(6-APRIL-2020 ) With almost all the countries in sub-Saharan Africa now shut off from their neighbours and the rest of the world and many in lockdowns, several reports have predicted a surge in the number of confirmed cases over the next two to three weeks, hinting that Africa may be few points away from the worst of the pandemic storm.
South Africa is currently the country with the highest number of COVID-19 cases on the continent, this is mostly because of an advanced health ecosystem in contrast with other African countries. The country has tested over 50,000 people and has set up 67 mobile testing units nationwide. The government is planning to ramp up testing to 30,000 people daily. So far, 1400 people have tested positive and 5 death cases have been recorded.
Algeria, Egypt and Morocco follow closely with 1320, 1173 and 1021 positive cases respectively.
Meanwhile in Nigeria, the virus isn’t relenting either. In just over two weeks, there’s been a 400% upward increase in positive cases bringing the total numbers to 232. But another interesting angle to the Nigerian story is the rate of recovery which currently stands at 14%. 33 people have recovered and have been discharged and 5 death cases.
Across Africa, 9521 people have tested positive to coronavirus in 55 countries. 939 of them have recovered and 438 have died.