The World Health Organization (WHO) sounded the alarm Monday over the spread of COVID-19 in Africa, warning that increasing numbers in South Africa could be a “precursor” to outbreaks across the continent.
“I am very concerned at the moment that we are beginning to see an acceleration of the disease in Africa,” WHO chief emergency officer Michael Ryan said at a virtual news conference.
Until recently, Africa remained relatively unscathed by the pandemic compared to the increase in numbers in other parts of the world.
With more than 15,000 deaths and nearly 725,000 cases, the continent remains the second least affected in the world after Oceania. But the situation has become increasingly worrying, particularly in South Africa.
South Africa on Saturday reported an increase of 13,373 new cases, the fourth largest worldwide.
The country, which saw its coronavirus death toll pass the 5,000 mark with more than 350,000 infections over the weekend, is by far the most affected in Africa.
Ryan warned that the situation there could be seen as “a warning” of what the rest of the continent might have in store.
“While South Africa is experiencing a very, very severe event, I think it is really a marker of what the continent could face if urgent measures are not taken to provide more support,” he said.
“South Africa, unfortunately, may be a precursor, it may be a warning of what will happen in the rest of Africa.”
‘Wake up call’
Ryan noted that the South African outbreak started earlier than in other African countries. First it spread in the richest areas, but now it has moved to the poorest and most rural areas.
“Therefore, South Africa is experiencing that acceleration,” he said, stressing that it was not faster than in other parts of the continent.
While South Africa’s numbers were by far the largest, they “only” increased by 30 percent last week, he said.
By comparison, the figures in Kenya increased by 31 percent, in Madagascar by 50 percent, in Zambia by 57 percent and in Namibia by 69 percent.
“I think what we are starting to see is a continuous acceleration of transmission in various countries,” he said. “This is not just a wake-up call for South Africa … We need to take what is happening in Africa very, very seriously.”
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