Africa

J&J booster slashes Omicron hospitalisations -South African study

Thu, 2021-12-30 11:49 — mike kraft

Johnson & Johnson's booster shot provides high levels of protection against the omicron variant of Covid-19, according to data from a trial of healthcare workers in South Africa released Thursday.

Preliminary results from the Sisonke study, which have not been peer-reviewed, found that for people who had received one vaccine dose, the booster improved protection against hospitalization to 85 percent from 63 percent.

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WHO chief worried about ‘tsunami’ of omicron, delta cases

Thu, 2021-12-30 11:18 — mike kraft

WHO chief worried about 'tsunami' of omicron, delta cases | AP News BERLIN (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday that he's worried about the omicron and delta variants of COVID-19 producing a “tsunami” of cases between them, but he's still hopeful that the world will put the worst of the pandemic behind it in 2022. AP NEWS

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Testing for Omicron may need re-evaluation--South African study

Tue, 2021-12-28 19:51 — mike kraft

Are We Testing for Omicron Wrong? South African study suggests nasal swabs aren't the best way John Gever medpagetoday

If confirmed in follow-up research and if the diagnostics industry can pivot quickly enough, findings from a South African study could make COVID-19 testing a lot easier for patients and healthcare workers, as the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant becomes the dominant source of infection.

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Trying to reach the unvaxed: Eforts by pastors, rabbis, undertakers

Tue, 2021-12-28 12:55 — mike kraft

Undertakers, rabbis join global fight promoting COVID shots | AP News In Germany, Lutheran pastors are offering COVID-19 shots inside churches. In Israel’s science-skeptical ultra-Orthodox community, trusted rabbis are trying to change minds. And in South Africa, undertakers are taking to the streets to spread the word. AP NEWS

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South Africa small study suggests Omicron could displace Delta

Tue, 2021-12-28 10:53 — mike kraft

South Africa study suggests Omicron could displace Delta Research by South African scientists suggests that Omicron could displace the Delta variant of the coronavirus because infection with the new variant boosts immunity to the older one. Reuters Reuters

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Overview: Greece, Israel, Florida, Denmark, Ivory Coast, etc

Mon, 2021-12-27 13:30 — mike kraft

Live updates: Greece adds restrictions as cases rise | AP News ATHENS — In Greece, authorities announced additional restrictions after the highest number of daily confirmed infections, at 9,284, was announced since the start of the pandemic. Health Minister Thanos Plevris announced that starting Jan. AP NEWS

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U.S. to lift travel curbs on eight African countries

Fri, 2021-12-24 11:17 — mike kraft

Exclusive: U.S. to lift travel curbs on eight African countries The Biden administration will lift travel restrictions on eight southern African countries imposed last month over concerns about the fast-spreading COVID-19 Omicron variant, the White House said Friday. David Shepardson Reuters

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Overview: Asia/Pacific, Europe, U.S., Africa, Mideast

Thu, 2021-12-23 13:54 — mike kraft

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus Two vaccine makers said their shots protected against Omicron as UK data suggested it may cause proportionally fewer hospital cases than the Delta coronavirus variant, though public health experts warned the battle against COVID-19 was far from over. Reuters Reuters

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CDC adds Spain, 7 other places, to its highest travel risk level

Tue, 2021-12-21 11:27 — mike kraft

CDC moves 8 places, including the world's No. 2 destination, to its highest travel risk level The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added eight destinations to its highest-risk category for travel on Monday, including tourist favorite Spain. Find out the other seven places now on Level 4. By Forrest Brown, CNN CNN

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Prelimninary Research Indicates Most of the World’s Vaccines Likely Won’t Prevent Infection From Omicron

Mon, 2021-12-20 12:07 — mike kraft

A growing body of preliminary research suggests the Covid vaccines used in most of the world offer almost no defense against becoming infected by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

All vaccines still seem to provide a significant degree of protection against serious illness from Omicron, which is the most crucial goal. But only the Pfizer and Moderna shots, when reinforced by a booster, appear to have initial success at stopping infections, and these vaccines are unavailable in most of the world.

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