WHAT:          Weekly engagement with members of the media to share critical updates on the COVID-19 response activities. This week’s briefing will be live from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, where the Director of Africa CDC is on the second leg of his field visits to AU member states to assess the COVID-19 situations in the countries.

SPEAKERS: Dr John Nkengasong, Director, Africa CDC         

                      Prof. JJ Muyembe, Director General of INRB, DRC

WHEN:          Thursday, 03 December 2020

TIME:                         11.00–12.00 pm East Africa Time/ 09.00 – 10 am Brazzaville Time

WHERE:        Online through ZOOM, please register in advance to join the briefing 

                     Register in advance for this webinar using the below link:

              https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__GLh9nTmSR6bfEJmKF97ag                  

 Live stream: https://livestream.com/africanunion/events/9033858

Background Information

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread to about 220 countries and territories with more than 62million cases; and claimed over 1.4million lives globally. In Africa, over 2.1million cases have been reported in all countries, with nearly 52,000 deaths. Africa CDC continue to work with Member States to ensure an effective response to the outbreak by Member States, including maintaining key public health measures which have helped to slow down the pandemic on the continent and to be prepared for a possible second wave of the outbreak.

Dr Nkengasong briefing on the COVID-19 situation will focus on key aspects of Africa CDC response activities across the continent to include:

• Current trend and status of the pandemic, the state of COVID-19 testing in AU member states and current progress on COVID-19 Vaccines Development.

Prof. JJ Muyembe, Director General of the Institut National de la Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) of DR Congo will share the platform with Dr Nkengasong to provide specific details about his country’s COVID-19 response activities.

Kindly note that the briefings now covers 3 AU working languages (English, French and Portuguese) through interpretation.

Below are basic things to consider during the briefing.

·      Journalists will be allowed to ask questions directly online. If you have a question send your name and the name of your media house to WhatsApp # (+251 945 502 310), the following emails (GwehN@africa-union.org, molalett@africa-union.org) and they will be taken by the moderator.

·      Colleagues who cannot ask questions directly online should send their questions to the same number or email addresses.

Journalists are invited to connect and attend the press briefing on Thursday, 3^rd    December 2020, at 11.00 a.m. East Africa Time.

Media inquiries:

Mr Molalet Tsedeke, Tel: 0911-630631; Email: molalett@africa-union.org; Directorate of Information and Communication; AU Commission

About the African Union

The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision: to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission.

Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en

About Africa CDC

Africa CDC is a specialized technical institution of the African Union which supports Member States in their efforts to strengthen health systems and improve surveillance, emergency response, prevention and control of diseases.

Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org