The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the number of death rates due to coronavirus infection have surged by 80% in Africa, with a 6,343 weekly rate. During a media briefing, WHO’s Director-General Tedros Adhamon Ghebreyesus declared that the Delta variant is responsible for the increasing number of deaths in Africa. He also made a point to say that the pandemic will end when we want to. He explained that there are now Covid-19 vaccines to prevent the disease and reach herd immunity; tests confirm the infection and alternative treatments so that we can put an end to the pandemic.
The Delta strain confirmed in over 132 countries
During the briefing, Tedros Adhamon Ghebreyesus revealed that the highly contagious Delta strain has been detected in more than 132 countries . Statistics indicate that the death rates increased by 80% in the African continent. To help those in need, WHO is delivering oxygen supplies and guidance worldwide. The terms of collaboration between the WHO, the Biological and Vaccines Institute of Southern Africa, the Medicines Patent Pool, Afrigen Biologics, the South African Medical Research Council and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have been established. WHO’s target is to ensure that at least 10 % of each country’s population has received the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of September.
Southern Africa has the largest numbers of Covid-19 related deaths
The WHO Director-General also explained that, in the last 28 days, Southern parts in Africa had seen a surge in the number of deaths, accounting for 64% of the death rate in the continent. 15 African countries are seeing a surge in deaths associated with the coronavirus. These countries are Tunisia, Morocco, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mauritania, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Algeria and Libya. The health system is collapsing in many African countries, and the slow vaccination efforts contribute to these statistics.