Health experts have insufficient information to establish where people are getting infected with Covid-19, an Oireachtas committee heard on Wednesday. Prof Kirsten Schaffer, president of the Irish Society of Clinical Microbiology, said she rang public health officials to be told that…
As Africa’s COVID-19 cases rise, faith is put to the test
The COVID-19 pandemic is testing the patience of some religious leaders across Africa who worry they will lose followers, and funding, as restrictions on gatherings continue. Some evangelical Christian leaders in Uganda have launched a campaign with the now-universal phrase…
The economics of COVID19 and its implications for Africa’s Development: A Glimpse
The emergence of COVID-19 from Wuhan, China in December 2019 was declared a global health emergency on January 30 and a pandemic by WHO on March 11, 2020. The impact of the pandemic was likened to another World War II exposing the fragile healthcare…
Six Months in the Eye of the COVID-19 Storm
When I walked out of the office and headed home at 10.30pm earlier this week, I left behind a few members of the NCDC team, still working on their computers. Some had only just resumed for the night shift. The…
Russia to register first COVID-19 vaccine by August 12
Phase 3 clinical trial of another drug begins in U.S. Russia plans to register a coronavirus vaccine by August 10-12, clearing the way for what its backers say would be the world’s first official approval of inoculation against the epidemic.…
COVID-19: U.S. babies infected by COVID-19, UN warns of extreme poverty
85 infants under age 1 have tested positive for COVID-19 in Nueces County, Texas. “These babies have not even had their first birthday yet. Please help us stop the spread of this disease,” said Annette Rodriguez, director of public health…
Russian university completes clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccine
Russia has become the first country to have completed clinical trials of a Covid-19 vaccine candidate, after Sechenov University said that it had concluded its study. According to Sechenov University Center for Clinical Research on Medications head and chief researcher…
Vint Cerf: COVID-19 highlights how we need better internet access everywhere
Vinton G. Cerf is vice president and chief internet evangelist for Google. Widely known as one of the “Fathers of the Internet,” Mr. Cerf is the co-designer of the TCP/IP protocols and the architecture of the internet. Mr. Cerf shares…
World Health Organization drops hydroxychloroquine from COVID-19 study
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday said it had halted a clinical trial testing hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment, citing clinical evidence so far from its studies as well as studies conducted by other organizations. The WHO has been…
‘Nigeria still testing hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine for COVID-19 treatment’
Despite reports that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine do not treat coronavirus, Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Emmanuel Ehanire, has declared that clinical trial on the anti-malaria drugs by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is still…