The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday raised an alarm over the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Africa, pointing towards the surging number of cases in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries, reported Africa Times.
During a virtual news conference, WHO’s emergencies chief Michael Ryan said he is very concerned about the acceleration of coronavirus in Africa.
Until recently, Africa had been relatively less affected by the pandemic in comparison to other parts of the world that have been hard-hit, such as Europe and the Americas. The continent has registered close to 725,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 15,000 deaths so far.
But, now, the situation has changed, especially in South Africa, which has already reported over 360,000 infections and more than 5,000 related deaths so far. South Africa accounts for over 61% of total coronavirus cases reported across Africa. On Saturday, the country reported a surge of 13,373 new cases, the fourth-largest globally.
Ryan warned the situation in South Africa is kind of a warning for other African countries. The WHO official also pointed out that coronavirus had grown in Madagascar, Zambia, Kenya and Namibia.
“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 action is not taken to provide further support,” he said. “South Africa may, unfortunately, be a precursor, it may be a warning for what will happen in the rest of Africa.”
The WHO official pointed out that corona virus outbreak in South Africa began earlier than those in a number of other African countries. He said the virus first spread in wealthier areas and has now moved to poorer and more rural areas and that is a matter of great concern.
“Therefore, South Africa is experiencing that acceleration,” he said, stressing though it was no faster than elsewhere on the continent.
