Africa’s First Confirmed COVID-19 Case Recorded In Algeria
Algeria has recorded the first confirmed case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Africa.
The Algerian health authorities confirmed the development on Tuesday, as the virus was diagnosed in an Italian man who arrived the country on February 17, 2020.
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According to the Algerian ministry of health, the Italian has been quarantined based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.
The Nigerian Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, had on Sunday, February 23, said that the ministry, in partnership with the Lagos state government, was ready to contain the disease should there be any outbreak.
Meanwhile, WHO observers had in like manner said that African countries were 66% ready to tackle the coronavirus.
But the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said in a tweet that “the window of opportunity the continent has had to prepare for the coronavirus disease is closing.
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“All countries must ramp up their preparedness activities,” she added.
Price of crude is falling on daily basis as US crude on Tuesday declined to a 52-week low as it dipped by 3.4% to $49.69/ barrel.
Consequently, Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude traded between $54.89 and $49.69 per barrel respectively, while the major stocks are losing, as the Dows dipped by 1000 and 800 points on Monday and Tuesday respectively.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, depends mainly on oil revenue and the impact of COVID-19 on demand could further weaken Nigeria’s economy.
The country’s external reserves as of February 24, were $36. 46 billion, falling from $ 36.63 billion on February 21. The fall could persist if crude oil price continues dropping.
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