AU Says 17 African Countries, Regions Under Border Closure Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa) said Wednesday that 17 African countries and regions are under a total border closure due to concerns related to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Africa.

Africa’s CDC, a specialized health care agency of the African Union (AU) Commission, said in its periodic report released Wednesday that some 17 African countries and regions are still under “total border closures” while the closure Educational institutions across the country have been activated in 33 African countries in an effort to stop the spread of the infectious virus.

According to figures from the continental disease control and prevention agency, the total number of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Africa has reached 1,420,629 as of Wednesday.

Africa’s CDC also noted that the death toll due to COVID-19-related illnesses in Africa has reached 34,327 as of Wednesday. The number of people who have recovered from the infectious virus across the continent has so far reached 1,168,444.

He noted that 9 African countries are practicing mandatory COVID-19 testing at borders.

According to the latest figures from the continental disease control and prevention agency, Morocco, South Africa and Ethiopia reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases during the past week.

Meanwhile, Africa’s CDC had recently released COVID-19 guidelines, reiterating that “due to disruptions in the global supply chain, some African countries may face the risk of a severe shortage of personal protective equipment.”

“Health authorities in Africa should prioritize prevention of a crisis such as the acute shortage of personal protective equipment for health workers, and in this context as part of the response to COVID-19,” emphasized the CDC Africa.

He also called on COVID-19 response teams in African countries to include actions to prevent PPE shortages in their planning, as proper planning can minimize the negative consequences of an acute shortage.

The guidelines provide consideration and a number of options that can be used to inform countries’ strategies for managing any shortage of personal protective equipment.