Situation Overview:
MoPH Figures: As of 14 July, MoPH data shows that 136,643 people across all 34 provinces in Afghanistan are confirmed to have had COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. An additional 16,427 people have tested positive since the last update two weeks ago. Of the total cases since the start of the pandemic, some 83,849 people have recovered, and 5,923 people have died – at least 93 of the fatalities have been healthcare workers.Since the start of the pandemic, only 664,045 tests have been conducted for a population of 40.4 million.
The number of cases remain at alarming levels over the post-Eid al-Fitr period. The daily average number of new cases now far surpasses figures seen during the peak of the first and second waves last year. In week the last week, some 8,674 new cases and 508 new deaths were reported. This is a 15 per cent decrease in the number of cases and 8 per cent decrease in deaths compared to week prior.
Overseas testing has confirmed the presence of the variants in Afghanistan. While Afghanistan lacks in-country facilities to test for the Delta variant, concern over the variant’s spread remains high. Afghanistan now has a daily test-positivityrate – positive tests as a percentage of total tests – of 48 per cent as of 14 July, suggesting overall under-testing of potential cases. With a testing capacity of 8,700 tests per day, 35 laboratories are now operating in and there are plans to establish 9 more by the end of August. Due to limited public health resources, lack of people coming forward for testing, as well as the absence of a national death register, confirmed cases of and deaths from COVID-19 are likely to be underreported overall in Afghanistan.
Health partners continue to support the health system in case management and infection prevention and control. Since the outset of the pandemic in the country, around 7,434 health professionals have been trained in response to COVID19 at national and provincial level on subjects such as critical and severe case management, using of BIPAP, CiPAP, ventilator, nursing care, anesthesia, intubation and infection prevention and control.
WHO warns that despite the new surge, widespread complacency and failure to follow public health advice in Afghanistan is creating grave risks in the community with people generally not observing physical distancing or mask-wearing protocols. There is particular concern about the upcoming Eid al-Adha period and the need to promote personal protection measures during this holiday. Health partners have worked with MoPH to develop specific messages for the upcoming Eid holidays. These will be widely circulated. Given the rapid rise in cases, the Government of Afghanistan has extended closure of all schools, universities and training courses that started on 29 May. The school closure will be in effect across 16 provinces, including Kabul. Most government offices have moved to essential staff because of the outbreak. The Government has also announced other preventative measures across these 16 provinces, including the banning of mass gatherings and weddings. No other nation-wide lockdown measures are currently in place.
Vaccination: Since 8 March, Afghanistan has received 3,068,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines – 468,000 from the COVAX facility, 500,000 directly from the Government of India, 700,000 from the government of the People's Republic of China and 1,400,000 from USA. Some 2,192,000 additional doses of vaccines are expected to arrive to the country this month as well.