COVID-19 Updates

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Opposition in Parliament has tasked the government to undertake necessary measures to detect and prevent the spread of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19. The new Covid-19 variant is reported to have originated in South Africa and spread to different countries. It has sent …

Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday sought to reassure the country about the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, telling Americans that his administration was working with vaccine manufacturers to modify vaccines and booster shots should that prove necessary. “We’re throwing everything we have at this …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Government will not allow people who are not vaccinated against Covid-19 to operate in the city come January 2022. The state minister for Kampala and metropolitan affairs, Kabuye Kyofatogabye made the announcement in Kikuubo – the city’s wholesale hub. He repeatedly sounded the ultimatum in …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Despite a growing number of countries impose flight bans on southern African nations due to concerns over the new Omicron variant, World Health Organization (WHO) urges countries to follow science and the International Health Regulations. In a statement, the organization warns that travel bans may …

Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern The Hague, Netherlands | Xinhua | The Dutch health authority said Sunday that it has found 13 cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant among passengers on flights from South Africa. The cases were identified among 61 passengers who tested positive for coronavirus, the National Institute …

United States imposed travel restrictions on southern African countries New York, U.S. | Xinhua | The newly-discovered Omicron variant of COVID-19 in South Africa has raised fears about the global trajectory of the pandemic, while some countries including the United States have raced to impose travel restrictions on southern African countries. …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero has defended the cost of mice that are going to aid the process of developing a Covid-19 vaccine in Uganda. Musenero who is facing a parliamentary investigation over the management of 31 billion Shillings initially …

Cairo, Egypt | Xinhua | The Egyptian government suspended direct flights with a number of southern African countries due to concerns over the new COVID-19 variant Omicron. The decision was made late on Friday after a meeting of the ministerial crisis management committee headed by Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, according …

Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern London, UK | Xinhua | Two cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in Britain, British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Saturday. He said the cases, detected in Chelmsford and in Nottingham, are “linked” and the two individuals are now self-isolating along with …

Brussels, Belgium | Xinhua | The European Union (EU) wants to activate the so-called “emergency brake” to stop air travel from the southern African region to delay the spread in Europe of a new COVID-19 variant, the European Commission said on Friday. “The European Commission will propose, in close coordination with …