- Central Africa Republic declares state of emergency for 15 days
Central African Republic has declared a 15-day state of emergency throughout the country. This is coming after a coalition of armed groups sought to overthrow re-elected President Faustin Archange Touadéra.
Albert Yaloké Mokpeme, the spokesperson for the presidency of the CAR made the announcement Thursday, 21 January 2021 on national radio.
2. South African minister, Jackson Mthembu dies of COVID-19
Cyril Ramaphosa, The South African President, confirmed in an announcement on Thursday, 21 January 2021, the passing of Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu at 62 — from complications related to COVID-19 which he contracted on January 11.
Before he died, Mthembu was one of the government’s key leaders in its response to the pandemic and the public face during many press briefings.
3. Nigeria records highest record of COVID-19 cases.
Nigeria has recorded another high in the daily number of COVID-19 cases. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, in the daily reports, stated that 1,964 fresh coronavirus infections were confirmed across 23 states and the federal capital territory (FCT).
This will be another high record after the January 15 record that beat the records from 2020.
4. Vaccine may not work for South African COVID-19 variant
Researchers have stated that vaccines being rolled out may prove futile to the South African mutated COVID-19 strain.
According to research carried out in the country, the COVID-19 strain in the country has been seen to escape antibodies. More research is being carried out as it appears that the South African variant may even be more complex than first thought.
5. World Bank to Provide 55,000 SMEs with Smarts Meters in Kenya
Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Power, Bernard Ngugi, says the state-owned electricity firm is set to distribute 55,000 smart meters to customers in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
According to Bernard, the World Bank-funded project is part of the Kenya Electricity Modernisation Project
