COVID-19: Africa's Death Toll May Reach 190,000 If Proper Measures Are Not In Place - WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) fears that Africa might record up to 190,000 deaths from the novel coronavirus if the measures to stem the spread on the continent are not strictly adhered to.

The agency came to the conclusion after its branch in Brazzaville conducted a study that showed that between 80,000 and 190,000 lives could be lost, with an infection rate falling between 29 and 44 million.

It disclosed this in a statement, saying that it made its prediction using the model of 47 countries on a continent that accommodates over one billion people.

Due to the continent's fragile healthcare systems, high poverty rates, and raging wars across various parts of the continent, and political instabilities, experts have arrived at this grim reality for Africa.

Although, the spread of the disease is slow compared to places like the United States and Europe where high numbers of infections and death rates are recorded.

In its statement, the organisation said, “The model predicts the observed slower rate of transmission, lower age of people with severe disease and lower mortality rates compared to what is seen in the most affected countries in the rest of the world.

“The lower rate of transmission, however, suggests a more prolonged outbreak over a few years.”

Speaking on the matter, the UN agency's Africa Director Matshidiso Moeti said, “while COVID-19 likely won’t spread as exponentially in Africa as it has elsewhere in the world, it likely will smoulder in transmission hotspots”.

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“COVID-19 could become a fixture in our lives for the next several years unless a proactive approach is taken by many governments in the region. We need to test, trace, isolate and treat.”

WHO warns that countries like South Africa, Algeria, and Cameroon were hotspots for higher infection and death rates unless the governments of those countries put proper containment measures in place.

So far, Africa has recorded a total of more than 50,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 2,065 deaths.

Africa's most populous city Lagos has had its lockdown partially lifted, while the South African Government has begun to ease its restrictive measures.