The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday warned Africa had just had its most devastating week of the pandemic, with cases jumping 20% in seven days, but the worst is yet to come as the third wave gains momentum on the continent, reported News 24.
“Africa has just marked the continent’s most dire pandemic week ever. But the worst is yet to come as the fast-moving third wave continues to gain speed and new ground,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s regional director for Africa.
During a virtual press conference, the WHO official said coronavirus cases are currently doubling every 18 days, as compared with every 21 days only a week ago. She added that the “end to this precipitous rise is still weeks away.”
The number of COVID-19 cases has been rising in Africa since the start of the third wave on the continent on May 3. Over 251,000 new COVID-19 cases were recorded on the continent during the week ending July 4, a 20 per cent increase over the previous week and a 12 per cent jump from the previous January peak.
Sixteen African countries are witnessing a resurgence of the virus, with the more contagious Delta variant detected in 10 of them. South Africa is the worst-hit country in the continent, with new daily cases crossing record highs of 26,000 cases over the weekend.
Notably, only 16 million people, or 2% of the African population, have been fully vaccinated so far due to sluggish vaccination rates.
The WHO Africa director said the vaccination rate is expected to slightly improve in the coming days as vaccine deliveries were picking up after grinding to a near halt in May and early June.
Moeti urged governments to expand vaccination sites and take other measures to take advantage of the vaccine deliveries as and when they come.
Africa has officially registered 5 730 638 cases and 147 125 deaths from Covid-19, according to the WHO.
