Covid-19 induced deaths in Africa increased by 40 percent in the last month, pushing Africa’s death toll from the pandemic towards 100,000, about one year since the first reported case was on the continent on February 14, 2020. This comes as Africa battles new, more contagious variants and gears up for its largest-ever vaccination drive, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa said during a virtual press conference held on February 11. In the last 28 days, WHO said, over 22,300 deaths were reported in Africa in the last 28 days, compared with nearly 16,000 deaths in the previous 28 days. The continent is expected to reach 100,000 deaths in the coming days from the current 97,000 deaths. Thirty-two countries reported a rise in deaths in the last 28 days, while 21 reported flat or falling rates. This spike in mortality comes as Africa’s second wave of cases which struck around October last year seems to have peaked on January 6. The second wave spread much faster than the first and is far more lethal. Overall, Africa’s Covid-19 mortality rate is 2.6 per cent, which is above the global average of about 2.2 per cent. Overstretch health system “The increasing deaths from Covid-19 we are seeing are tragic, but are also disturbing warning signs that health workers and health systems in Africa are dangerously overstretched. This grim milestone must refocus everyone on stamping out the virus,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. As Covid-19 cases surged in the second wave far beyond the peak experienced in the first wave, health facilities have become overwhelmed. Preliminary reports which WHO has received from 21 countries show that 66 percent reported inadequate critical care capacity, 24 per cent reported burnout among health workers and 15 countries reported that oxygen production, crucial for severely ill Covid-19 patients, remains insufficient. New variants pose a huge challenge The one-year grim milestone comes as the continent faces the spread of new strains of virus. Variant 501Y.V2 (also known as B1.351), first identified in South Africa, has been detected in eight African countries, while the VOC202012/01 variant (also known as B1.1.7) initially identified in the United Kingdom has been detected in six countries on the continent. This week, South Africa announced that it will pause the roll-out of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine because of a study indicating that the vaccine is less effective in preventing mild and moderate infection with the 501Y.V2 variant that is dominant in the country. “This is obviously very disappointing news, but the situation is very dynamic. While a vaccine that protects against all forms of COVID-19 is our biggest hope, preventing severe cases which overwhelm hospitals is crucial,” said Dr Moeti. “If cases remain mostly mild and moderate and don’t require critical care then we can save many lives. So, my message is, go out and get vaccinated when a vaccine becomes available in your country,” he observed Meanwhile, on February 10, 2021, the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, known as SAGE, strongly recommended that countries use the AstraZeneca vaccine, for priority groups, including health workers and older people above 65 years, even if variants are present in a country. These preliminary findings highlight the urgent need for a coordinated approach for surveillance and evaluation of variants and their potential impact on vaccine effectiveness. WHO will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as new data become available. New variants are likely to emerge as the virus continues to spread so preventive measures must be maintained even as Africa gears up to start vaccinations against the virus. “The pandemic is far from over, and vaccines are just one crucial tool in our fight against the virus. We must boost investments and support for our health workers and health systems by sticking to mask-wearing, regular hand cleaning and safe social distancing,” said Dr Moeti. During the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Weekly Press Briefing on COVID-19 held virtually on January 21, John Nkengasong, Director of said that “the Covid-19 case fatality rate in Africa begins to be very worrying and concerning all of us,” appealing for oxygen support to Covid-19 patients.
