World Health Organization (WHO) has warned African nations that the continent could be the next epicenter of COVID-19 and around ten million Africans could contract coronavirus in three to six months.
The U.N. Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has also predicted 300,000 Africans will be died of the virus unless cautious measures aiming to contain the disease are not taken in a timely manner.
Almost all African countries, indeed, have been putting in practice tougher social restrictions ever since the news of the coronavirus outbreak broadcasted by various global mainstream media.
According to WHO‘s latest data, Africa has over 22,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 1,100 death toll related to the virus. The confirmed cases and the death toll of Africa seem to be less comparing to Europe and the U.S.
European countries’ death toll is approaching to 100,000 and there are over 40,000 coronavirus deaths in the U.S. alone. The world has over 2.4 million confirmed cases, 500,000 recovered cases and 165,000 deaths due to the virus.
Africa is, hence, on the verge of the pandemic and some medics and experts are advising Africans to observe stricter social distancing guidelines to curb the possible coronavirus outbreak. Citing low testing capacity, lack of infrastructure and medical supplies in the continent, they are also urging Africans to focus primarily on infection prevention.
That is why a number of African countries are intensifying surveillance and containment measures to counter the impacts of the virus including Ethiopia. Sudan entered three-week lockdown starting last Saturday.
Understanding the severity of the virus, Ethiopia has declared State of Emergency and it has been also carrying out nationwide resource mobilization campaigns in a view to battling the virus. Other African countries are also extending lockdown measures to put the spread of coronavirus under control.
Nevertheless, the Western countries are now relaxing some social restrictions that were imposed to contain the virus. The U.S. has issued three phases to reopen businesses and to go back to normalcy as soon as possible despite experts’ repeated warnings not to reopen sooner. As to the experts, America has to conduct widespread testing, contact tracing and isolation of confirmed cases before reopening.
Right now, the U.S. is testing 150,000 people for COVID-19 every day, but the experts are saying the testing capacity has to be 500,000 on a daily basis in a bid to decide whether the country to be reopened or not.
WHO has also warned European countries and others not to rush in easing restrictions; however, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Denmark have already announced gradual reopening of some non-essential businesses. Some of these countries are believed to be reached the apex of the pandemic.
In contrast, some medical researchers and epistemologists are telling the world not to break the current Status quo in fear of second wave as those who are tested positive and recovered from the virus are found to be positive twice in some cases. Thus, so far there is no scientific proof that people might develop antibody or immunity to the virus after being exposed to COVID-19.
They also underline that the whole world needs to carefully weigh the steps to reopen businesses and restart life as usual or faces the consequences of second wave like Japan and Singapore.
Considering the looming African’s health crisis due to the coronavirus, experts are pushing for tougher social restrictions in parallel with raising the capacity to conduct COVID-19 tests and strengthening solidarity in fighting against the common and invisible enemy.
Otherwise, Africa’s health system would be overwhelmed and the already coronavirus-ravaged economy would have unbearable devastating impacts on the continent.
The Ethiopian Herald April 21/2020
BY DANIEL BEYENE
