LUANDA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Angola's Minister of State Francisco Furtado on Wednesday said Angola is facing the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and a circulation of a new variant in the country is very likely due to the sharp increase of new cases registered in the past five days.
Speaking at the daily COVID-19 data update, the state minister and head of the multi-sector commission for the combat against the COVID-19 pandemic, said the situation worsened in the last five days and that remains unknown which variant is circulating in the country and that a laboratory confirmation from Portugal and South Africa is being awaited.
Angola's Minister of Health, Silvia Lutucuta, said she believes the Omicron strain or a new strain is circulating in the country, urging the public to redouble safety measures especially in the country's capital where the risk of contamination are higher.
Angola registered in the last few days, many cases of sore throat, fever, joint pains, nasal discharge, loss of smell, symptoms very similar to COVID-19, Lutucuta said, adding that at least 22,670 people have had reinforcement jabs, while a total of 657,004 children and adolescents have received the first dose.
Angola reported 633 new cases of COVID-19 on wednesday, with a total of 67,199 positive cases, 63,894 recovered and 1,741 deaths.
The provinces with the highest vaccination coverage are Luanda, Kwanza Norte, Namibe and Cabinda. Enditem
