In Africa, the jury is still out on the tradeoff between Covid-19 lockdowns and livelihoods. 



Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, many African governments swiftly implemented broad containment and lockdown measures that helped save many lives but which came at a great cost to economic activity and livelihoods.&nbsp;



This is one of the key conclusions of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) African Economic Outlook (AEO) 2021 report, released on March 12, which critically assesses the costs and benefits of lockdowns. African countries that imposed stringent lockdowns reported lower Covid-19 infection rates, the report finds, after controlling for the use of public information campaigns, testing, and contact tracing policies as well as recurrent shocks that are common across countries, such as weather-related shocks (such as droughts and flooding).



Lockdowns have curbed disease spread in Africa, but less effectively than elsewhere



African countries have been proactive in their responses, taking preventive measures as soon as confirmed Covid-19 cases were reported. Half of African countries with available data restricted international travel through arrival screening, quarantines, bans on arrivals from some or all regions, and even total border closures one day after the first Covid-19 case was detected.&nbsp;



The report indicates that closures of schools, public transport systems, and workplaces, as well as curfews and cancellations of public events, proved more effective in curbing Covid-19 infections than prohibitions on private gatherings and bans on domestic and international travel.



Lockdowns had a more pronounced impact in other regions than across Africa, which saw only modest reductions of about 0.1% in infection cases per thousand after one month, and of about 1% after 60 days. By comparison, using the same approach and data, IMF data from 15 G20 countries found that after a month of lockdowns, Covid-19 cases fell by an estimated 40%.&nbsp;



Why? One explanation is that a significant majority of Africans are engaged in informal activities that do not permit working from home. These informal workers – who are paid daily or weekly, rarely have savings, and lack access to bank loans – are more likely to defy official lockdown measures to safeguard their livelihoods. &nbsp;



The result is that, despite their best efforts, African governments have been unable to impose lockdowns as stringent as those in industrialized nations, where remote working is feasible for a larger share of the population. &nbsp;



Stringent lockdown measures are associated with significant economic contraction, the report finds. In particular, when the index of lockdown stringency increased by one unit, GDP and the industrial production index decreased on average by respectively 0.59% and 0.29% during the first half of 2020 – when the outbreak peaked in Africa – versus the same period in 2019.&nbsp;



A tricky tradeoff?



The pandemic seems to present African countries with a tricky trade-off between saving lives, on the one hand, and protecting economic activity and livelihoods on the other. But this framing is misleading. African countries can successfully pursue both objectives by imposing lockdowns while taking measures to limit the effects of those lockdowns on people’s livelihoods, especially the poor, and on businesses. Finding the right balance between these two aims is crucial.&nbsp;



The AEO recommends a number of policies that could be implemented. For instance, where there is fiscal space or sufficient liquidity, policymakers should maintain fiscal and monetary support to vulnerable people and businesses to enable them to stay afloat. In other countries, international grants and concessional loans can be deployed instead, so long as debt sustainability levels are not exceeded.&nbsp;



Expanding social safety nets to include informal sector workers can protect the vulnerable from falling into extreme poverty. By taking advantage of increased digitalization and mobile money services, governments can provide relief to informal workers quickly and at reduced cost. Lastly, public information campaigns are crucial to securing the population’s buy-in and boosting the effectiveness of anti-pandemic measures. &nbsp;



As the rollout of vaccines slowly proceeds, the AfDB will support countries in implementing the AEO’s policy recommendations. That way, Africa can simultaneously save lives and protect livelihoods.



– By Dr Hanan Morsy and Dr Adamon Mukasa; Morsy is the Director of the Macroeconomic Policy, Forecasting and Research Department at the African Development Bank, and Mukasa is Senior Research Economist in the same department.

DRCONGO-HEALTH-VIRUS-EDUCATION

How Effective Are Lockdowns In Africa?

Topline: South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, addressed the nation from the Union Buildings in Pretoria on why the country will now move from Lockdown Alert level 2 to level 3. The announcement came the night before Youth Day, when the country observes the anniversary of the Soweto Uprising of June 1976.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h3>



<ul><li>The President, who had placed the country on Alert level 2 16 days ago, announced that most of the provinces are either experiencing the third wave or foresee a third wave approaching. Aside from the Northern Cape, numbers have increased significantly in all other provinces in South Africa. Gauteng, according to Ramaphosa, currently has the highest recorded Covid-19 cases.&nbsp;</li><li>South Africa has been in “alert level” lockdown for just over 15 months which has affected its economy. However, Ramaphosa is adamant that this move to alert level 3 is necessary as there has been an increase in cases since he last addressed the nation.&nbsp;</li><li>“It is understandable that many South Africans now feel tired and weary,” Ramaphosa said. “We have never experienced a health crisis of this severity before, nor one so prolonged.”&nbsp;</li><li>South Africa is currently experiencing an average of 7,500 daily infections. Hospital admissions due to Covid-19 over the last 14 days are 59% higher than the preceding 14 days. The average number of people who die from COVID-19 each day has increased by 48% in the past seven days.&nbsp;</li></ul>



Crucial Changes in Restrictions&nbsp;



<ul><li>“Basic changes in behaviour can make a huge difference,” Ramaphosa said.&nbsp;</li><li>The hours of curfew will start at 10pm (as opposed to midnight) and end at 4am.</li><li>Non-essential establishments like restaurants, bars and fitness centers will need to close by 10pm.&nbsp;</li><li>The sale of alcohol from retail outlets for off-site consumption will only be permitted between 10am and 6pm from Monday to Thursday.</li><li>All gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 100 people indoors and 250 people outdoors.&nbsp; This includes religious services, political events and social gatherings, as well as restaurants, bars, taverns and similar places.</li></ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vaccine-update">Vaccine Update&nbsp;</h3>



<ul><li>There have been some “setbacks” in the vaccine front in South Africa. Ramaphosa announced that scientists discovered that the AstraZeneca vaccine that was procured from the Serum Institute of India (SII) did not provide sufficient protection against the variant that is predominant in South Africa.&nbsp;</li><li>After the AstraZeneca setback, Ramaphosa stated that the Johnson &amp; Johnson (J&amp;J) vaccine appeared to be the best option for the country as it protects against the variant “because it requires only a single dose and is easier to store and transport”. However, the supply of the J&amp;J vaccines was held up by an investigation into the contamination of ingredients at a supplier factory in Baltimore in the United States.</li><li>South Africa has also “adversely” been affected by shortages in the global supply of vaccines, which has hampered vaccination programs across Africa and in many other low-and middle-income countries.</li><li>“Until now, our mass vaccination program has therefore had to rely on the Pfizer vaccine, which requires two doses,” the president said.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">Crucial Quote</h3>



“Fifteen months ago, as I addressed the nation from the Union Buildings, I said: ‘This epidemic will pass’,” Ramaphosa said. “&#8230;After all the time that has passed, after everything we have experienced, after everything we have done and achieved as a nation, these words still ring true.”&nbsp;

SAFRICA-HEALTH-VIRUS

South Africa Moves To Level 3 As Third Wave Looms

TOPLINE 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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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



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



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.”



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



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.



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



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.



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



<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)



<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)



By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff

Kenya Vaccinates Elderly Against Covid-19

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

TOPLINE Visits for postpartum mental health treatment spiked 30% during the pandemic, according to a study of more than 137,000 women in Ontario published Monday, adding to the many other emerging mental health effects of the pandemic.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h4>



Visits for anxiety and depressive disorders by new mothers were as much as 39% higher from March to November 2020 compared to pre-pandemic levels, while visits for substance use disorders also rose, according to a study of more than 137,000 postpartum women in Ontario published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.



Increases in less-densely populated portions of the province saw returns to pre-pandemic levels of postpartum mental health visits beginning in the summer, which may be because fewer Covid-19 cases allowed in-person school, in-person dining and other hallmarks of normalcy.



The smaller increases in mental health visits among low-income women may be because they can’t take time off of work or don’t have wifi and a phone that can handle telehealth appointments, said Dr. Simone Vigod, lead author of the study and head of psychiatry at the University of Toronto-affiliated Women’s College Hospital.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h4>



“Postpartum mental health issues are very treatable,” but without access to healthcare they can become a long-term problem affecting a woman’s wellbeing, said Vigod. Postpartum anxiety and depression has also been linked to social and emotional problems for children, she said. “There can be long-term implications across generations.”



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h4>



The pandemic shut down many of the social supports that new parents rely on, including help from family, parent groups and public health nurses, said Vigod. Mental health problems have broadly increased during the pandemic in the U.S. as well. In 2019, slightly more than one in 10 adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorders to the CDC. In 2020, the agency’s surveys regularly found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/pulse/mental-health.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more than one-quarter of adults</a>&nbsp;said they had symptoms of anxiety or depression—and sometimes more than one in three adults said they were struggling with those issues.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h4>



<a href="https://www.cmaj.ca/content/193/23/E835" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Postpartum mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic</a>&nbsp;(Canadian Medical Association Journal)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mishagajewski/2020/06/19/moms-are-not-okay-coronavirus-pandemic-triples-anxiety-and-depression-in-new-mothers/">Moms Are Not Okay: Pandemic Triples Anxiety And Depression Symptoms In New Mothers</a> (Forbes)



By Graison Dangor, Forbes Staff

Tired new mother holding her baby

Postpartum Mental Health Visits Spike 30% During Pandemic, Study Finds

TOPLINE Three researchers working at a Wuhan virology lab went to the hospital with Covid-like symptoms weeks before the first Covid-19 case was confirmed in China on December 8, according to newly disclosed U.S. intelligence obtained and reported by the Wall Street Journal on Sunday—corroborating previous State Department findings and casting further doubts on the longstanding assertion that Covid-19 did not escape from a lab.



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



The State Department previously&nbsp;<a href="https://2017-2021.state.gov/fact-sheet-activity-at-the-wuhan-institute-of-virology/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;that U.S. officials have &#8220;reason to believe&#8221; several researchers inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology faced &#8220;symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses&#8221; last fall, but it didn&#8217;t specify that the researchers were hospitalized or the exact timing of their illnesses.



Unnamed officials familiar with the intelligence reportedly gave the&nbsp;Wall Street Journal&nbsp;varying accounts of the new information&#8217;s veracity, with one person saying it needed further investigation while another described it as &#8220;very precise.&#8221;



“The U.S. continues to hype the lab leak theory,&#8221; China&#8217;s Foreign Ministry, which did not immediately respond to&nbsp;Forbes&#8217;&nbsp;requestfor comment, said in a statement to the&nbsp;Wall Street Journal.&nbsp;



In its statement, the Foreign Ministry pointed to March&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-convened-global-study-of-origins-of-sars-cov-2-china-part-annexes.pdf?sfvrsn=3065bcd8_5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">findings</a>&nbsp;from the World Health Organization saying it was &#8220;extremely unlikely&#8221; that Covid-19 originated from a lab leak and that it was instead more likely the virus spread from bats to humans.



However, after the report was released, WHO head Tedros Ghebreyesus called for a deeper investigation on the matter,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-30/who-chief-critiques-covid-report-says-lab-leak-study-needed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">saying</a>&nbsp;the probe didn’t adequately assess the possibility of a lab leak.



Forbes&nbsp;is awaiting comment from the State Department.



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



Many scientists last year&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewster/2020/05/10/a-timeline-of-the-covid-19-wuhan-lab-origin-theory/?sh=370c029e5aba">initially dismissed</a>&nbsp;claims that Covid-19 originated in a Wuhan lab, but the theory quickly became a hot-button issue among conservative lawmakers casting blame onto China for the pandemic. However, as widespread vaccination helps the U.S. turn a corner on the virus, a growing number of domestic officials—from both sides of the aisle—are once again calling for investigations into the origins of Covid-19. Secretary of State Antony Blinken&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanponciano/2021/04/11/biden-secretary-of-state-condemns-chinas-acts-of-genocide-against-muslim-uyghurs/?sh=26f49b7050ca">condemned</a>&nbsp;China last month for its lack of transparency during the pandemic&#8217;s early days, saying the country failed to give international health experts real-time access to information about the virus&#8217; spread and urging the country to help put in place a stronger global health security system to revisit the pandemic&#8217;s origins.



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



Though the virus was first confirmed in December 2019, WHO researchers have since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/possible-early-covid-19-cases-in-china-emerge-during-who-mission-11612996225" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">identified</a>&nbsp;more than 90 potential Covid-19 cases dating as far back as October of that year.



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



Asked earlier this month whether he was confident Covid-19 developed naturally, Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the nation&#8217;s top infectious disease experts,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fauci-not-convinced-covid-19-developed-naturally" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">responded</a>: &#8220;No actually&#8230; I am not convinced about that. I think we should continue to investigate what went on in China until we continue to find out to the best of our ability what happened… Certainly, the people who investigated it say it likely was the emergence from an animal reservoir that then infected individuals, but it could have been something else, and we need to find that out.”



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



<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">Intelligence on Sick Staff at Wuhan Lab Fuels Debate On Covid-19 Origin</a>&nbsp;(WSJ)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewster/2020/05/10/a-timeline-of-the-covid-19-wuhan-lab-origin-theory/">A Timeline Of The COVID-19 Wuhan Lab Origin Theory</a> (Forbes)



By Jonathan Ponciano, Forbes Staff

gettyimages-1201569878-594×594

Report: Wuhan Lab Staff Went To Hospital With Covid-Like Symptoms Before Confirmed Outbreak, New Intelligence Finds

TOPLINE A new U.K. study has found that more than 95% of Britons vaccinated with just one shot of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine develop Covid-19 antibodies, a figure that rises to almost 100% after the second dose, adding to mounting evidence from the real-world deployment of the vaccines that show they are effective and useful tools in bringing the pandemic under control. 



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



In a study of more than 8,500 people from England and Wales, who did not have antibodies before their first shot and provided a total of 13,232 antibody samples, 96% developed antibodies 28 to 34 days after receiving their first dose, according to research from University College London (UCL).



The&nbsp;<a href="https://ucl-virus-watch.net/?page_id=913" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a>, which is being prepared for peer review, found this figure to rise to 99% within seven and 14 days of their second shot for recipients of both vaccines, evidence that they provide protection against the coronavirus.&nbsp;



While those receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine developed antibodies faster than those receiving the AstraZeneca shot, rates were practically identical after a period of four weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Many groups at a greater risk from Covid-19—including those with underlying conditions like diabetes and cancer, those taking immune system suppressing drugs and older adults—produced fewer antibodies after a single dose, a potential problem for countries like the U.K. where the second dose is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2021/05/14/study-finds-12-week-gap-between-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-dose-generates-35-times-higher-antibody-response/?sh=5fe5400da6a3">delayed</a>&nbsp;by several weeks in order to vaccinate more people.



However, a second shot boosted antibody levels to the standard high levels, something Professor Rob Aldridge, the chief investigator of the study,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/18/96-of-britons-develop-antibodies-after-one-covid-jab-study-finds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp;Guardian&nbsp;underscores the “importance of getting the second dose.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



Aldridge described the findings as “reassuring &#8211; vaccines are our way out of the pandemic.”



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



Dr. Maddie Shrotri, the paper’s lead author,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/18/96-of-britons-develop-antibodies-after-one-covid-jab-study-finds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>&nbsp;the findings are from some of the earliest “real-world vaccine studies in the U.K.” Shrotri said the results are “fantastic news,” adding that it is “remarkable” how well the vaccines work given the speed at which they’ve been developed. “It’s a real feat of science in the face of the most devastating pandemic in a century.”



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



57 million. This is&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/vaccinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how many vaccines&nbsp;</a>have been given out in the U.K., the vast majority being the Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca shots. Just over 20 million people have received their second dose.&nbsp;



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



<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/18/96-of-britons-develop-antibodies-after-one-covid-jab-study-finds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Covid vaccine: 96% of Britons develop antibodies after one jab, study finds</a>&nbsp;(Guardian)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2021/05/14/study-finds-12-week-gap-between-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-dose-generates-35-times-higher-antibody-response/?sh=5fe5400da6a3">12-Week Gap Between Pfizer Vaccine Doses Generates Higher Antibody Response, Study Finds</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)

Healthcare professional in protective gloves & workwear holding & organising a tray of COVID-19 vaccine vials

96% Of People Develop Covid Antibodies After Just One Shot Of Pfizer Or AstraZeneca Vaccine, U.K. Study Finds

TOPLINE 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.



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



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).



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.



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.



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



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.



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



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;



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



<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)



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



By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff

INDIA-HEALTH-VIRUS-VACCINES

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

Topline 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.



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



<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;



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;



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.



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



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



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



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;



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



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.



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



By Jemima McEvoy, Forbes Staff

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

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

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. 



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.



 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. 



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. 



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.



 “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. 



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



“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.” 



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. 



<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 is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">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. – Natalie Raphil</blockquote>
</div></div>



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. 



“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.



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. 



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.



“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.”



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. 



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.



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. 



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. 



“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.”



BY NAFISA AKABOR

HoloLens2

The Advancements In Medical Technology That Go Beyond Covid-19

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;



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. &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;



 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;



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



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;



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



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



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

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

What Travel Freedom Looks Like In The Pandemic World

Understanding the new variants of the coronavirus and if and how the vaccines will catch up.



When this story was going to press, Nigeria had a total of 159,000 Covid-19 cases and counting. A big chunk of these cases was attributed to the two variants discovered in the West African country – the B.1.525 also found in the United Kingdom (UK) and the B.1.207 genetically sequenced in Nigeria.



Experts continue to closely monitor the situation of countries that have seen new variants as the effects of these mutations have yet to be determined. In South Africa, more light has been shed on the 501Y.V2 variant which has been found to be more infectious and deadlier than the original strain.



South Africa has also seen a new strain emerge, as the variant, 501Y.V2, which has wreaked havoc on the country and seen the number of cases increase exponentially since its discovery in December last year.



The situation in Nigeria and South Africa are not unique, however, as other parts of the world too have had to face the daunting reality of combating a new variant and the possibility of minimal protection offered by the vaccines now available.



Professor Lynn Morris, interim Executive Director of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of South Africa, explains to FORBES AFRICA that the virus is likely to become a norm and not disappear altogether from society.



“SARS-CoV-2 is likely to become endemic – in other words, it will continue to circulate amongst people who lack sufficient immunity,” explains Morris. With Covid-19 expected to join the likes of HIV in becoming an endemic, mutations are expected as “viruses mutate as they replicate, fortunately most are harmless”.



It is the area in which these replications have occurred, however, that has created the current crisis with the vaccines available. The spike protein is a key component to the survival of the coronavirus cell and is how the virus enters the body and begins to replicate.



The spike protein allows for the coronavirus cell to invade human cells. By doing this, it ensures the survival of the virus as viruses are only able to replicate once they have entered the host cell. Mutations on the spike protein have a number of different implications as each chemical component of the spike protein serves a different purpose.



One of these purposes is the rate of infection as Morris explains: “The 501Y.V2 variant has a number of mutations in its spike protein. One of these is shared with the variant circulating in the UK that has been shown to increase transmissibility. Another three are escape mutations that make the virus partially or in some cases completely resistant to otherwise protective antibodies.”



The other issue that has also arisen as a result of these mutations is resistance to the current vaccine models available. The vaccines produced by Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford and AstraZeneca all use a specific genetic component from the virus in their vaccine and the antibodies created by the body then formulate their reaction based on the genetic material of this component.



The material used by all these companies has been derived from the spike protein of the virus. This then brings the efficacy of the vaccines into question in dealing with the mutations of the coronavirus cell and still being able to provide a high enough level of protection against the virus.



This theory became a reality in South Africa, where the rollout of vaccines had to be paused with one of the main factors being a low-efficacy level of the vaccine when treating the new strain of the virus. The vaccine in question, the Oxford and AstraZeneca vaccine, had been purchased from the Serum Institute of India and was due for rollout in February.



Due to results conducted by an independent researcher, and a close approaching expiration date, the use of these vaccines was halted and replaced with the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine, Ad26.cov2.S. At the time of writing, this vaccine had been administered to over 145,000 health workers who were given priority.



The possibility of vaccines being a permanent or long-term solution has yet to be determined.



“We don’t know yet how long vaccine-induced immunity will last. If it follows the same pattern as natural infection where antibodies are relatively short-lived, then a booster will likely be required,” says Morris.



As more mutations arise as the virus replicates and the number of vaccines approved for use increases, this war between virus and vaccine is coming to a head and at this point, the victor is anyone’s guess.



Variant B.1.525 – this variant is still relatively new and undergoing investigation is still determining the extent to which the mutations affect the rate of infection. This strain has been found across the world including Ghana and Nigeria.



Variant B.1.1.207 – Initially discovered through genome sequencing done in Nigeria, the exact effects of this variant are still under study, as of March 2021, this variant has been found across the world including countries in Europe, Asia and North America.



Cluster Five – This cluster was found in Denmark amongst the mink population and was found that it would be possible to spread to humans from mink farms. This then led to the culling of 17 million minks which subsequently led to the extinction of the cluster five variant.

PALESTINIAN-HEALTH-VIRUS-VACCINE

The Conflict Between Virus And Vaccine

Topline: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in another “family meeting” on Tuesday evening that although the country will not be moving from Alert Level one, heavy restrictions would be put in place for this upcoming Easter Weekend.  



Key Facts&nbsp;



<ul><li>Officially it has been over a year since South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced that country would be going into a hard lockdown to mitigate the spread of the global pandemic, Covid-19.  </li><li>However, the president made it clear that the number of cases has remained “relatively stable” but warns the country should not be complacent.  </li><li>“The number of hospitalizations is declining, as is the number of deaths. Our national recovery rate stands at slightly higher than 95%,” Ramaphosa said in his address.  </li><li>With that being said, alcohol sales for this weekend will be restricted to curb “reckless behavior” over the long weekend. On-site sales at restaurants, shebeens, and bars will still be allowed but just up until 23:00. </li><li>In addition to that, Ramaphosa also announced that South Africa has secured another 20 million dosages of the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine. In the middle of February, South Africa began Phase 1 of its vaccination program, which involves the vaccination of health workers. This phase is on track to be completed within three months. Phase 2 is scheduled to start in mid-May. </li></ul>



Crucial Quote



“Any action that puts ourselves or others at risk must be avoided. The restrictions that are in place for our collective health and safety must be observed. Let us be a responsible nation that is forever aware of the presence of the virus. Let us remain at home or in small groups. Let us avoid being in large crowds and places with poor ventilation. Let us not go to funerals unless we are immediate family and not visit the homes of the bereaved. We all have a role in this great national effort to end COVID-19,” Ramaphosa pleaded with South Africa.&nbsp;

South African President Ramaphosa visits the Mashatile family home to offer condolences

Restrictions for Easter Weekend In South Africa

TOPLINE After more than a month of declining new coronavirus infections worldwide, the case count ticked up slightly last week, the World Health Organization said Wednesday — a reversal WHO officials called a “stern warning” as some countries greet the arrival of vaccines by loosening restrictions that reduce the spread of the disease.



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



<ul><li>The WHO <a href="https://covid19.who.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> nearly 2.7 million new confirmed cases last week, an increase of almost 8% from the week prior, ending a six-week streak of falling case counts.</li></ul>



<ul><li>The number of coronavirus cases grew in <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/india-giving-covid-19-vaccines-people-cases-rise-76175604" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">India</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/coronavirus-brazil-vaccine-variant-bolsonaro/2021/03/01/1a03d52a-7a12-11eb-a976-c028a4215c78_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brazil</a>, and parts of Europe last week, and case counts remained fairly stable in the <a href="https://covid19.who.int/region/amro/country/us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United States</a>, according to WHO figures.</li></ul>



<ul><li>WHO epidemiologist Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove said at a press conference Wednesday the organization is still trying to figure out why cases are suddenly on the rise again, but she warned fatigue about coronavirus restrictions and optimism about vaccines could cause people to disregard social distancing and mask-wearing measures.</li></ul>



<ul><li>The WHO said a reopening of society is on the horizon thanks to vaccines, but case counts are still too high to disregard basic public health measures, and a resurgence of the virus could force governments to reintroduce stringent lockdowns.</li></ul>



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



“It&#8217;s really important that everyone out there still adheres to these measures in place, because we have quite a ways to go to continue to drive transmission down,” Van Kerkhove said. “If we allow this virus to spread, it will.”



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



114.43 million. That’s how many total coronavirus cases the WHO has reported since early 2020, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://covid19.who.int/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">figures from Wednesday</a>. More than 2.5 million people have died of the virus worldwide, though weekly deaths have declined steadily for the last four weeks.



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



Coronavirus infections peaked globally in early January,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/world/portugal-has-europes-highest-death-rate-and-is-desperately-short-of-hospital-beds.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">filling</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-london/london-field-hospital-to-reopen-as-shortage-of-critical-beds-looms-idUSKBN29C16P" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">up</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-29/oxygen-supply-shortages-bedevil-hospitals-already-overwhelmed-by-covid-19-patients" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hospitals</a>&nbsp;across several countries and driving daily death tolls to their highest levels since the pandemic began. This problem was possibly exacerbated by new, highly contagious coronavirus variants first spotted in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-virus-variant-children-d763a3e484cc74be866067a6adf16ced" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Kingdom</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/world/americas/Brazil-covid-variant.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brazil</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/south-africa-coronavirus-variant-infects-two-new-york-city-residents-11614724338" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Africa</a>. As cases slope down from their peak and millions of people worldwide get vaccinated,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/03/01/cdc-chief-is-really-worried-about-states-loosening-covid-19-restrictions-many-are-doing-it-anyway/?sh=e10fea7f415e">many U.S. states</a>&nbsp;have loosened their coronavirus restrictions or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/02/us/texas-governor-mask-mandate/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lifted them altogether</a>, and countries like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france/france-eyes-possible-easing-of-covid-restrictions-from-mid-april-idUKKBN2AV1Q5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">France</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56158405" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Kingdom</a>&nbsp;are plotting a slower reopening process starting next month. But with case counts still high and variants spreading globally, some experts say it’s too soon to reopen.



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



The WHO’s warnings echoed cautious words from U.S. officials in recent days. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/02/26/us-covid-19-case-decline-leveling-off-in-very-concerning-shift-as-variants-spread-cdc-director-warns/?sh=16d067d643c5">worried</a>&nbsp;case counts are plateauing or even increasing slightly in the United States. She&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/02/26/us-covid-19-case-decline-leveling-off-in-very-concerning-shift-as-variants-spread-cdc-director-warns/?sh=16d067d643c5">urged states</a>&nbsp;to hold off on relaxing their restrictions, advice some state officials did not take.



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



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/03/01/cdc-chief-is-really-worried-about-states-loosening-covid-19-restrictions-many-are-doing-it-anyway/?sh=e10fea7f415e">CDC Chief Is ‘Really Worried’ About States Loosening Covid-19 Restrictions—Many Are Doing It Anyway (Forbes)</a>



By Joe Walsh, Forbes Staff

RWANDA-HEALTH-VIRUS-EDUCATION

Global Covid Cases Are Increasing Again As WHO Warns Of Premature Relaxation On Social Distancing

Topline: 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.



Key Facts



<ul><li>Friday, March 5, will mark one year since the first case of coronavirus was reported in South Africa. 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>



Crucial Changes In Restrictions



<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.&nbsp;</li></ul>



Crucial Quote



“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.”

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

The impact of Covid-19 on mental health is also proving deadly, particularly in Africa.



BY PAULA SLIER AND SASHA STAR



PHYSICAL HEALTH HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO sharp focus over the last year as people watch for any sign of irregular temperature, loss of breath, or a tickle at the back of their throat. Yet, the impact of Covid-19 on mental health is also proving deadly, particularly in Africa where health services were facing a financial struggle long before there was a viral pandemic.



The World Health Organization in 2020 reported that 15 African countries are among the top 30 in the world for suicide per 100,000 people. Mental health is a silent problem when it comes to the continent.



While awareness of such issues may be on the rise globally, cultural and traditional practices in Africa have prevented conditions such as depression and d anxiety receiving the attention they deserve, according to Miyoba Muloongo, a licensed counselor working with Zambia’s Ministry of Health. 



“People relate mental health to witchcraft or superstition because there is less awareness about what the illness really is,” Muloongo says. “There is a stigma related to people who have mental health issues. And sometimes people have mental health issues, but they are not aware; or they may be aware, but are not willing to come forth because of the stigma attached to it.”



Even when those dealing with mental health issues do choose to voice their burden, the disclosure is not always met with encouragement. “I would say the biggest issue is ignorance,” states Kenyan business developer, Andrew Njoroge. “In Africa, people say, ‘How can you be sad? Be happy. Smile!’ That doesn’t solve the issue. You cannot force someone to be happy.”



Njoroge believes that both community members and policy-makers need to get involved to combat the ignorance.



“There needs to be a hybrid solution whereby it’s top-down and bottom-up and they meet in the middle,” he says, while suggesting that the community takes a hands-on approach and the government provides funding and adapts legislature. “Government needs to work on its incentives and community programs, whereas community workers themselves must rally up. You need people on the ground engaging to see who needs help and who is battling mental health. There needs to be a two-pronged approach.”



Community initiatives seem to be the most effective way to assist those afflicted with mental illness, especially in poverty-stricken areas. “We have foundations which are offering appropriate therapy or psychotherapy to people who might be in need but cannot afford to go the private way,” Muloongo says. Volunteers have been trained to listen to adolescents who may not have ventured to clinics but are now able to share their concerns free of charge, while wellness gatherings have been established for men to normalize discussing issues that they would not have spoken about previously. The African concept of an extended family dynamic, where everyone is seen as a relative, is one of the age-old ideologies that is also being adopted to tackle mental health.



“The issue is culture-specific interventions which need to be addressed from the community level because that’s where it all starts from,” believes Muloongo. “That’s where we have the coping mechanisms which we have always used. We would sit around the fire and be told stories on how to cope in general with our grandparents. These methods can still work even this time around.”



Njoroge admits to having anxiety himself and concurs that sharing one’s experience with mental health is the correct way to approach the matter, using the renowned adage ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’. “What I see is more and more people finally speaking out in this day and age of social media and I feel like, in the next five years, there will be more and more people speaking up about their problems,” he says. “I’m speaking my truth so that someone else hears it and it inspires someone else to do so.”

Tag: covid-19 second wave

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA