Africa should expect more Covid-19 cases as lockdowns ease in some countries: WHO
"We will all have to work together to then control what happens as far as those increases are concerned"
Africa has surpassed 640,000 Covid-19 cases and 14,000 deaths, Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization regional director for Africa, said on Thursday.
During a news conference, Moeti said some countries should expect a rise in cases as their governments ease lockdown measures "that have been put in place and bought some time in scaling up the public health capacities," reports the CNN.
"We will all have to work together to then control what happens as far as those increases are concerned," Moeti said.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Displaced people living in refugee camps and settlements are the most vulnerable population in Africa during the pandemic, where basic preventive measures against coronavirus such as physical distancing and frequent hand washing represent a challenge, Moeti explained.
"WHO recommends health screening for new arrivals, temporary isolation facilities for suspected cases, adopting activities like food distribution to limit gatherings, and strengthen infection prevention and control practices including ensuring access to water, supplies and hand washing stations," Moeti said. "And importantly, ensuring essential health services for other diseases and conditions continue to be provided."
Moeti said the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Équateur province — which now tops 56 case s-- is a reminder that countries in the region have to deal with other health emergencies at the same time they are responding to the Covid-19 pandemic
Moeti added the outbreak in the Équateur province "is of great concern, particularly as it is now surpassing the previous outbreak in this area which was closed off and controlled at a total of 54 cases."
