Africa races to prepare as more cases arise
Cases of the new coronavirus are increasing in Africa, with six new countries announcing confirmed infections.
Eighteen of the continent’s 54 countries have now registered Covid-19 cases. Most had been imported by visitors, authorities said.
Yesterday, Kenya, Guinea and Ethiopia reported their first cases, while Gabon and Ghana did so on Friday. Sudan also reported its first case, a person who had already died.
Experts are warning that containment is key, as Africa’s already strained health systems could lead to a higher mortality rate and a deeper crisis.
African countries only began reporting cases in February, and most have been imported by travellers from Europe and the United States.
South Africa announced eight new cases yesterday, bringing its total to 24. The military is preparing to repatriate 121 South African students from Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the outbreak. The returned students and military personnel on the flight will immediately be placed in quarantine.
African countries had so far been good at containing the virus because they had detected cases early, said Dr Mary Stephen, technical officer at the World Health Organisation regional office in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. The continent’s health systems were also ‘‘dealing with a lot of other emergencies at the same time’’, including Ebola, she said.
Africa’s hospitals may not be adequately prepared to care for large numbers of people who may need intensive care and ventilators, say health experts.
At the start of the outbreak, only two African countries had the capacity to test for Covid-19. Now, 43 countries have laboratories to detect cases.
Several African governments have already closed their borders, including Chad and Gabon, or have suspended official travel.
Dr Jean-Jacques Muyembe, who has headed Congo’s response to Ebola, warned that even with preparation, Covid-19 presented major challenges.