilty</a>&nbsp;on Friday to a charge of importation contrary to law, which comes with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.</p>



<p>During March 2020 and April 2020, Staley sold treatment kits he falsely marketed as being a “one hundred percent” cure and a “magic bullet” against Covid-19, while the U.S. was in the midst of its first Covid surge.</p>



<p>The kits contained hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug that multiple trials showed to be ineffective as a treatment for Covid-19.</p>



<p>To get the hydroxychloroquine, Staley at one point wrote a prescription in one of his employees’ names and then picked up the drug without the employee’s knowledge.</p>



<p>Staley also planned to smuggle more than 26 pounds of hydroxychloroquine powder into the U.S. by mislabeling the drug as “yam extract,” as part of an agreement he made with a Chinese supplier.</p>



<p>Additionally, Staley admitted he lied to federal investigators by claiming he never marketed his kits as a surefire treatment for Covid-19.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h3>



<p><strong>$4,000.</strong>&nbsp;That&#8217;s how much an undercover federal agent paid for six of Staley’s treatment kits, according to the Justice Department.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h3>



<p>“Dr. Staley offered a ‘magic bullet’—a guaranteed cure for Covid-19 to people gripped in fear during a global pandemic,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Suzanne Turner said in a statement. “Today, Dr. Staley admitted it was all a lie as part of a scam to make a quick buck.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>The arrival of the pandemic in the U.S. coincided with an enormous spike in prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine, which was investigated as one of the first potential Covid therapeutics. Health experts had always expressed skepticism about whether the drug would be proven effective against Covid, but that didn’t stop Trump from repeatedly making statements such as, “It’s looking like it&#8217;s having some good results.” Trump even&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/05/18/trump-says-hes-taking-hydroxychloroquine-despite-an-nih-advisory-against-it/?sh=1e57a81cd745">took his own regimen</a>&nbsp;of hydroxychloroquine in May 2020, at a time when study after study was showing the drug didn&#8217;t work against Covid-19. Trump went on to catch Covid-19 in October and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/02/11/report-trumps-covid-infection-was-so-severe-officials-thought-he-might-need-a-ventilator/?sh=cc3d92179819">had to be hospitalized</a>. The lack of reliable treatment options also led to numerous other unproven and dangerous cures being marketed, like a Florida family that was accused of selling tens of thousands of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2020/07/08/florida-family-charged-with-marketing-miracle-coronavirus-cure-that-was-textile-bleach/?sh=54d8b05317f9">bottles of toxic bleach</a>&nbsp;they branded as “Miracle Mineral Solution.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h3>



<p>A California-based naturopathic doctor was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/07/14/california-woman-arrested-for-making-fake-vaccine-cards-justice-department-says/?sh=7fdb142c4a76">making fake vaccine cards</a>&nbsp;and marketing oral pills as providing lifelong protection against Covid-19.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/07/14/california-woman-arrested-for-making-fake-vaccine-cards-justice-department-says/?sh=7fdb142c4a76">California Woman Arrested For Making Fake Vaccine Cards, Justice Department Says</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2020/07/08/florida-family-charged-with-marketing-miracle-coronavirus-cure-that-was-textile-bleach/?sh=54d8b05317f9">Florida Family Charged With Marketing ‘Miracle’ Coronavirus Cure That Was Textile Bleach</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/02/11/report-trumps-covid-infection-was-so-severe-officials-thought-he-might-need-a-ventilator/?sh=cc3d92179819">Report: Trump’s Covid Infection Was So Severe Officials Thought He Might Need A Ventilator</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/05/22/all-the-times-trump-promoted-hydroxychloroquine/?sh=7c2f9f0f4643">All The Times Trump Has Promoted Hydroxychloroquine</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/05/18/trump-says-hes-taking-hydroxychloroquine-despite-an-nih-advisory-against-it/?sh=1e57a81cd745">Trump Says He’s Taking Hydroxychloroquine Despite An NIH Advisory Against It</a> (Forbes)</p>



<p><em><strong>By Nicholas Reimann, Forbes Staff</strong></em></p>


Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate tablets with coronavirus written in background

Doctor Pleads Guilty To Pushing Covid ‘Miracle Cure’ And Hydroxychloroquine Smuggling Scheme


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong> Pfizer and BioNTech said Thursday that research shows taking a third dose of their vaccine as a booster protects even more against Covid-19, including the Delta variant, and will ask the Food and Drug Administration for emergency authorization for the shot within the next several weeks.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>A study not yet released by the companies shows that a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine six months after the second dose protected people against the original strain of Covid-19 as well as the Beta variant.</p>



<p>After six months, the companies’ two-dose vaccine loses some of its ability to protect against getting Covid-19 and developing symptoms, although it continues to work well against preventing severe Covid-19, the companies said, referencing data from their studies and from the health ministry in Israel, which has a highly vaccinated population and has recently seen a wave of the Delta variant spread.</p>



<p>After taking the booster shot, antibodies against the original and Beta variants were “five to 10 times higher,” the companies said in a press release.</p>



<p>The companies believe a booster shot would also increase protection against the Delta variant based on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03693-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a&nbsp;<em>Nature</em>&nbsp;study</a>&nbsp;which they said suggests that the two-dose vaccine is effective against the variant.</p>



<p>Pfizer and BioNTech in August will launch a trial of a vaccine specifically targeting the Delta variant.</p>



<p>The companies said they will send the data to the FDA “in the coming weeks” for its application for emergency authorization and that they will publish the data in a peer-reviewed journal.</p>



<p>They will also send the data to the European Medicines Agency, which regulates drugs in the European Union, and “in discussion with EU and other regions” about emergency authorizations, a spokesperson said.</p>



<p>A separate study published Thursday in&nbsp;<em>JAMA Oncology</em>&nbsp;found the vaccine was found to be&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2781608?guestAccessKey=a006b52c-6abf-414d-b0b9-b57946450d20&amp;utm_source=For_The_Media&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=ftm_links&amp;utm_content=tfl&amp;utm_term=070821" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">safe for cancer patients</a>, although most didn’t develop antibodies until after their second dose, and 14% didn’t develop the antibodies at all.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h3>



<p>The FDA, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/development-approval-process-cber" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in charge</a>&nbsp;of approving vaccines,&nbsp;<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E50SoxnXEAMvs9c.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">released a statement</a>&nbsp;with the CDC Thursday night that appeared to respond to Pfizer and BioNTech’s news. “Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time,” it said. Both agencies and the National Institutes of Health, the statement continued, are researching “whether or when a booster might be necessary.”&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>Whether booster shots work, and how well, is important because scientists expect that vaccines will&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/06/15/when-will-you-need-a-covid-booster-shot-pfizer-monitors-breakthrough-infections-as-experts-say-more-data-is-needed/?sh=1068ed587f69">lose strength over time</a>. Because the pace of vaccination is so unequal—globally, just&nbsp;<a href="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-people-vaccinated-covid?time=2020-12-02..2021-07-07&amp;country=~OWID_WRL" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one in four people</a>&nbsp;have received at least one vaccine dose; in the U.S.,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/07/08/at-least-15-states-wont-reach-70-vaccination-goal-until-2022-or-even-later-at-current-pace/?sh=46a2691532b8">at least 15 states</a>&nbsp;are not on pace to partially or fully vaccinate 70% of residents until 2022—some people are likely to need booster shots before others get their first dose.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<p><a href="https://investors.biontech.de/news-releases/news-release-details/pfizer-and-biontech-provide-update-booster-program-light-delta" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pfizer and BioNTech Provide Update on Booster Program in Light of the Delta-Variant</a>&nbsp;<em>(BioNTech)</em></p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/05/18/96-of-people-develop-covid-antibodies-after-just-one-shot-of-pfizer-or-astrazeneca-vaccine-uk-study-finds/?sh=30b7f66699b9">96% Of People Develop Covid Antibodies After Just One Shot Of Pfizer Or AstraZeneca Vaccine, UK Study Finds</a>&nbsp;<em>(Forbes)</em>&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/06/15/when-will-you-need-a-covid-booster-shot-pfizer-monitors-breakthrough-infections-as-experts-say-more-data-is-needed/?sh=1068ed587f69">When Will You Need A Covid Booster Shot? Pfizer Monitors Breakthrough Infections As Experts Say More Data Is Needed</a>&nbsp;<em>(Forbes)</em></p>



<p><a href="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-people-vaccinated-covid?time=2020-12-02..2021-07-07&amp;country=~OWID_WRL" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Share of people who received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine</a> <em>(Our World In Data)</em></p>



<p><strong><em>By Graison Dangor, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


TOPSHOT-US-HEALTH-VIRUS-STOCKS

Pfizer Will Ask FDA To Authorize Third Covid-19 Shot As A Booster


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong>: Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are likely to offer long-lasting protection against Covid-19, according to a study published on Monday, indicating that people who are already inoculated with either of the mRNA vaccines may not need a booster dose for years.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03738-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">peer-reviewed study</a>&nbsp;published in the science journal&nbsp;<em>Nature</em>, scientists found that the vaccines induced a strong immune reaction that may protect against Covid-19 for years.</p>



<p>The study reinforces a previous finding,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/health/coronavirus-immunity-vaccines.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first reported in May</a>, that people who have both recovered from infection and have been fully inoculated with one of the mRNA vaccines have an even stronger immune response.</p>



<p>The study also showed that the vaccines produced high levels of neutralizing antibodies that were effective against three variants of the coronavirus, including the Beta variant that has been shown to reduce the effectiveness of vaccines.</p>



<p>Nearly four months after the first dose of either vaccine, the body still had the so-called germinal centers in the lymph nodes which effectively train the body’s immune cells to protect against future infection.</p>



<p>According to scientists who conducted the study, this is a very positive sign since germinal centers normally peak one or two weeks after vaccination and then begin to decline, the New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/06/28/world/covid-vaccine-coronavirus-mask?smtyp=cur&amp;smid=tw-nytimesworld#a-study-finds-that-the-pfizer-and-moderna-vaccines-could-offer-protection-for-years" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.</p>



<p>Production of a broader range of immune cells and longer training times for those cells will lead to more robust protection against the virus and any variants that may emerge.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-we-don-t-know">WHAT WE DON’T KNOW</h3>



<p>The scope of the study was only limited to the two approved mRNA vaccines manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. It did not examine the single-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine and one of the study’s authors&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/06/28/world/covid-vaccine-coronavirus-mask?smtyp=cur&amp;smid=tw-nytimesworld#a-study-finds-that-the-pfizer-and-moderna-vaccines-could-offer-protection-for-years" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp;<em>New York Times&nbsp;</em>that he expected the immune response from that shot to be less durable. The study also does not throw any light on the effectiveness of the vaccine against the Delta variant of the coronavirus which is more transmissible than other variants.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>While the mRNA vaccines have been highly effective in preventing infections, the emergence of more infectious variants of the coronavirus has led to speculation that booster doses may be needed to protect against Covid-19. Speaking at a&nbsp;<em>Forbes</em>&nbsp;event earlier this month, Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfellows/2021/06/08/moderna-ceo-says-vaccine-boosters-and-flucovid-combo-shots-are-likely-for-the-future/?sh=886c6a03347d">also suggested</a>&nbsp;that it was likely booster shots will be needed in the near future, both to bolster waning immunity and to protect against new virus mutations. However, public health officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2021-05-21/covid-19-booster-shots-not-necessarily-needed-this-fall-fauci-says" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pushed back</a>&nbsp;against this notion. The results of this study suggest that a vast majority of people, who have received one of the two mRNA vaccines, will likely be protected over the long term and may not need a booster shot anytime soon. However, the emergence of newer, more infectious variants could still blunt the effectiveness of these mRNA vaccines. Additionally, a large proportion of vaccine recipients around the world have received viral vector-based vaccines which may offer less durable immunity.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/06/28/world/covid-vaccine-coronavirus-mask?smtyp=cur&amp;smid=tw-nytimesworld#a-study-finds-that-the-pfizer-and-moderna-vaccines-could-offer-protection-for-years" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mRNA Vaccines May Offer Lasting Protection, Study Finds</a>&nbsp;(New York Times)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/health/coronavirus-immunity-vaccines.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Immunity to the Coronavirus May Persist for Years, Scientists Find</a>&nbsp;(New York Times)</p>



<p><em><strong>By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff</strong></em></p>


In this photo illustration the medical syringe is seen with

Pfizer And Moderna Vaccines May Offer Years-Long Protection Against Covid-19, Scientists Say


<p><strong>TOPLINE </strong>AstraZeneca on Tuesday announced its monoclonal antibody treatment for Covid-19 did not meet the primary goal of preventing symptoms in people who have been exposed to the coronavirus, denting hopes of a new therapeutic treatment for Covid-19 for unvaccinated people.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>The antibody therapy, AZD7442, reduced the risk of developing symptomatic Covid-19 by only 33% among all exposed patients—including those who tested negative after exposure—compared to a placebo, which was deemed to be statistically insignificant, the company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.astrazeneca.com/content/astraz/media-centre/press-releases/2021/update-on-azd7442-storm-chaser-trial.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a>&nbsp;in a release.</p>



<p>The data was gathered from the company’s Phase III trials which were conducted on unvaccinated adults older than 18 years with confirmed exposure to a person with Covid-19 within the previous eight days.</p>



<p>The antibody therapy, however, was 92% effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19 compared to the placebo in patients who tested negative after exposure, suggesting that the drug may be effective in preventing symptoms in people who are not already infected.</p>



<p>The drug continues to be tested as possible prophylaxis against Covid-19 in other trials, the company noted.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h3>



<p>The trial’s principal investigator, Dr. Myron J. Levin, noted that the drug may be effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19 in people who are not yet infected, adding: “While Covid-19 vaccination efforts have been successful, there is still a significant need for prevention and treatment options for certain populations, including those unable to be vaccinated or those who may have an inadequate response to vaccination.”</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h3>



<p>AstraZeneca’s AZD7442 was developed with support from the U.S. government. In March, the company announced that it had inked a deal with the government to supply up to half a million doses of AZD7442 for $205 million—subject to the drug receiving emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The company said it is continuing to discuss its next steps with the U.S. government.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>While several effective vaccines have been developed to protect against Covid-19, effective drugs against the disease remain sparse. Similar monoclonal antibody treatments developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly have been authorized for use in the U.S., but supplies of the drugs remain limited. The development of therapeutics that prevent symptomatic Covid-19 is critical to ending the pandemic as vaccines are yet to be accessible to large swathes of the world’s population.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/astrazeneca-says-its-antibody-treatment-failed-in-preventing-covid-19-exposed-2021-06-15/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AstraZeneca says its antibody treatment failed in preventing COVID-19 in exposed patients</a>&nbsp;(Reuters)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/astrazeneca-azd7442-trial-for-prevention-of-symptomatic-covid-19-didn-t-meet-primary-goal-271623738254" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AZD7442 Trial for Prevention of Symptomatic Covid-19 Didn&#8217;t Meet Primary Goal</a> (MarketWatch)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


Kenya Vaccinates Elderly Against Covid-19

AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 Antibody Treatment Failed To Prevent Symptoms In Exposed Individuals


<p id="h-topline"><strong>TOPLINE</strong> As India continues to face a devastating second wave of the pandemic, the World Health Organisation on Monday classified the coronavirus variant first detected in the country–B.1.617—as a variant of concern following preliminary findings which suggest it could be more transmissible.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>The WHO’s new classification—which is an upgrade from “variant of interest”—adds the Indian variant to a list that also contains variants first detected in the U.K. (B.1.1.7), South Africa (B.1.351) and&nbsp; Brazil (P.1).</p>



<p>The global health body will publish a detailed report on the B.1.617 variant in its weekly epidemiological update on Tuesday, the WHO’s technical lead officer on Covid-19, Maria van Kerkhove said.</p>



<p>Kerkhove noted that some available information suggested that the variant showed “increased transmissibility,” and a non-peer-reviewed study on a limited number of patients also suggested that it may also be able to evade some key antibodies.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h3>



<p>3,876. That’s the total number of Covid-19 deaths India&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/COVIDNewsByMIB/status/1391986229768376322" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday, taking its official tally up to 249,992—which many experts suggest is a severe undercount. The country’s daily infection and fatalities have continued to remain high despite a drop in new infections in key cities like Mumbai and Delhi.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>The second wave of the pandemic has continued to rage across India pushing the country’s health care system past its breaking point. As the country reports more than 350,000 new infections and nearly 4,000 deaths from Covid-19 every day, the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government are under increasing pressure to impose a strict nationwide lockdown. Rahul Gandhi, the leader of India’s main opposition party has written a letter to Modi which slams his government’s failures and notes that “another devastating national lockdown is almost inevitable.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-lockdown-in-india-latest-news-may-8-pressure-mounts-on-pm-narendra-modi-to-impose-nationwide-lockdown-shutdown-coronavirus-latest-news-2889434" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Several others</a>, including medical experts, Supreme Court judges and other opposition leaders and even&nbsp;<a href="https://qz.com/india/2007013/anthony-fauci-and-indian-doctors-ask-modi-to-declare-a-lockdown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Anthony Fauci</a>—the U.S.’s senior-most infectious disease official—have called for a national shut down to break the chain of transmission.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<p><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-10/who-cites-concern-on-variant-from-india-seen-spreading-quickly?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amp;utm_content=business&amp;cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&amp;sref=CSMHWBLp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Covid Variant From India Triggers WHO Concern Over Fast Spread</a>&nbsp;(Bloomberg)</p>



<p><strong><a href="https://www.forbes.com/coronavirus/">Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus</a></strong></p>



<p><strong><em>By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


INDIA-HEALTH-VIRUS-VACCINES

WHO Classifies Indian Covid-19 Mutation As A ‘Variant Of Concern’


<p><strong>Topline </strong>England on Monday reported no new deaths from Covid-19 for the time since last March, a positive milestone that comes as the country continues to ease long-lasting lockdown restrictions.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p><a href="https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/deaths?areaType=nation&amp;areaName=England" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Data</a>&nbsp;released by Public Health England Monday afternoon added no new deaths to the country’s toll of 112,245.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Scotland and Northern Ireland also reported no new deaths for Sunday, a streak in the U.K. broken by Wales, which reported four more residents dead from Covid-19 in Monday’s update.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Both Scotland and Northern Ireland have reported zero coronavirus deaths prior to May 10, but this is the first time since March 7 England has hit such a milestone.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER&nbsp;</h3>



<p>126,605. That’s how many people have died from Covid-19 in the U.K. since the start of the pandemic.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND&nbsp;</h3>



<p>England’s 14-month record low for Covid-19 deaths comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce Monday the latest round of lockdown easing. The U.K.’s alert level has been lowered from a four to a three, meaning the transmission of coronavirus is no longer deemed to be high or rising exponentially, though it’s still in general circulation. Johnson is expected to announce friends and families can hug and mix indoors starting next week, including in pubs and restaurants, while cinemas, museums and theaters can reopen.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT&nbsp;</h3>



<p>After hitting a peak of 70,000 cases per day in January, the U.K. is now recording an average of less than 2,000 new daily infections. The bloc of countries have also benefited from one of the world’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-vaccinations-tracker.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most successful&nbsp;</a>vaccine rollouts, with over a quarter of residents fully vaccinated and more than half fully inoculated.</p>



<p><strong><a href="https://www.forbes.com/coronavirus/">Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus</a></strong></p>



<p><em><strong>By Jemima McEvoy, Forbes Staff</strong></em></p>


Michael Nardone, who plays D.I Neil McKinven in the BBC

England Reports Zero New Coronavirus Deaths For First Time In 14 Months


<p class="has-drop-cap">MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CONSTANTLY pushes boundaries with its innovations. Over the years, we’ve seen disruptions like 3D bio-printing; the Internet of Medical Things; virtual reality for mental health; robotic surgery and nanomedicine – precision healthcare at a molecular level. </p>



<p>Early in the pandemic, telemedicine took center stage as patients and healthcare workers turned to technology out of necessity, but it remains to be seen if its popularity will last.</p>



<p> It was also during the pandemic that Microsoft experimented with its mixed reality (MR) headset, the HoloLens 2. The headset enables surgeons to view 3D holographic images of a patient, obtained from X-rays or CT scans, and supports hand gestures and voice commands. </p>



<p>Recently, at its annual Ignite conference in March, the company announced Microsoft Mesh, a mixed-reality platform built on Azure that can be accessed on the HoloLens as well as other VR headsets, smartphones, PCs, Macs and tablets, making it more mainstream. </p>



<p>The HoloLens 2 project was led by Professor Thomas Gregory who used the original HoloLens for its first MR surgery back in 2017. He brought together 15 surgeons across 13 countries to perform a series of MR orthopedic operations. Shoulder surgeries were chosen because it requires 3D planning and modeling of the shoulder. Professor Stephen Roche, orthopedic surgeon at Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape Town in South Africa participated in three surgeries; one in South Africa and assistance with two others in France and Germany.</p>



<p> “Technology is playing a bigger role in surgery, research, and healthcare and certainly during Covid-19, where trainees have not been able to operate, this has highlighted the use and need for technology in training and teaching,” says Roche. </p>



<p>The HoloLens 2 lets us manipulate images in real-time so intraoperative findings can be checked with surgical planning, he adds. </p>



<p>“It allows us to access the internet during surgery and more importantly, we can bring a surgeon into the theater virtually for advice, which would be a massive benefit for a continent like Africa, with many of our colleagues working in poorlyresourced areas.” </p>



<p>Another company targeting disadvantaged communities in South Africa is a start-up called Robots Can Think, which adapted during Covid-19 by 3D-printing personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers. </p>



<div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile" style="grid-template-columns:35% auto"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="917" height="1024" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Natalie-Raphil-917x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50857 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Natalie-Raphil-917x1024.jpg 917w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Natalie-Raphil-269x300.jpg 269w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Natalie-Raphil-768x857.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Natalie-Raphil-1376x1536.jpg 1376w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Natalie-Raphil-1834x2048.jpg 1834w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Natalie-Raphil.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 917px) 100vw, 917px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>At Robots Can Think, we strive to use AI for good, to place AI in a meaningful way in the hands of all, from Sandton to Kagiso, to deep rural Eastern Cape. –<strong><em> Natalie Raphil</em></strong></p></blockquote>
</div></div>



<p>Natalie Raphil, founder of Robots Can Think, says that during level 5 of the lockdown in South Africa, when imports and exports were at a standstill and PPE was in demand, she read about healthcare workers using cloth to cover their face and nose due to PPE delays. </p>



<p>“I have access to a 3D-printer and decided to print face shields and masks with the 3D-printing material I had available. I then distributed them to medical staff in public hospitals, those in Alexandra in Johannesburg and so on,” says Raphil.</p>



<p>Raphil has a PhD in Artificial Intelligence (AI) from Stanford University and started Robots Can Think three years ago with a current focus on the medical and healthcare sectors. After questioning the inclusivity of AI for the visually and hearing impaired, she realized things needed to change. </p>



<p>The start-up came up with an AI module that is fitted on to existing walking sticks, and once activated, assists the visually-impaired to navigate outdoors.</p>



<p>“The device captures real-time images and the AI then recognizes objects such as traffic lights, traffic light colors, how many vehicles/ pedestrians (essentially objects) are in front of the visually-impaired, all the while navigating them to their final destination.”</p>



<p>The device then either communicates back to the visually-impaired via speech through a Bluetooth device or via sensory pulses emitted from the device to the hand holding the stick. </p>



<p>The AI walking stick is still in a testing phase, and runs on proprietary software that includes image recognition, image/text to speech, and text/speech to sensory conversion software, hosted on-premise.</p>



<p>Raphil credits Robots Can Think’s partner, All Round Tech, for its engineering genius in developing the AI module for walking sticks. Once approved, it will be made available to purchase; supplied to medical organizations; and will be donated to the needy. </p>



<p>Over the next two years, Robots Can Think will focus on exploring medical tech to enhance the continent’s adoption of AI, invent products that are easily accessible to all and continue to use AI for good, says Raphil. </p>



<p>“At Robots Can Think, we strive to use AI for good, to place AI in a meaningful way in the hands of all, from Sandton to Kagiso, to deep rural Eastern Cape in South Africa.”</p>



<p><strong><em>BY NAFISA AKABOR</em></strong></p>


HoloLens2

The Advancements In Medical Technology That Go Beyond Covid-19


<p>As per this year’s&nbsp;latest&nbsp;<a href="http://wt-mail.henleyglobal.com/c/6/?T=NDQzMjAyNzc%3AcDEtYjIxMTAzLTAxZjY0NTQyY2U0NDRlZmY5ZjY1ZWZjNGIzNTgzMDgw%3AcmVudWthLm1ldGhpbEBhYm4zNjAuY29t%3AY29udGFjdC05YjQ5MGI4M2Y4OTJlNzExOWRiZjAwNTA1NmJjMDdmMy1lM2E0ZGM1ODkxNDQ0ZGQ5OTIyZjhmNmYyZTE1MjhkOQ%3AZmFsc2U%3AMA%3A%3AaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGVubGV5Z2xvYmFsLmNvbS9wYXNzcG9ydC1pbmRleD9fY2xkZWU9Y21WdWRXdGhMbTFsZEdocGJFQmhZbTR6TmpBdVkyOXQmcmVjaXBpZW50aWQ9Y29udGFjdC05YjQ5MGI4M2Y4OTJlNzExOWRiZjAwNTA1NmJjMDdmMy1lM2E0ZGM1ODkxNDQ0ZGQ5OTIyZjhmNmYyZTE1MjhkOSZlc2lkPTQxZWQ5MGM3LTJkOWMtZWIxMS04YmMwLTAwNTA1NjhkOWExOA&amp;K=vJWLaK0qWC7j9BwnzD83sg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Henley Passport Index</a>&nbsp;— the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa – Japanese passport holders theoretically are able to access a record 193 destinations around the world visa-free. &nbsp;</p>



<p>Singapore remains in second place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 192, while Germany and South Korea again share joint-third place, each with access to 191 destinations.<br><br>&nbsp;The index provides exclusive insight into what post-pandemic travel freedom might look like as countries around the world&nbsp;selectively begin to open their borders&nbsp;to international visitors.&nbsp;</p>



<p><br>Based on exclusive data from the&nbsp;<a href="http://wt-mail.henleyglobal.com/c/6/?T=NDQzMjAyNzc%3AcDEtYjIxMTAzLTAxZjY0NTQyY2U0NDRlZmY5ZjY1ZWZjNGIzNTgzMDgw%3AcmVudWthLm1ldGhpbEBhYm4zNjAuY29t%3AY29udGFjdC05YjQ5MGI4M2Y4OTJlNzExOWRiZjAwNTA1NmJjMDdmMy1lM2E0ZGM1ODkxNDQ0ZGQ5OTIyZjhmNmYyZTE1MjhkOQ%3AZmFsc2U%3AMQ%3A%3AaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaWF0YS5vcmcvP19jbGRlZT1jbVZ1ZFd0aExtMWxkR2hwYkVCaFltNHpOakF1WTI5dCZyZWNpcGllbnRpZD1jb250YWN0LTliNDkwYjgzZjg5MmU3MTE5ZGJmMDA1MDU2YmMwN2YzLWUzYTRkYzU4OTE0NDRkZDk5MjJmOGY2ZjJlMTUyOGQ5JmVzaWQ9NDFlZDkwYzctMmQ5Yy1lYjExLThiYzAtMDA1MDU2OGQ5YTE4&amp;K=GPVhmx3NNGZER0Qshw6TlA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">International Air Transport Association</a>&nbsp;(IATA), and as has been the case for most of the index’s 16-year history, the majority of the remaining top 10 spots are held by European Union countries. &nbsp;</p>



<p>The United Arab Emirates continues its stellar ascent. In 2011, it was ranked 65<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;with a&nbsp;visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 67, while today, it is ranked 15<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;with a score of 174.<br><br>&nbsp;Closer home, Seychelles and Mauritius are in the top 50.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Seychelles, the archipelago country in the Indian Ocean, is Africa’s top-ranking African passport in this regard, at 27 with access to 152 destinations worldwide.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It is followed by Mauritius which is at 30 with a score of 146 destinations passport-holders of this country can visit.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Ranked 53, the number of global destinations South African passport-holders can travel to is 103.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The rest of the African continent dominates the bottom quarter of the rankings with weaker passports than most.&nbsp;</p>


Man holding passport and boarding pass at airline check-in counter

What Travel Freedom Looks Like In The Pandemic World

Woman examining laboratory samples

Africa Reloaded: The Power Of The Collective In Science And Health


<p><strong>Topline: </strong>With declining Covid-19 hospital admissions and deaths, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke on Sunday evening to announce the country’s move from Lockdown Alert Level 3 directly to Alert Level 1 and some crucial changes to public restrictions.</p>



<p><strong>Key Facts</strong></p>



<ul><li>Friday, March 5, will mark one year since the first case of coronavirus was reported in South Africa<strong>. </strong>This comes just as the country has hit over 1.5 million cases and nearly 50, 000 people have died from the fatal virus.&nbsp;</li><li>“So much has changed in our country and our lives. But the spirit of our people has not changed. You have endured the greatest hardships, but you have remained resolute, united, and hopeful,” Ramaphosa said on Sunday evening.</li><li>The president further noted the “dramatic decline” in infection rates recently, thus the decision of the government to reduce the lockdown level to one.&nbsp;</li><li>Moreover, admissions to hospital and deaths “have fallen significantly and continue to decline steadily”. In the week that has just passed, the country recorded just under 10,000 new infections. Ramaphosa believes that the decline is due to a combination of public health measures, changes in social behavior and accumulating immunity in those who became infected in the communities.</li></ul>



<p><strong>Crucial Changes In Restrictions</strong></p>



<ul><li>The hours of the curfew will now be from midnight until 4AM.</li><li>Gatherings will be permitted, subject to limitations on size. These include religious, social, political, and cultural gatherings. However, the maximum number of people allowed at any gathering is 100 people indoors and 250 outdoors. Furthermore, night vigils and nightclubs are still not permitted.&nbsp;</li><li>The sale of alcohol is now allowed as normal however not during the hours of curfew.&nbsp;</li><li>The 33 land border posts that have been closed throughout this period will remain closed, while the other 20 will remain open. Only five airports, OR Tambo, Cape Town, King Shaka, Kruger Mpumalanga, and Lanseria airports, will be open for international travel<strong>.&nbsp;</strong></li></ul>



<p><strong>Crucial Quote</strong></p>



<p>“This pandemic has taken much from us, but it has not taken our strength, our courage, or our sense of solidarity as a people,” Ramaphosa said. “It has not dampened our spirit or weakened our resolve. Our uniquely South African spirit has allowed us to remain steadfast in the face of an unprecedented threat, and which will continue to inspire us as we chart a path to recovery.”</p>


SAFRICA-HEALTH-VIRUS

A Year With The Virus, South Africa Moves From Alert Level 3 to 1


<p id="h-topline"><strong>TOPLINE</strong> Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine staved off illness and death for over 95% of Israeli patients, according to government figures released Saturday from a report reviewed by multiple news outlets, encouraging news from the world’s most heavily vaccinated country.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<ul><li>Israel’s Ministry of Health studied the roughly 1.7 million Israelis who had received both shots of Pfizer’s vaccine as of the end of last month, and released a report later obtained by <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-israel-vaccine/covid-infections-dropped-95-8-after-both-pfizer-shots-israeli-health-ministry-idUSKBN2AK0NC" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reuters</a> and several <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/vaccine-close-to-99-percent-effective-in-preventing-death-latest-israeli-data-shows-1.9555313" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">local</a> <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-says-vaccine-dramatically-effective-prevents-98-9-of-covid-deaths/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">news</a> <a href="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/1613844321-israel-coronavirus-vaccine-almost-96-percent-effective-in-preventing-disease" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">outlets</a>. </li></ul>



<ul><li>Two weeks after receiving both doses, vaccinated Israelis were 95.8% less likely to fall ill from Covid-19 and 98.9% less likely to face hospitalization or death, Reuters reported.</li></ul>



<ul><li>This report follows a spate of good news from Israel: The country’s main healthcare provider <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-israel-vaccine-idUSKBN2AE0Q2?taid=60298276a77dbd00013d1f6c&amp;utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&amp;utm_medium=trueAnthem&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said Sunday</a> vaccinated patients are 92% less likely to end up with serious Covid-19 cases than their unvaccinated peers, and a <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2821%2900448-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">non-peer reviewed study</a> Thursday found just one dose of the vaccine reduces the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/02/19/single-shot-of-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-is-85-effective-study-finds/?sh=52725c173969">risk of infection</a> by 75% after two weeks.</li></ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h3>



<p>32.4%. That’s the share of Israelis who are fully vaccinated as of Saturday, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-vaccinations-tracker.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>New York Times</em></a>’ tracker. The country ranks first in the world for vaccinations, compared to the United States’ 5.1% immunization rate.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>Israel is leading the worldwide vaccination race, partly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/01/04/why-israel-is-leading-the-world-in-covid-vaccinations-and-the-us-is-trailing/?sh=6408ca0b1592">due to</a>&nbsp;the country’s small size,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/01/why-israels-vaccine-success-might-be-hard-replicate/617780/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">speed</a>&nbsp;in buying up doses and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/31/covid-vaccine-israel-says-its-inoculated-7percent-of-its-population-its-less-than-1percent-in-us.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">comprehensive network</a>&nbsp;of HMOs (the effort&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/world/middleeast/israel-palestinians-vaccine.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">controversially</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/55800921" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">doesn’t include</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/pa-says-israel-has-agreed-to-vaccinate-palestinian-workers-against-covid-1.9553781" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most</a>&nbsp;residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip). Public health authorities around the world are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/05/world/middleeast/israel-virus-vaccination.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watching Israel’s progress closely</a>, making the country the planet’s largest test case for the impact of mass-vaccination. So far, experts say there’s reason for cautious optimism: cases and hospitalizations have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-05/israel-s-pioneering-covid-vaccination-program-offers-key-lessons" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">declined for</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/region/israel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">several weeks</a>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h3>



<p>“Israel has a remarkable diminution in cases associated with the efficiency of their vaccine,” U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/02/17/press-briefing-by-white-house-covid-19-response-team-and-public-health-officials-4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said Wednesday</a>.</p>



<p><em>By Joe Walsh, Forbes Staff</em></p>


Tag: Coronavirus deaths

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