WHO Projects Upsurge In COVID-19 Cases In Africa

On Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) projected an increase in cases of COVID-19 ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, in a webinar attended by selected African journalists urged countries on the need to be at alert.

Moeti warns of possible surge in COVID-19 cases as nearly 20 countries in the region are witnessing an uptick in cases.

“As we near the time of year when people get on the move to spend their holidays together, there is a bigger risk of COVID-19 transmission.

“New clusters of cases can emerge in places that have so far been unaffected as people travel or gather for festivities. But we can lower the risks by wearing masks, limiting the numbers of people who come together, observing physical distancing and practising good hand hygiene. We can celebrate yet do so safely,” Moeti said.

Africa, she said, has been experiencing a rise in cases since early October due to falling temperatures in the North African region.

According to her, out of the 47 countries in the WHO African Region, 19 countries had reported over a 20 per cent increase in new cases in the past 28 days compared with the previous four weeks.

The director, however, said 17 countries are also reporting a more than 20 per cent drop in the number of new cases over the past 28 days, compared with the previous four weeks.