
The World Health Organization says the majority of African countries have now reached and moved past their third-wave peaks of the covid-19 pandemic.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti says the over-all rate of new infections have shown a decrease of almost 25%.
Moeti says the Delta-variant remains the main driver behind new infections recorded across Africa.
Access the full briefing here.
Related articles:
- More than 90% of Covid-19 patients currently admitted to Western Cape hospitals are unvaccinated.
- Adjustments may be made to operating hours of the Athlone stadium Covid-19 vaccination clinic.
- Listen: A digital Covid-19 vaccination certificate will soon be launched.
📺 LIVE: @WHOAFRO press briefing on the #COVID19 pandemic, genome sequencing and COVID-19 variants in #Africa. Dr @MoetiTshidi is joined by experts from across the Region. https://t.co/bc7a9X29eC
— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) September 9, 2021
More dangerous #COVID19 variants are prolonging the third wave across #Africa. The more contagious #DeltaVariant has been dominant in several countries that experienced a COVID-19 surge — causing a slow decline of cases. https://t.co/WZ3Jg2ketS
— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) September 9, 2021

The Delta variant is now the biggest driving-force behind the increase in Covid-19 infections among Western Cape teenagers.
According to Head of Health, Dr. Keith Cloete an increase in infections among young people were reported when schools opened for the third-term.
He says this increase was expected because schools were closed during the first & second waves.
Cloete says the majority of teenagers contract the virus during social gatherings after school and on weekends.
Access this week’s Western Cape digicon here.
Related articles:
- People 18 years and older will be eligible to get their Covid-19 vaccinations from 20 August.
- Western Cape vaccine monitoring-platform to direct residents to sites where there is sufficient capacity.
- Athlone Stadium Mass Covid-19 Vaccination Site has opened to walk-ins, drive-through to be added in next few weeks.
1/4 I welcome, with excitement, the announcement today that residents in the 18 to 34-year-old age cohort (or 18+) will be eligible to register and get vaccinated from tomorrow onwards.
Full statement: https://t.co/jzV4xu6YRC pic.twitter.com/zgQdmrjEif
— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) August 19, 2021
1/7 During my weekly digital press conference, it was explained that we are starting to see the first early signs that the Western Cape is exiting its third wave peak.
Full statement: https://t.co/EuhNM3Gbvf pic.twitter.com/Z5QmwPY3I6
— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) August 19, 2021

The Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine protected between 91 and 96% of healthcare workers against death.
This, according to researchers heading the Sisonke Covid-19 vaccine study, which was piloted here in South Africa.
According to co-lead investigator, professor Glenda Gray, the study was rolled-out to just under 500-thousand healthcare workers at 120 health-care sites.
Gray says the vaccine also proved to be effective against the Delta-variant of Covid-19.
Watch the full briefing here.
Related articles:
- Unvaccinated Western Cape residents at high risk of developing severe Covid-19.
- Winde: Increased herd-immunity could encourage overseas travelers to visit the Western Cape.
- Vaccination-fraudsters to face full might of the law.
[Thread] 1. Glenda Gray, co-lead investigator, #Sisonke:
We now have results to show the #JnJ jab provides significant protection @ the #DeltaVariant in SA.
What is Sisonke?
The Sisonke study used the #JnJ jab to look @ the effectiveness of the jab among SA #HealthWorkers pic.twitter.com/L4lrfPmLL9
— Mia Malan (@miamalan) August 6, 2021
2. Gray:
1. #Sisonke vaccinated 477 234 #HealthWorkers
2. 122 sites were used to vaccinate health workers pic.twitter.com/OtDB53nNnx— Mia Malan (@miamalan) August 6, 2021

The Western Cape Head of Health, Dr Keith Cloete says even though the province’s infection-rate is starting to flatten, hospitalizations will, for the next few weeks, continue to increase as Covid-19 complications gradually manifests in patients.
He says this is a phenomenon that was seen in both the first and second waves of the pandemic, which gives healthcare workers time to prepare for an increase in hospitalizations after the infection-rate starts decreasing.
Cloete warns residents to maintain their vigilance, saying that we are not out of the woods yet.
Access the full briefing here.
Related links:
- Cape Town’s Biovac Institute to produce Pfizer vaccines.
- Vaccine rollout programme gaining momentum.
- 70% of Western Cape healthcare workers vaccinated.
🔴LIVE now ➡️ join our digicon now ▶️ https://t.co/4kkYdlwO7q pic.twitter.com/AC29oNi5oF
— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) July 22, 2021
1/2 While we are seeing a flattening of the curve, I call on residents to continue being vigilant. Our healthcare platform shows us that there are still increases in hospital admissions and deaths ➡️ https://t.co/Rzq7WKp76V pic.twitter.com/T2I6V810se
— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) July 22, 2021

With the third wave of Covid-19 now pushing Africa’s cumulative infections to a record 6-million, the continent is still months away from any form of normalcy.
This according to the World Health Organization which says that more vaccines are urgently needed for Africa to stave off a devastating wave of Covid-related deaths.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti says over the past month alone, the continent recorded an additional 1-million new Covid-infections.
She says oxygen-supply on the continent is also now under severe strain.
Read the full briefing here.
Related articles:
- W.H.O warns against “going back to normal” too soon.
- Western Cape close to reaching peak of third Covid-19 wave.
- Western Cape to make more beds available during third wave of Covid-19.
Join our @WHOAFRO press briefing on #COVID19 case management & vaccines rollout in #Africa. https://t.co/vrzoNWIgz2
— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) July 15, 2021