On Feb. 11, 2021, the WHO announced that COVID-19 cases and deaths surged in Africa as more contagious variants of the virus spread to additional countries.

The 501Y.V2 variant, first identified in South Africa, was predominant and powering record case numbers in South Africa and the sub-region. It was found in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Comoros, Zambia and in 24 non-African nations.