Just over a year after the coronavirus was first reported in China countries are still reeling from its effects. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, has infected over 90 million people globally and resulted in more than 1.9 million deaths. In January 2021, South Africa has the highest number of cases on the African continent and has seen a surge in daily infections since December.
The race to find and provide effective vaccines and therapeutics continues. Non-pharmaceutical interventions are still needed to limit the transmission of COVID-19. They include isolating cases, quarantining contacts as well as relevant, accurate and timely risk communication. Hand and respiratory hygiene, infection control and prevention are also vital.
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