- COVID-19 cases in Africa have surpassed 3 million total cases, with daily new cases now exceeding the peak of the first wave. This is putting additional strain on healthcare systems. - On average, over 25,000 new cases were reported per day in Africa from December 28, 2020 to January 10, 2021, nearly 39% higher than the peak of the first wave in July 2020. - A new variant of the virus, called 501Y.V2, is circulating widely in South Africa and accounting for most new infections in the country's second wave. This variant appears to be more transmissible.

1. AfricaCOVID-19cases top3 million,firstwave peaksurpassed
Brazzaville –AsCOVID-19 cumulative casesinAfricatop3 millionanddailycase numbersexceedthe
firstwave peak,the continentisnowconfrontedwithemergingvariantsof the virus. Revamped
publichealthmeasuresare evermore critical toaverta runawaysurge ininfectionsthatcould
stretchhealthfacilitiestothe breakingpoint.
An average of 25 223 cases were reportedeachdaybetween28December2020 and 10 January
2021 inAfrica,whichisnearly39% higherthanthe July2020 two-weekpeakof 18 104 dailyaverage
cases.Yet numbersmayrise furtherinthe comingdaysin the wake of travelling,gatheringand
festivitiesoverChristmasandNewYearholidays.
Overall casesinthe regionhave risensteadilysince mid-September2020, witha steeperrise from
late November.Inaddition,anewvariantof the viruscalled501Y.V2 iscirculatingwidelyinSouth
Africa,accountingformost of the newinfectionsduringthe secondwave.
Mutationsof the virusare unsurprisingasthe more the pandemicspreadsthe higherthe likelihood
of changes.However,preliminaryanalysisfindsthe 501Y.V2variationto be more transmissible.
Genomicsequencinghasfoundthe variantpresentinBotswana,the GambiaandZambia.
Deeperinvestigationsare underwaytofullyunderstandthe epidemiological implications,butat
presentthere are noindicationsthe new variantincreasesthe severityof the disease.
“Evenif the newvariantisnot more virulent,avirusthatcan spreadmore easilywill putfurther
strainon hospitalsandhealthworkerswhoare inmanycasesalreadyoverstretched,”saidDr
MatshidisoMoeti,the WorldHealthOrganization(WHO) Regional DirectorforAfrica.“Thisisa stark
reminderthatthe virusisrelentless,thatitstill presentsamanifestthreat,andthatour war isfar
fromwon.”
Nigeriaisalsocarryingout more investigationsona variantidentifiedinsamplescollectedinAugust
and October.While fornowthere are no reportsof the COVID-19 variantcirculatinginthe United
Kingdomcroppingupinthe Africanregion,furtherinvestigationisneeded.
WithWHO support,Africancountriesare reinforcinggenomesequencingefforts,whichare keyto
findingandunderstandingnewvariantsastheyemerge andtohelpblunttheirimpact.
WHO and the AfricaCentresforDisease Control andPreventionnetworkof genome sequencing
laboratoriesinAfricaissupportinggovernmentswithtraininganddataanalysisongenome
sequencing,bioinformaticsandtechnical expertise.WHOhasalsodevelopedguidance oncontaining
newvariantsandis assistingcountriestomanage andsafelytransportsamplesforsequencingand
analysis.
While muchprogressisbeingmade inbuildinggenome sequencingcapacity, the more than5000
sequenceswhichhave beenconductedsofarinthe regionaccountfor just2% of global sequencing
data.
“We call on all countriestoincrease testingandsequencingof the virustoswiftlyspot,trackand
tackle newCOVID-19variantsas soonas theyappear.To defeatanagile,adaptive andrelentless
enemy,we mustknowandunderstanditseverymove,anddoubledownonwhatwe know works
bestagainstall variantsof the virus,”saidDr Moeti.“We mustnot become complacent.We must
persistwiththe provenpublichealthmeasuresthathelpedstopthe spreadof the virusduringthe
firstwave – that’s physical distancing,constanthandwashingandwearingmasksinpublicspaces.”

2. Dr Moeti spoke duringavirtual pressconference todayfacilitatedbyAPOGroup.She wasjoinedby
Prof Francisca Mutapi,ProfessorinGlobal HealthInfectionandImmunity,Universityof Edinburgh,
UK, and Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu,DirectorGeneral of the NigeriaCentre forDisease Control.