Fourth COVID-19 Wave Simmers Down

Aug 6 , 2022


Concerns over a potential fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic ease as the number of positive cases has dropped in recent weeks. Health officials had raised the alarm in the early days of last June as positive and mortality rates began to spike. Despite the respite observed in recent weeks, the authorities caution the public to stay vigilant and adhere to social distancing practices and wear face coverings. The pandemic hit its peak in the closing days of 2021, with close to 5,200 positive cases recorded on December 28 alone. Close to 493,000 cases have been registered since early 2020, and 7,569 people had lost their lives to the virus as of last week. Health professionals have thus far administered over 52 million doses of various COVID-19 vaccines to the public.


Radar

DREARY LANES

A street lamp around Addis Abeba Stadium melds into the concrete backdrop emblematic of the capital's ageing infrastructure. Over the past few years, Ethiopia's electric grid has been subject to destruction and theft, subjecting the public treasury to hundreds of millions in losses. Nearly half of the country's population does not have access to electricity. A series of projects by the World Bank has contributed to the slight but essential upgrade to the nation's grid, including a 500 million do...


Radar

PLUMPY HUMPS

A trio of donkeys drag along the main road in front of Menlik School around the Arat Kilo area. While the four-legged domestic animal is a venerated member of the Ethiopian labour force, its skin and meat are increasingly valued in the international markets. Rhong Chang, a donkey slaughterhouse operating in Assela Town, Oromia Regional State reopened its services after a seven-year break two years ago. Public outroar has often accompanied the entrance of donkey abattoirs into Ethiopia since anot...


Radar

IMPROMPTU AISLES

A bustling market emerges under a bridge in the boroughs of the Bole Michael area. Addis Abeba City Administration has launched a series of aesthetic initiatives embalmed in themes of beautification and urbanisation that have removed thousands of shops built with makeshift tents. Above a quarter of Addis Abeba's labour force is engaged in the informal economy, which while often associated with connotations of illegality, remains a sizeable employer in emerging economies across the world. Calibra...


Back
WhatsApp
Telegram
Email