SA changes isolation protocols, oral Covid pill, and fourth vaccines – headlines around the world

As of December 22, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recorded 884 133 new Covid-19 infections, with a seven-day average of 705 203 new infections, which has been on a steady incline since mid-October.

In terms of vaccinations, 3 766 763 086 people – or 48.3% – across the globe are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

WHO is urging the scaling up of mask production, incl. respirators & medical masks for use in health & care settings to ensure equitable access to respirators & medical masks by all health workers around the world. https://t.co/F10PziWaAT

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 22, 2021

South Africa stops tracing, quarantining of Covid contacts

The Department of Health on Thursday published revisions to contact tracing, quarantine and isolation protocols.

After receiving recommendations from the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19, the department has decided to stop contact tracing and quarantining for contacts of confirmed cases of Covid-19, with immediate effect.

With regards to the quarantining protocols, all quarantine is to be stopped with immediate effect for both vaccinated and unvaccinated contacts of confirmed cases of Covid-19.

Pfizer oral Covid-19 pill gets US authorisation

The United States’ Federal Drug Administration has authorised an antiviral Covid-19 pill manufactured by Pfizer for people over the age of 12 who are at risk of severe illness.

According to Pfizer Inc, the pill has an almost 90% efficacy rate in preventing hospitalisation and death for high-risk patients.

The new pill – named Paxlovid – is only available by prescription and it is recommended that it should be taken soon after a Covid-19 diagnosis, and within five days of testing positive.

The pills are meant to be taken every 12 hours for five days.

Trump embraces vaccines but opposes mandates

Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, came out this week saying that he embraces vaccines, and encourages everyone else to do so as well. However, he says imposing vaccine mandates is not a good idea.

“It’s a matter of getting people out to, ideally, get the vaccine,” Trump said. “If you have the mandate, the mandate will destroy people’s lives — it destroys people’s lives, just as the vaccine saves people.”

This comes as the US’s Supreme Court is set to hear challenges to the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate on January 7.

The current mandate is that all large employers and healthcare facilities must require their workers to either get vaccinated or face weekly testing for Covid-19 – which affects over 100 million workers.

The group challenging this mandate includes 27 states, private business groups, and religious groups, among others.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki is confident that the Supreme Court will uphold the current mandate.

The Netherlands enforces hard lockdown just before Christmas

The Netherlands enforced a hard lockdown just a week before Christmas as infection rates rise in the country.

As of December 22, the country had recorded a seven-day average of 13 481 new Covid-19 infections.

The Netherlands also has a relatively high vaccination rate, with at least 66% of its population being fully vaccinated.

This latest measure, as stated by Prime Minister Mark Rutte on December 18, was met with fierce opposition as protests flared up all over the country.

Rotterdam violates their new lockdown tonight and protests to end it. pic.twitter.com/xP5SqZmZtD

— Aaron Ginn (@aginnt) December 22, 2021

As Netherlands going into another lockdown, protestors attack the police. pic.twitter.com/GHmJFWG93c

— Aaron Ginn (@aginnt) December 19, 2021

New rules and restrictions have come into effect and these include:

• Maximum of two guests allowed in people’s homes
• No events permitted – apart from funerals, grocery markets and professional sports with no spectators
• All schools closed
• Restaurants can only sell takeaway meals
• Non-essential shops closed but can offer click and collect services.

WHO leader slams rich countries for hoarding vaccines

In an opinion piece, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, argues that the Covid-19 pandemic won’t end as long as rich countries hoard vaccines.

“If we end inequity, we end the pandemic.”

The goal of the WHO is to have at least 70% of people vaccinated globally by the middle of 2022 – and that will only be achievable through countries and governments working together.

“We need governments to continue using tailored public health and social measures, including testing, sequencing and reporting of variants by all countries, without fear of punitive measures,” he says.

Looking at 2022 and beyond, Dr Ghebreyesus says that countries will start negotiating a global pandemic accord to prepare for (and prevent) future pandemics.

Israel recommends fourth vaccine shot for over 60s and healthcare workers

Leading health experts in Israel have recommended that those over the age of 60, as well as healthcare workers, get a fourth Pfizer vaccine jab to prevent another potential wave of infections.

“Wonderful news, do not waste time – go get vaccinated,” Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement.

“The State of Israel is continuing to stand at the forefront of the global effort to deal with the pandemic. The citizens of Israel were the first in the world to receive the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and we are continuing to pioneer with the fourth dose as well.”

Israel currently has imposed a travel ban or ‘red list’ on many countries. These include the UK, Denmark, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Finland, France, Sweden, South Africa and several dozen other African nations.