South Africa government
A COVID-19 patient is admitted to a hospital in Johannesburg, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. South Africa's third wave of COVID-19 infections is overwhelming the health system in Gauteng, the country's most populous province that is now running out of beds to treat patients. (AP Photo)
South Africa tightens restrictions to fight resurgent virus

By Mogomotsi Magome And Andrew Meldrum Jun. 27, 2021 03:47 PM EDT

A nurse performs a COVID-19 test at a rapid testing site on a rainy day in Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, June 17, 2021. The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Monday, June 21, 2021 the U.N. agency is in discussions with numerous companies and institutions to create a technology transfer hub for coronavirus vaccines in South Africa. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
Vaccine technology transfer center to open in South Africa

By Andrew Meldrum And Maria Cheng Jun. 21, 2021 02:12 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday Sept. 14, 2019 file photo, former Zambia President Kenneth Kaunda is supported by former Nigerian President Olusegan Obasanjo, left, at the state funeral of former Zimbabwean leader, Robert Mugabe in Harare, Zimbabwe. Zambia’s first president Kenneth Kaunda has died at the age of 97, the country's president Edward Lungu announced Thursday June 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)
Zambia's 1st president, Kenneth Kaunda, dies at age 97

By Noel Sichalwe And Andrew Meldrum Jun. 17, 2021 12:05 PM EDT

FILE — In this Monday, March 29, 2021 file photo South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, right, heads a government delegation on a visit to ASPEN Pharmaceuticals in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The country's COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been hit by further delays as it will have to discard at least 2 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines produced in the country.. (AP Photo,file)
Fighting COVID-19 surge, South Africa increases restrictions

By Mogomotsi Magome Jun. 15, 2021 03:40 PM EDT

FILE - In this Tuesday, April 14, 2020 file photo, South African Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, takes delivery of emergency medical equipment for COVID-19 from China, at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mkhize was placed on special leave Tuesday, June 8, 2021 over a corruption scandal involving an irregular government contract where $11 million was paid to a company connected to two people who used to work for him. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
South Africa's health minister put on leave over contract

By Mogomotsi Magome Jun. 08, 2021 02:26 PM EDT

A health worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at the newly-opened mass vaccination program for the elderly at a drive-thru vaccination center outside Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, May 25, 2021. South Africa aims to vaccinate 5 million of its older citizens by the end of June. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa returns to stricter lockdown, virus 'surging'

By Gerald Imray May. 30, 2021 02:55 PM EDT

French President Emmanuel Macron, center, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrive at the University of Pretoria Future Africa in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday May 28, 2021. Macron and Ramaphosa are launching a program to support African vaccine production, a project backed by the European Union, the United States and the World Bank. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Visiting South Africa, France's Macron pledges vaccine help

By Mogomotsi Magome May. 28, 2021 01:03 PM EDT

A man rides his pedicab with a slogan to remind people to wear masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Manila, Philippines on Monday, April 26, 2021. COVID-19 infections in the Philippines surged past 1 million Monday in the latest grim milestone as officials assessed whether to extend a monthlong lockdown in Manila and outlying provinces amid a deadly spike or relax it to fight recession, joblessness and hunger. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
The Latest: Philippines extends virus lockdown to mid-May

By The Associated Press Apr. 28, 2021 03:02 AM EDT

A box of Janssen vaccines is shown by pharmacist Zsolt Szenasi at a warehouse of Hungaropharma, a Hungarian pharmaceutical wholesale company, in Budapest, Hungary, after the arrival of the first batch of the Johnson & Johnson, US, made one-dose vaccine against the new coronavirus in the country Tuesday, April 13, 2021. The first shopment contains 28 thousand doses of Janssen. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP)
South Africa halts J&J vaccine jabs; Europe rollout delayed

By Frank Jordans, Maria Cheng And Andrew Meldrum Apr. 13, 2021 09:55 AM EDT

Healthcare worker walks past a poster explaining the after effects of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, March 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa bans liquor sales over Easter to prevent surge

By Mogomotsi Magome Mar. 30, 2021 04:00 PM EDT

A woman reacts as a health worker waits to take her nasal swab sample to test for COVID-19 at a bus terminal in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New virus variant detected in India; experts urge caution

By Aniruddha Ghosal Mar. 24, 2021 11:43 AM EDT

Tanzania's Vice President Samia Suluhu speaks during a tour of the Tanga region of Tanzania Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Vice President Suluhu announced Wednesday, March 17, 2021 that President John Magufuli of Tanzania, a prominent COVID-19 skeptic whose populist rule often cast his country in a harsh international spotlight, has died aged 61 of heart failure. (AP Photo)
Death of Tanzania's Magufuli draws sorrow but ire from some

By Tom Odula Mar. 18, 2021 05:36 AM EDT

FILE — In this Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020 file photo, former South African President, Jacob Zuma, appears at a hearing of the Zondo Commission of Enquiry into State Capture. A special unit in the country is now investigating nearly $900 million worth of possible corruption in the procurement of COVID-19 contracts at the same time that allegations of widespread government graft continues. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, file)
Hope that South Africa's COVID-19 corruption inspires action

By Gerald Imray Mar. 15, 2021 04:26 AM EDT

Karima Brown is photographed during a protest in Johannesburg, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. Tributes from journalists and politicians are coming in for prominent South African journalist Karima Brown who died of COVID-19 on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Her family said in a statement that Brown had been hospitalized after falling and will be buried Thursday according to Islamic burial rites. (AP Photo)
Tributes as leading South African reporter dies of COVID-19

By Mogomotsi Magome Mar. 04, 2021 09:54 AM EST

Protesters clash with police at the start of a planned march to Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, as police stop all protests before they reach parliament Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. Various groups planned to protest during Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's 2021 Budget Speech. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
South Africa to spend $712 million on mass vaccination drive

By Mogomotsi Magome Feb. 24, 2021 11:41 AM EST

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address to a restricted parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. Prior to his address Ramaphosa lit a candle for the some 46,000 people who have died from COVID-19 in the country. (Esa Alexander/Pool via AP)
South Africa's president fights own party over corruption

By Mogomotsi Magome Feb. 19, 2021 09:19 AM EST

Health care workers look through a window at a hospital in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa during the roll out of the first batch of Johnson and Johnson vaccines in the country. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was among the first in his country to receive a COVID-19 vaccination to launch the inoculation drive. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
A joke, a jab: South Africa starts vaccinating with leader

By Gerald Imray And Mogomotsi Magome Feb. 17, 2021 07:07 AM EST

A worker finishes the details on a production line of coffins in his workshop, in Evaton, south of Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Maseko, says the material and cost for making coffins has gone up due to less suppliers due the impact of Covid-19 on most businesses. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa readies to give J&J jabs to health care workers

By Mogomotsi Magome Feb. 16, 2021 12:47 PM EST

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address to a restricted parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. Prior to his address Ramaphosa lit a candle for the some 46,000 people who have died from COVID-19 in the country. (Esa Alexander/Pool via AP)
South Africa's Ramaphosa urges support for vaccination drive

By Mogomotsi Magome Feb. 11, 2021 03:19 PM EST

Pedestrians wearing face masks as a precaution against the coronavirus, walk near the statues with masks in Incheon, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
The Latest: China's northeast outbreaks appear under control

By The Associated Press Feb. 07, 2021 03:28 AM EST