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Nearly 20 African countries have reported a 20 percent increase in new cases in the past month, according to the World Health Organization. The agency issued a warning about a possible increase in Covid-19 cases as families plan for the end of the year festivities.
After reporting a downtrend and then a plateau, Africa has seen an increase in cases since early October and the WHO said the latest increase is driven by the North African region, where temperatures are falling unlike from the first wave of cases, which was caused by hotspots in southern Africa.
Overwhelmed facilities
WHO’s regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, called for vigilance in the coming weeks to prevent a further surge that could overwhelm health systems. In particular, he cited Kenya, Morocco and South Africa, where infections have been on the rise.
“As we approach the time of year when people vacation together, there is an increased risk of Covid-19 transmission. WHO is concerned that a new cluster of cases may emerge in places that have not hitherto they have been affected due to people traveling or gathering for holidays, “said Dr. Moeti.
Speaking last week at a virtual press conference, Dr. Moeti said 19 countries in Africa have reported an increase of more than 20 percent in new cases in the past 28 days compared to the previous four weeks.
However, 17 countries are also reporting a drop of more than 20% in the number of new cases during the last 28 days, compared to the previous four weeks.
Rwanda has closed 25 coronavirus treatment centers across the country following a successful reduction in positive cases. Currently, only seven treatment cases remain active, and the Health Ministry is confident that they will be enough to treat critically ill patients across the country.
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Of those that are still open, two are in Kigali, including a treatment center inside the crowded Mageragera prison, four in the eastern and southern province and one in the north.
“We closed all treatment centers mainly because the majority of patients with minor non-symptomatic cases are treated at home,” Sabin Nsanzimana, director general of the Biomedical Center of Rwanda, told The EastAfrican.
“Those with severe coronary symptoms only represent 30 percent of all positive cases and are treated at national treatment centers,” he added.
WHO urges governments to conduct risk assessments at the subnational level and identify high-risk areas and, based on this analysis, local governments can adjust their public health measures accordingly.
It also calls for community engagement to ensure that all citizens of Africa’s cities, districts, and villages are committed to fighting Covid-19.
Additional reporting by Ivan R. Mugisha
