BEIJING, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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ADDIS ABABA -- The number of COVID-19-related deaths in Africa reached 99,886 as of Thursday evening, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

South Africa has reported the highest COVID-19-inflicted deaths in Africa, at 48,478, according to the Africa CDC.

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WELLINGTON -- New Zealand reported four more cases of COVID-19 on Friday, including one in the community linked to the existing Auckland February cases, who was a household contact of previous cases.

This person had previously returned a negative test, taken on Monday and has been isolating at home and is in the process of transferring to the Auckland quarantine facility, according to the Ministry of Health.

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BANGKOK -- Thailand is expecting to receive the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from China's Sinovac Biotech next week and kick-start its national inoculation program.

The first batch is scheduled to arrive at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport on Feb. 24, flied by a Thai Airways International (THAI) cargo flight, Chaiyapruk Didyasarin, THAI chairman of the board of directors, said earlier this week.

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HARARE -- Zimbabwe expected a strong economic growth of 7.4 percent this year despite the COVID-19 impact, said central bank governor John Mangudya on Thursday.

"The measured optimism is based on the expected significant growth of the agricultural output in 2021, as a result of the good rainy season, fiscal sustainability and the Bank's focus on price and financial system stability," Mangudya said in his 2021 monetary policy statement. Enditem

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