South Africa accelerates vaccination campaign amid surge

By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME and FARAI MUTSAKA
Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa has accelerated its vaccination campaign with pop-up sites in shopping centers and at transportation hubs a week after the discovery of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. South Africa’s new daily cases nearly doubled to 8,561 Wednesday, from 4,373 a day earlier, according to official statistics. Scientists said they were bracing for the surge to continue. Tests indicate the omicron variant is spreading quickly and is now in five of South Africa’s nine provinces. The World Health Organization said in a statement that South Africa has confirmed 172 cases of omicron and Botswana 19. Much remains unknown about the variant, including whether it’s more contagious or if existing vaccines are effective against it.