WHO warns African countries against loosening Covid restrictions.

The World Health Organization is advising caution in light of the growing number of African countries that are reversing Covid-19 surveillance and quarantine policies.

This is particularly concerning, according to the WHO, "in a continent where vaccination rates remain among the lowest in the world."

According to the report, countries were cutting back on surveillance and other safeguards as a result of the pressure to open up the economy.

"It is concerning that nearly half of all African countries have stopped tracing the contacts of cases. In a virtual press conference on Thursday, WHO's Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said, "This, coupled with thorough testing, is the backbone of any pandemic response."

The WHO's warning comes in the wake of an uptick in Covid cases in other parts of the globe.

"Lifting public health measures does not mean taking your foot off the pandemic alertness pedal," Dr. Moeti explained.

According to WHO, just 201 million individuals, or 15% of Africa's population, are fully vaccinated, compared to a global average of 57 percent.