Scientists have warned against complacency, saying that a second wave is possible and that the continent’s health services could still easily be overwhelmed by COVID-19. In contrast, Africa represents some 17% of the world’s population.Īs encouraging, the rate of new infections has slowed in the continent’s worst affected countries, including South Africa and Egypt.īut on a more sober note, the pandemic is gaining momentum in some countries, notably Congo Brazzaville, Burundi, Central African Republic, Mali, Angola, Cameroon and South Sudan. Officially, Africa accounts for a mere 4% of the world’s cases and 3% of deaths, according to the latest statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO). ![]() In early August, when the continent recorded one million COVID-19 cases Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization’s regional director for Africa, described the pandemic as a “slow burn” – and that still seems to be the case as the world marks a full six months since the global health emergency was declared to be a “pandemic” by WHO. So whether the reason is the continent’s youthful population, a certain level of “herd immunity” gained from prior exposure to other coronaviruses, or simply a lack of adequate disease surveillance, experts are trying to understand the reasons why. ![]() ![]() Minister Jackson Mthembu assesses government’s response to COVID-19 at Harry Gwala District Municipality, South Africa 5 September 2020Ĭape Town, South Africa – Dire predictions of Africa being overwhelmed by a tsunami of COVID-19 infections and deaths have not materialized – yet – and this is confounding many researchers.
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