Coronavirus: Are African countries ready?

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-51403865

Coronavirus: Are African countries ready?
16 minutes ago

Africa is one of only two continents with no confirmed cases of coronavirus however experts have warned that it may not be long before the first case is confirmed, given its increasingly close ties to China.

At least 565 people have died with more than 28,000 confirmed cases around the world, most of them in China.

Last week the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency - largely because of fears that poorer countries might not be able to cope with an outbreak.

"The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries. Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is from Ethiopia.

The health systems in many African countries are already struggling with the existing workload, so can they deal with another outbreak of a highly infectious disease?...

[Commonground]

14 minutes ago
The coronavirus was confirmed in the Chinese city on January 7, 2020. Cases have since been confirmed in several other Asian countries, Europe and the United States.

The World Health Organisation, WHO, has since declared it a public health emergency of international dimensions. WHO chief Tedros Ghebereyesus said whiles China had a robust health system to detect and control, his outfit remained concerned about the virus entering country’s with weak systems.

Almost all African governments have publicly put in place strict screening at points of entry especially airports. Ivory Coast, Kenya, Ethiopia and Botswana have recorded suspected cases. All except Botswana have reported that the tests were negative. African airlines have cancelled scheduled flights to China except for Ethiopian Airlines.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that range from the common cold to MERS coronavirus, which is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus and SARS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus.

In this article, we will share the latest developments as authorities implement measures to contain the spread of the virus, especially on the African continent.

• Africa ADC asks countries to allow citizens return home
• Ethiopia to quarantine all Wuhan entrants
• Ghana records negative outcome for two suspected cases
• Kenya to repatriate its students from Chinese city of Wuhan
• Chinese embassy in Kenya issues orders
• Africa’s first infection happens in China
• African trio record cases, Air Tanzania ditches China route
• Kenyan records new case, Nigeria ‘battle ready’
• African airlines suspend flights to China
• Ethiopia suspected cases test negative
• Ethiopian Airlines denies reports of suspending flights
• Ivory Coast’s suspected case tests negative
• Mozambique suspends visa-on-arrival for travelers from China
• Ethiopia isolates four suspected cases
• Kenya rushes suspected case to hospital
• Ivory Coast conducts first tests on African continent

-snip- February 2 – 3, 2020: Kenya, Ethiopia cases, Air Tanzania suspends flights

Air Tanzania has also joined the African fliers that have suspended scheduled flights to China over the outbreak. Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s decision to continue flights to and from China has received heavy backlash.

...https://www.africanews.com/2020/02/1...onavirus-case/