The eve of Africa Day 2020 marked 100 days since the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Africa which has since infected 108,109* people and taken the lives of 3,260* people. Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones during this time. Notwithstanding, African nations took their place among the rest of the world in mounting resistance against this epidemic. As we commemorate Africa Day, this piece celebrates a continent that is consolidating its place in global affairs and prioritizing its citizens despite its obvious challenges. The predictions about Africa and this virus were not good and were riddled with predictions of complete failure to respond appropriately to the pandemic. Some reports even put forward that number of deaths could reach hundreds of thousands.
At 100 days of the COVID-19’s spread in China, infections were at 100,000, in the US 29,468, in the UK 219,183 and at 100 days since the first infection, India was reporting 2,000 cases a day. At 100 days in Africa, no single African country is reporting numbers close to the above.
Two months after the first cases of coronavirus in the world was confirmed, Africa recorded its first case in Egypt related to an asymptomatic Chinese national who landed at Cairo International Airport. The patient was detected because of the government’s rigorous preventative plan which involved screening and monitoring of travelers from coronavirus affected countries. Since then, the virus has spread to all 54 countries, hitting Lesotho the last African country to record a case on 13 May. Recoveries as of 23 May stand at 42,937*, 40% of the confirmed cases.
Government Response To The Pandemic
There is no doubt that government decision to monitor incoming travelers at border posts and eventually close borders across the continent were instrumental in curbing the spread of the virus. Temperature checks, information gathering, and sanitation stations were situated at airports and border posts.
At continental level, the Africa CDC launched the Africa Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 Outbreak and provided weekly briefings on the development of the virus on the continent. At country level, governments set up COVID-19 task forces, established testing centers and isolation facilities. As the virus continued to spread around the world, African countries instituted border closures beginning with restriction on the arrival of passengers from hotspots like China, Italy, the UK and the US to full border closures except for the movement of essential goods and return of residents.
School closures were followed by restrictions on large gatherings. Then came the curfews and stay-at-home measures with some countries imposing a complete lockdown and other focusing on states and provinces considered hotspots.
With testing launched, ministries of health provided information on preventative measures such as sanitation, hand washing, social distancing and the use of masks.
Governments also provided daily statistics on the status of the infection, recoveries and death and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials were developed in local languages.
Social media was harnessed as an information sharing tool in addition to tradition media tools like radio and television. In Ethiopia, community leaders were mobilised to spread vital information on preventative measures, symptoms and treatment protocols for the virus.
These measures though difficult were necessary to limit the spread of the virus within countries and manage the burden on the fragile health systems. Countries like Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa are relaxing restriction in order to balance out the pressure on the economy but are still enforcing social distancing and wearing of masks.
Effect of Government Measures
Government response to the pandemic on the continent has not been without challenges. The lockdown has intensified food insecurity due to low agricultural production, transportation and importation. With little to no social protection and support mechanisms, sporadic food packages have not been able to meet the needs of the most vulnerable. A locust infection destroying vast amounts of vital crops is affecting production in East Africa and making matters worse.
An estimated 297 million pupils and students in Africa have been affected by school closures and the implementation of remote learning has been challenged by issues with cost and access to electricity, internet connectivity and digital equipment. There are strong concerns of students being left behind with some unlikely to reintegrate effectively into the formal class systems.
Planned elections have been suspended in a number of countries and where they have gone ahead, voter turnout has been low. In Kenya and Nigeria, lockdowns have ushered in a new wave of violence as police and soldiers are using excessive force to enforce the lockdowns. The stay-at-home orders has also put women and children at risk of violence, be it sexual, physical, psychological or economic and simultaneously isolating them from any help.
The economy has not gone unscathed with sectors such as tourism and oil hit the hardest. African nations are doing their best to mitigate the pressure of lockdowns and border closures on the economy by staggering the opening of businesses and providing stimulus packages to small businesses. In Egypt, the government has announced stimulus policies for a USD 6.4 billion package to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 and in Morocco, citizens registered with the pension fund and who have lost their jobs due to the crisis will receive 2,000 Dirhams (USD $204) a month and can put off debt payments until June 30. Delivery of pre-existing health programs targeting malaria, polio, cholera, measles, HIV/AIDS and Ebola have been affected.
