TheCable

Nigeria recorded 100 cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Friday. 

Moderna-based vaccine developed by African company

Afrigen Biologics, a South African biological company, has developed a COVID-19 vaccine using the publicly available sequence of the Moderna jab and could begin testing in adults by the end of the year.

It is reportedly the first mRNA vaccine designed, developed and produced at a laboratory scale on the continent of Africa.

Moderna did not share how they made the vaccine, despite a World Health Organisation request, but the programme went ahead taking advantage of information already in the public domain.

The plan is for the shot to be produced by a partly state-owned South African company, Biovac.

Europe entering ‘plausible endgame to pandemic’, says WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Europe is now entering a “plausible endgame” to the pandemic. 

Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said the region has recorded 12 million new COVID cases in the past week, with 30% of all cases since the pandemic began reported this year alone. 

But, he said the number of deaths “is starting to plateau”. 

There is now an “opportunity to take control of transmission” he said, because many people are immune to Omicron through either natural infection or vaccination. 

Saudi Arabia to require citizens to get booster shot for travel

Saudi Arabia will require all citizens to take a COVID booster shot before travelling abroad.

From 9 February, the country will also require visitors, regardless of vaccination status to present a negative PCR or antigen test result issued within 48 hours of their date of departure to be allowed in.

This does not apply to children under the age of eight.

Saudi citizens who test positive prior to arrival but have received the approved number of COVID jabs will be required to remain outside the country for seven days after providing the positive sample, the ministry said.

Fifth vaccine approved in the UK

The UK has approved Nuvaxovid COVID vaccine after it was given the green light by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The jab has been approved for people aged 18 and older after meeting the required safety, quality and effectiveness standards. It is the fifth vaccine approved by the UK

Sajid Javid, UK health secretary, said: “It is great to see our world renowned medicines regulator approve another COVID-19 vaccine”.

“The next step will be for the independent Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination to consider its use as part of the UK COVID-19 vaccination programme.”

Nigeria records 100 infections

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 100 COVID infections across the country.

The agency in its update for February 3, said the new infections were recorded in 14 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

Below is a breakdown of the new infections by states:

Lagos-22

Yobe-18

FCT-15

Ogun-7

Osun-7

Oyo-6

Sokoto-6

Imo-5

Kwara-4

Bauchi-3

Edo-3

Delta-1

Jigawa-1

Kano-1

Nasarawa-1

The NCDC said 217 persons were discharged after recovering from the infection.

Meanwhile, there were no fatalities on Thursday.

The agency said the report includes three confirmed cases reported from Bauchi state on February 2; 158 community discharged cases from the FCT on February 3; and 16 community discharged cases from Imo state for February 3.

Nigeria now has a total of 253,505 confirmed cases, 229,893 recoveries and 3,136 deaths.