Nigeria on Monday recorded 249 cases of COVID-19. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Tuesday.
Israeli study shows fourth dose of COVID vaccine less effective against Omicron
A preliminary study in Israel showed a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccination boosts more antibodies than the third dose, but insufficient to prevent Omicron infections.
Israel’s Sheba Medical Center gave second booster shots in a trial among its staff and was studying the effect of the Pfizer booster in 154 people after two weeks and the Moderna booster in 120 people after one week, said Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the infectious diseases unit.
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According to Regev-Yochay, the second booster shot of the Pfizer COVID vaccine was given to 154 people after two weeks and the Moderna booster was administered to 120 people after one week.
The hospital said those who received the fourth dose were compared to a “control group” that did not receive the fourth shot, adding the vaccines led to an increase in the number of antibodies “even a little bit higher than what we had after the third dose”.
“Yet, this is probably not enough for the Omicron,” Regev-Yochay.
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“We know by now that the level of antibodies needed to protect and not to get infected from Omicron is probably too high for the vaccine, even if it’s a good vaccine.”
COVID-19 fifth wave hit Poland
Adam Niedzielski, Poland health minister, says the country has entered the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Niedzielski warned the spread of the Omicron variant could result in a surge in daily cases like never seen before.
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“We already have the fifth wave of the pandemic. We predict that infections will peak in mid-February and that peak will be at about 60,000 cases a day,” Niedzielski said.
Nigeria records 249 infections
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 249 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported across the country.
The agency said the new infections were reported in 14 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).
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A breakdown of the infections is shown below:
Lagos-59
Adamawa-46
Imo-37
FCT-30
Kwara-14
Rivers-13
Kaduna-10
Taraba-9
Cross River-8
Bauchi-7
Niger-5
Delta-4
Ogun-4
Nasarawa-2
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The agency said 577 people recovered from the infection, but seven people died.
The NCDC said Monday’s report include 46 cases for Adamawa on January 13, nine infections for Taraba on January 12 and five cases for Niger on January 16.
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The agency said it includes 36 recoveries and one fatality for Taraba on January 12 as well as 214 recoveries for the FCT on January 17, including 213 community recoveries.
It added that the report include 12 community recoveries for Imo on January 17 and five recoveries for Adamawa on January 13.
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Nigeria has so far registered 251,178 infections, 224,629 recoveries, and 3,110 fatalities across the 36 states and the FCT.
Israel reduce COVID isolation period to five days
Israel says it will shorten the mandatory isolation time for those who test positive for COVID-19 from seven days to five days.
Last week, the country cut the period from an initial 10 days to seven days provided they are asymptomatic.
The health ministry said the latest decision takes effect on Wednesday, adding that a negative home antigen test is required before ending isolation.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said: “This decision will allow on the one hand to continue to ensure public health, and on the other hand, though difficult, sustain the economy in this period so we can safely get through this wave.”
Canada approves Pfizer COVID antiviral treatment
Canada has approved Paxlovid, Pfizer antiviral treatment for COVID-19.
According to a statement issued on Monday, Health Canada said the treatment can be used for adult patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 who are also at high risk of becoming more seriously ill.
Paxlovid has shown to be 90 percent effective at preventing hospitalisation or death among higher-risk patients with COVID-19.
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