Category: Africa
African Coronavirus News
Covid-19 leaves trail of devastation at South African TVET colleges
A total of 23 staff members from SA’s 50 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, and four from community education colleges, died of Covid-related complications between December 15 and January 11. More...
Scientists discuss the new South African SARS-CoV-2 variant 501Y.V2
Scientists have new biological evidence that a South African variant of Covid-19 binds more readily to human cells, making it more infectious, according to one of the world’s leading infectious disease experts. More...
An open letter for proper coronavirus safety measures in schools
“Schools are a Covid19 pandemic driver; there is a consensus on that in literature. More...
Tracking the international spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineages B.1.1.7 and B.1.351/501Y-V2
“As of 7th Jan 2021, 45 countries had reported the presence of B.1.1.7 and 13 countries had reported B.1.351/501Y.V2. More...
Animal Coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 in animals – a summary of what we know
“..SARS-CoV-2 is demonstrating the ability to infect and sometime cause respiratory distress in many mammalian species. More...
Comprehensive mapping of mutations to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain
Comprehensive mapping of mutations to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-bindingdomain that affect recognition by polyclonal human serum antibodies. More...
Emergence and rapid spread of a new SARS-CoV-2 lineage with multiple spike mutations in South Africa
“Here, we describe a new SARS-CoV-2 lineage (501Y.V2) characterised by eight lineage-defining mutations in the spike protein, including three at important residues in the receptor-binding domain (K417N, E484K and N501Y) that may have functional significance. More...
New Nigerian coronavirus variant P681H “has the 501 mutation”
A new variant of the coronavirus, P681H, has been identified, this time in Nigeria, with a separate lineage from the variants found in the UK and in South Africa, John Nkengasong, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said on Thursday. More...
B.1.1.7 Coronavirus mutation also reported in Iceland, Denmark, Belgium, Australia, Italy & Netherlands
“The governments of Australia, Italy and the Netherlands say they detected cases of the new strain. More...
New variant of SARS-CoV-2 ‘may be spreading faster’ in South Africa
A new variant of Sars-Cov-2, which has similarities to the new strain recently discoverd in the UK is spreading fast in South Africa. More...