A South African student is screened as schools begin to reopen after COVID-19 lockdown in Langa, Cape Town
GENEVA, June 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Africa will have a “steady increase” in COVID-19 cases until a vaccine is developed and strong public health measures are needed in current “hotspots” in South Africa, Algeria and Cameroon, the World Health Organization (WHO) 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,” Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Africa regional director, told a Geneva briefing.
Moeti said it was spreading beyond capital cities and that a lack of tests and other supplies was hampering responses.
But she said that it did not seem as if severe cases and deaths were being missed by authorities.
So far Africa has been the continent least affected by Covid-19.
South Africa had more than a quarter of the reported cases and was seeing high numbers of confirmed cases and deaths in Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces, she said.
She added that Western Cape was looking similar to recent outbreaks in Europe and the US.
The country has one of the most advanced healthcare systems in Africa, but there are fears that a steep rise in cases could overwhelm it.
South Africa’s government has been praised for its early and decisive imposition of a lockdown, but the easing of restrictions in June has been accompanied by a rise in infections.
Overall, there have been more than 7.3 million infections globally and more than 416,000 deaths.
Dr Moeti said that Africa had had some 200,000 cases and 5,000 deaths, with 10 countries accounting for 75% of the cases.
“Even though these cases in Africa account for less than 3% of the global total, it’s clear that the pandemic is accelerating,” she said.
She warned that cases were likely to continue increasing for the foreseeable future.
“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,” Dr Moeti said.
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 marginalised communities and low-income families, Moeti said. — NNN-AGENCIES
