AFRICA – The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa have reached 5,730,220 with total recoveries at 4,939,036 and 147,878 fatality cases.

The Africa CDC, the specialized healthcare agency of the 55-member African Union, said the death toll from the pandemic stands at 147,087 while 4,938,770 patients across the continent have recovered from the disease.

Kenya reported 185 news cases, 15 new deaths. Total confirmed cases in the country stand at 186,453 with total 129,165 recoveries and 3,697 cumulative fatalities. Total Vaccines administered in the country are 1,477,916 covering 1.77% of the population.

Zambia reported 1,231 new cases out of 4,662 tests (26% positivity); 2,780 recoveries and 121 Dose 1 & 1,054 Dose 2 vaccines given. Sadly 49 new deaths were reported. The nation has 167,132 cases, 147751 recoveries and 2559 fatalities.

In South Africa, a total of 39,556 tests were conducted in the last 24 hrs, with 12,513 new cases, which represents a 31.6% positivity rate in a country that has reported 2,090,909 cases. A further 331 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 62,171 to date.

Ethiopia statistics recounted 95 new cases, 3 new fatalities. There have been 276,598 cases in the country, 4,335 deaths and 2,049,573 vaccines administered.

Morocco’s COVID-19 tally rose to 535,974 on Tuesday as 1,177 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours.

The country’s coronavirus death toll rose by seven to 9,336, while 262 people were in intensive care units, said a statement by the Moroccan Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, 10,160,373 people have received so far, the first vaccine shots against COVID-19 in the country, with 9,194,976 having received both doses.

The North African country launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on Jan. 28 after the arrival of the first shipment of China’s Sinopharm vaccines.

The COVID-19 epidemiological situation in Morocco has worsened during the last two weeks after the lockdown measures were gradually eased.

Tunisia said on Tuesday it will buy 3.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine directly from Johnson & Johnson, amid sharp criticism of the government for the slow pace of its vaccination campaign.

So far, only about 592,000 Tunisians have received the two doses of vaccine in the country of 11.6 million residents.

After successfully containing the virus in the first wave last year, Tunisia is grappling with a rise in infections. It imposed a lockdown in some cities since last week, but rejected a full national lockdown due to the economic crisis.

Tunisian hospitals are battling to keep operating as the number of people dying of COVID-19 spikes and bodies are left in rooms because mortuaries are running at full capacity.

Tunisia has officially recorded more than 15,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic last year with the toll rising in recent weeks.

More than 600 COVID patients are in intensive care units around the country, and authorities have set up field hospitals to cope with a crisis they have compared to a “tsunami”.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that equitable distribution of equipment and medicines to fight COVID-19 is the only way out of the global crisis.

In a briefing to the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator Facilitation Council, the DG stated that although countries have made progress in controlling the pandemic, it remains in a very dangerous phase.

“Our only way out is to support countries in the equitable distribution of PPE (personal protective equipment), tests, treatments and vaccines. It is not rocket science, nor charity. It is smart public health and in everyone’s best interest,” Dr. Tedros said.

Dr. Tedros however pointed to signs of hope, as countries are beginning to share vaccines through the global solidarity initiative, COVAX, though he underscored the need for more action.

Currently, more than 180 nations and economies are taking part in the scheme, which aims to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to shots.