The World Health Organization (WHO) warned African countries of the coronavirus pandemic despite witnessing a downward trend in its curve during the past 90 days, reported CGTN Africa.
Some African countries are reporting declining tallies while others see a resurgence in the numbers of cases. Only three countries in the continent have reported over 100,000 COVID-19 cases.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti warned that the decline in the number of cases had plateaued and the continent was at a pivotal moment.
“So, the continent is at a key juncture where countries could experience, an increase in cases. Sometimes called a new wave of increases,” Moeti said.
The WHO official pointed out the development, even as Europe was witnessing a resurgence in the number of new infections. On Friday, Europe reported more than 150,000 daily coronavirus cases in about a week after reporting 100,000 cases for the first time.
Moeti said it was essential that several African governments had been relaxing restrictions on movement and gathering and reopening their borders and schools, and, adding that it was not desirable to have economies closed permanently.
She further commended that several governments had used the lockdown period to strengthen their capacities to contain the pandemic.
“Working together with the WHO, Africa CDC and other partners African countries are now in a much better position to tackle challenges COVID-19 is throwing our way.”
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa stood at more than 1.6 million as of Saturday, according to figures from the WHO, while the number of deaths surpassed 38,000.
South Africa has recorded the most number of coronavirus cases and deaths in Africa, since the first infection in early March. The number of coronavirus cases surpassed 700,000 on Friday. There have been 18,370 deaths, while 629,260 people have recovered from COVID-19.
