Masi Lambo
JF-Expert Member
- Apr 8, 2020
- 532
- 360
The continent has so far been spared in comparison with others but the worst could still be to come.
Africa has now recorded more than 100,000 infections of the novel coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Friday.
More than 3,100 people have died from COVID-19 as the continent of some 1.3 billion people struggles to curb the outbreak, despite lockdown measures such as border closures being implemented.
Nevertheless, CDC director John Nkengasong reported that the number of cases this week was similar to the figure from last week and "we hope that trend continues," as opposed to a rapid increase.
Read more: Lack of regional coordination could lead to more deaths in Africa
Early lockdowns in many of Africa's 54 countries may have prevented the disease from causing more mayhem, but Nkengasong said "that doesn't mean Africa has been spared."
He added, though, that health officials are not seeing a lot of community deaths or "massive flooding of our hospitals" due to the virus.
Africa seems to stem the tide of corona infections
Coronavirus hotspots
Countries with vulnerable health care systems and a recent history of conflict, such as Somalia and South Sudan, are still a concern for health officials, particularly as the numbers continue to rise.
In Tanzania, where the president says the virus has been defeated by prayer, the government hasn't updated its numbers of cases for three weeks.
South Africa has the most infections on the continent, with more than 19,000 cases. A more aggressive testing campaign has been evident and has been cited as a reason for the higher number of infections.
Africa has now recorded more than 100,000 infections of the novel coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Friday.
More than 3,100 people have died from COVID-19 as the continent of some 1.3 billion people struggles to curb the outbreak, despite lockdown measures such as border closures being implemented.
Nevertheless, CDC director John Nkengasong reported that the number of cases this week was similar to the figure from last week and "we hope that trend continues," as opposed to a rapid increase.
Read more: Lack of regional coordination could lead to more deaths in Africa
Early lockdowns in many of Africa's 54 countries may have prevented the disease from causing more mayhem, but Nkengasong said "that doesn't mean Africa has been spared."
He added, though, that health officials are not seeing a lot of community deaths or "massive flooding of our hospitals" due to the virus.
Africa seems to stem the tide of corona infections
Coronavirus hotspots
Countries with vulnerable health care systems and a recent history of conflict, such as Somalia and South Sudan, are still a concern for health officials, particularly as the numbers continue to rise.
In Tanzania, where the president says the virus has been defeated by prayer, the government hasn't updated its numbers of cases for three weeks.
South Africa has the most infections on the continent, with more than 19,000 cases. A more aggressive testing campaign has been evident and has been cited as a reason for the higher number of infections.
