New Covid-19 strains threat to Africa’s public health system: WHO

Nairobi, Jan 15 : The new Covid-19 variants that have been reported in several African countries could undermine efforts to contain the pandemic and pose a threat to the continent’s public health system, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said.
Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said in a statement on Thursday that robust mitigation measures are required to avert pressure on the continent’s public health systems amid the spread of new strains of the virus, reports Xinhua news agency.
“Even if the new variant is not more virulent, a virus that can spread more easily will put further strain on hospitals and health workers who are in many cases already overstretched,” Moeti said in the statement.
She said that enhanced vigilance is key to avert transmission of coronavirus in Africa in the light of new mutations and upticks linked to easing of containment measures.
According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the continent’s reported Covid-19 caseload has reached 3.14 million, while the total fatalities stood at 75,909.
Moeti said the continent has reported an average of 25,000 new cases daily since late December 2020 and could experience an uptick in the coming days due to intense travels and family gatherings witnessed during the festive season.