Welcome Remarks
- Good morning from the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, and thank you to members of the press for joining today’s briefing.
- At this time, I will share updates on the COVID-19 situation on the continent, including our response efforts and updates on the vaccine situation.
COVID-19 Epidemiology Update | OVERVIEW
- As of today, November 4th, African Union Member States are reporting the following:
- Total cases: Over 8.5 million COVID-19 cases have been reported in Africa, (8,511,777). This accounts for 3.5% of total cases reported globally.
- Total recoveries: Over 7.9 million people have recovered (7,915,223). This accounts for 93% of the total cases reported in Africa.
- Total deaths: Over 218,000 deaths have been reported (218,950). This results ina cumulative case fatality rate (CFR) of 2.6%,and accounts for 4.4% of deaths reported globally.
- The following five countries account for 61% of all cases reported in Africa.
- South Africa: 34% of total cases (2,922,735)
- Morocco: 11% of total cases (946,766)
- Tunisia: 8% of total cases (712,982)
- Ethiopia: 4% of total cases (366,097)
- Libya: 4% of total cases (359,019)
- Case Fatality Rate (CFR): this week, 27 countries (49% of Member States), are reporting a CFR higher than the global average of 2%.
- 3 countries (Egypt, Somalia and Sudan) are reporting a CFR higher than 5%.
- 84% of Member States(46 countries) experienced the 3rd COVID-19 wave. 34 (74%) MS are experiencing a more severe 3rd wave.
- Since the last briefing, ONE additional Member State (Niger) is experiencing a 3rd wave.
- Seven countries (Algeria, Benin, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Somalia and Tunisia) are experiencing a 4th COVID-19 wave. 4 (57%) MS are experiencing a more severe 4th wave.
- Since the last briefing, NO additional Member State is experiencing a 4th wave.
COVID-19 Epidemiology Update | VARIANTS OF CONCERN (VOC)
- 45 countries are now reporting the Alpha (B.1.1.7) VOC.
Since the last briefing, NO additional Member State has reported this variant.
- 41 countries are now reporting the Beta (B.1.351) VOC.
Since the last briefing, ONE additional Member State (Republic of the Congo) has reported this variant.
- 42 countries are now reporting the Delta (B.1.617.2) VOC.
Since the last briefing, ONE additional Member State (Cameroon) is reporting this variant.
- 2 Member States are reporting the Gamma (GR/501Y.V3/P.1+P.1.1+P.1.2) VOC.
Since the last briefing, NO additional Member State has reported this variant.
More details are provided in our dashboard:
COVID-19 Epidemiology Update | ONE-WEEK TREND ANALYSIS
- The following are trends for epidemiological week 43 (25 – 31 October 2021), compared to the previous epidemiological week 42 (18 – 24 October 2021):
- New cases: A total of 32,005 new cases were reported in Africa. This is a 1% increase from the previous week.
- The highest proportion of new cases is from the Northern region (44%). The other regions are as follows:
- Eastern region (17%)
- Southern region (16%)
- Central region (14%)
- Western region (9%)
- The following 5 countries are reporting the highest number of new cases:
- Egypt (6,398)
- Libya (3,749)
- Ethiopia (2,832)
- South Africa (2,484)
- Cameroun (2,210)
- Morocco (1,868)
- The following 5 countries are reporting the highest daily incidence per million population, (average number of new cases per million population per day):
- Seychelles (176)
- Gabon (81)
- Libya (78)
- Botswana (77)
- Mauritius (69)
- New deaths: A total of 1,277 new deaths were reported in Africa compared to 1,321 from the previous week. This represents a 35% decrease in new deaths from the previous week.
COVID-19 Epidemiology Update | FOUR-WEEK TREND ANALYSIS
- The following are trends over the past 4 epidemiological weeks, (4 – 31 October 2021):
- New cases: There has been an overall 16% average decrease in new cases reported in Africa each week.
- The following is a regional breakdown:
- 2% increase in the Central region
- 29% decrease in the Southern region
- 20%decreasein the Easternregion
- 8% decrease in the Northern region
- 6% decrease in the Western region
- The following is a breakdown by the most populous countries in Africa:
- DR Congo: 36% average increase
- Egypt: 5% average increase
- South Africa: 28% average decrease
- Kenya: 22% average decrease
- Ethiopia: 19% average decrease
- Nigeria: 1% average decrease
- New deaths: There has been an overall 16% average decrease in new deaths reported in Africa each week.
- The following is a breakdown by the most populous countries in Africa:
- Nigeria: 27% average increase
- Egypt: 10% average increase
- DR Congo: 100% average decrease
- Ethiopia: 25% average decrease
- South Africa: 21% average decrease
- Kenya: 9% average decrease
COVID-19 TESTING & MEDICAL SUPPLIES
- To date, over 78 million COVID-19 tests (78,679,761) have been conducted in African Union Member States since the pandemic started.
- Over 2 million new tests (2,335,355) were reported for epidemiological week 43 (25 – 31 October 2021).
- This is a 186% increase from the previous week when 816,284 tests were reported.
- The cumulative positivity rate is 10.8% and the test-per-case ratio is 9.2, compared to a positivity rate of 11.1% and test-per-case ratio of 9 in the previous week.
- 2% of Member States(1 country) is reporting test positivity rates higher than 12%.
CAPACITY-BUILDING FOR MEMBER STATES
- Conducted Regional IPC ToT training for Central and Francophone West African Countries in Congo Brazzaville from 25th – 27th October 2021, 13 National Focal Points were empowered.
- In-country IPC Step-down Training for Malawi is ongoing (2nd to 4th November 2021).
- Africa CDC has just concluded a very successful One Health Conference yesterday. Africa CDC has endorsed a One Health approach to addressing shared Health threats at the human-animal-environment interface for a safer and healthier Africa.
We thank all the participants who attended the Conference.
- Africa CDC is conducting a two-week hands-on training on SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing and bioinformatics in South Africa from 01st – 12th November 2021. 23 participants from 15 Member States are attending the training in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
ANNOUNCEMENT
· The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Designate Institut Pasteur Morocco and Rwanda Biomedical Centre COVID-19 Vaccination Centres of Excellence
Institut Pasteur of Morocco and Rwanda Biomedical Centre have both demonstrated efficiency in COVID-19 vaccination rollout in their respective countries. For instance, Morocco has vaccinated more than 80% of its targeted population. Rwanda has immunized about 25% of its eligible population and aims to achieve a 40% coverage by the end of 2021. The African CDC CoE for COVID-19 vaccination are expected to provide capacity building services to professionals from difference member states across Africa and share best practices on management of vaccination centres, logistics of vaccine distribution, and community engagement and risk communication.
COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE
- With regards to the current progress of vaccinations across the continent – as of 4th November, African Union Member States are reporting the following:
- Total vaccine doses supplied: 278.7 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been procured by 54 Member States.
- Total vaccine doses administered: 196.7 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, which corresponds to 70.5% of the total supply available in Africa.
- Coverage: 5.8% of the population has been fully vaccinated on the continent.
- The following five countries have administered the most vaccine doses in Africa.
| Country | Doses administered | % of the supply | % of Population fully vaccinated |
| Morocco | 45.9 million | 100% | 59.18% |
| Egypt | 25.5 million | 100% | 8.38% |
| South Africa | 21.9 million | 100% | 20.24% |
| Algeria | 11 million | 50.91% | 10.67% |
| Tunisia | 9.1 million | 93.7% | 29.88% |
More details are provided on our dashboard (https://africacdc.org/covid-19-vaccination/)
- Eritrea is the remaining AU Member States yet to start COVID-19 vaccine roll out.
AVAT J&J DELIVERIES
- In the past week, AVAT delivered 1,178,000 doses of J&J to THREE Member States:
- Sao Tome and Principe (79,200)
- Nigeria (624,000) and
- Togo (475,200).
- The total number of AVAT deliveries(J&J) to 30 AU Member States totals 12,695,600 doses. These are Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, DRC, Burkina Faso. Also, 12, 000 doses were delivered to the African Union.
- 580,800 doses of the same were delivered to 6 Caribbean countries; Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, Belize, Antigua &Barbuda.
- Till date AVAT deliveries stands at 13,276,400 doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccine
COVAX DELIVERIES
- 49 AU member states have received a total of 112,792,412 doses of:
- Astrazeneca (58,498,332)
- PfizerBioNTech (35,637,370)
- J&J (10,764,140)
- Moderna (4,086,550)
- Sinopharm (411,220)
- Sinovac (3,394,800).
BILATERAL DELIVERIES
- AU member states have received a total of 152,811,302 doses of:
- Astrazeneca (19,953,860)
- Sinopharm (63,835,318)
- Sputnik V (11,619,490)
- Pfizer BioNTech (19,919,220)
- J&J (2,602,000)
- Sinovac (29,419,874)
- Moderna (5,181,540)
- Covaxin (280,000).
The World Health Organization has granted approval for emergency use to India’s government-backed Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin.
The vaccine is recommended for use in two doses, with a dose interval of four weeks, in all age groups 18 and above. Covaxin vaccine have a 78% efficacy against Covid-19 of any sensitivity, 14 or more days after the second dose.
REMINDER: UPCOMING CONFERENCE:
FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PUBLIC HEALTH IN AFRICA
@AfricaCDC in partnership with Global Health Strategies (GHS) is pleased to announce the hosting of the 1st International Conference on Public Health in Africa, (CPHIA 2021).
This first International Public Health Conference comes at a critical time when the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the deep inequities in the global health architecture and continues to significantly strain health systems across the world.
As Africa CDC calls for a New Public Health Order for Africa, we are ready to engage with the top leadership of the continent and work with other partners to drive the discussions on scientific innovations and key public health interventions for the citizens of the continent.
This 3-day virtual event will take place from 14-16 December 2021, we encourage you all, members of the media and other key stakeholders to mark your calendar and check our digital platforms for more information.www.cphia2021.com
COVID-19 TIERED PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL MEASURES FRAMEWORK FOR AFRICA
- Link to the PHSM Tiers framework
- Africa CDC website:
- RTSL/PERC website: https://preventepidemics.org/covid19/perc/phsm/
- Completely opening or closing down countries with stringent PHSMs is no longer an option like it was at the beginning of the pandemic. Officials cannot just shut down society, but rather need layered policies appropriate for the COVID levels in-country
- The PHSM tiered framework is a proposal for Member States to use indicators and thresholds, which measure the ‘amount’ of COVID-19 in a country, to help determine which policies should be put in place.
A similar approach has been used in South Africa with their alert system.
- These PHSM tiers are based on incidence and test positivity, but the guidance published is only recommendations — we hope that Member States will use this guidance to build their own indicators, threshold and policies.
- These proposed tiers should also be balanced with secondary impacts of PHSMs such as economic burdens, food security and access to essential health services, to ensure access to essential livelihoods
- This is one of the tools that Africa CDC has developed, in partnership with Resolve to Save Lives, that supports both the Prevention and Monitoring components of the Adapted Africa Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 Pandemic
- The purpose of PHSM tiers is to provide a framework to support clear decision-making, improve accountability and provide clear, evidence-based guidance to communities to increase healthy behavior change.
- PHSMs should also be tailored to the smallest geographical region possible, for better response to hotspots and mitigation of secondary impacts.
- Effective PHSMs are:
- Easy to understand
- Transparent
- Data-driven
- Practical
- Customized to smallest geographic region
- Collaborative
- Legal, with proper oversight
- Supported by wide dissemination of information that is easily accessible to the public
- Transparency in decision making and predictability can encourage engagement from communities, in that they will know what to expect based on data and clear decisions. This is critical to ensuring that PHSMs have value in disrupting transmission.
- Displaying and communicating the level of risk and the related PHSMs will support individual, business and community decision-making and can be adapted as vaccine rates increase or potential changes in transmission occur.
- The media has an important role to play in building trust and supporting clear, evidence-based communication with the public about what levels of PHSMs are in place, and why they change.
PHSMs will be necessary to control transmission while vaccine coverage remains low; more equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines in Africa is crucial to improving coverage. For now, countries must continue to rely on PHSMs while pressing high-income countries and international mechanisms to improve vaccine supply and increase access.
