Africa transitioning out of pandemic phase of Covid, WHO says

A man walks past a Covid-themed mural in Soweto, South Africa. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

Africa is transitioning out of the pandemic phase of its Covid-19 outbreak and moving towards a situation where it will be managing the virus long term, the World Health Organization’s regional head for Africa has said.

“The pandemic is moving into a different phase,” Dr Matshidiso Moeti said. “We think that we’re moving now, especially with the vaccination expected to increase, into what might become a kind of endemic living with the virus.”