The coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic is increasing in Africa, spreading to the hinterland from the capital cities where it reached with the travelers, the World Health Organization stated on Thursday.
But the WHO mentioned that there was no indication that severe cases and deaths were getting missed, nor the virus caused noticeable infections in the refugee camps all across the continent.
Ten countries are driving Africa's epidemic, accounting for 75 percent of some 207,600 cases on the continent, with 5,000 deaths reported, according to Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's Africa regional director.
COVID-`19 Pandemic Increasing in Africa
South Africa, which last month began a phased easing of the lockdown, is the hardest-hit, accounting for a quarter of all cases, she said. "Even though these cases in Africa account for less than three percent of the global total, it's clear that the pandemic is accelerating," Moeti told a news briefing for Geneva-based U.N. correspondents. "We believe that large numbers of severe cases and deaths are not being missed in Africa."
Africa's population is relatively youthful and many countries had already established "point of entry" screening measures against Ebola fever - two factors which may have so far limited the spread of COVID-19, she said.
But lockdowns and market closures intended to contain coronavirus contagion have taken a heavy toll on marginalized communities and low-income families, Moeti said. In South Africa, high numbers of daily cases and deaths are being reported in two provinces, the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, she said, adding: "Specifically in the Western Cape where we are seeing a majority of cases and deaths, the trend seem to be similar to what was happening in Europe and in the U.S."
A major challenge on the continent remains the availability of test kits, Moeti said. "Until such time as we have access to an effective vaccine, I'm afraid we'll probably have to live with a steady increase in the region, with some hotspots having to be managed in a number of countries, as is happening now in South Africa, Algeria, Cameroon for example, which require very strong public health measures, social distancing measures to take place."
(With agency inputs)
