Coronavirus deaths in Africa rose rapidly over the past month, as fatalities surged by 80 percent within the last four weeks, the World Health Organization has said. WHO's Vaccine Introduction Officer for the African Region, Phionah Atuhebwe, told CNN on Monday that the continent was witnessing an unprecedented rise in coronavirus fatalities. "COVID-19 death rates have increased across Africa, with the highest weekly rate (6,343) to date reported during the week starting 19 July 2021," said Atuhebwe.
"Deaths increased by 89%, from 13,242 to 24,987, in the last 28 days, when compared against statistics for the previous 28 days," she added. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference Friday that the pandemic's worsening death toll and rapid infection rate are "being driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant," which is considered to be more deadly than the original strain of coronavirus.
Ghebreyesus said the Delta variant — so far "detected in at least 132 countries" — has also spiked Covid-19 infections globally by 80 percent within the past four weeks. "Almost 4 million cases were reported to WHO last week, and on current trends, we expect the total number of cases to pass 200 million within the next two weeks," Ghebreyesus added.
UNICEF, Libya jointly agree working plan on protection of children
Africa's most populous city is battling floods and rising seas. It may soon be unlivable
Air Force chief of India RKS Bhadauria reaches Israel to enhance military ties
Poverty of 'Pakistan,' first sold buffaloes, now Imran Khan is renting PM's house