WHO) warns that about 190,000 people in Africa, if containment of the disease fails.
Spread of the virus has been sluggish across the continent which has not yet recorded the hovering number of infections or deaths.
Africa has so far recorded 53,334 cases and 2,065 fatalities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that about 190,000 people in Africa may die of Coronavirus. Within the first 12 months of the pandemic. If containment of the disease fails.
In a new research by the agency’s regional office in Brazzaville. Discovered between 83,000 and 190,000 may die and 29 to 44 million infected in the course of the period. The research relies on prediction modelling and covers 47 nations with a total population of 1 billion.
Although spread of the virus is sluggish across the continent. Not yet recorded the hovering number of infections or deaths seen in Europe, the US and other places.
Experts persistently warned that Africa is particularly susceptible to an outbreak. Resulting from weak health infrastructure, excessive rates of poverty, numerous roiling conflicts and a proven susceptibility to earlier epidemics.
The statement released by the UN agency on Thursday reads partly;
“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.”
WHO Africa Director Matshidiso Moeti added;
“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”.
“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.”
Africa has so far recorded 53,334 cases and 2,065 fatalities — out of a global death toll of nearly 267,000.
