The WHO, according to the snippets on the Africa.com webinar series session, posted on Africa.com, said Africa was succeeding in controlling the spread of COVID-19.
Its Regional Director for Africa, Moeti, at the session stated that the WHO expected higher COVID-19 cases than what had been recorded in Africa.
Moeti added that while the expectation was that the number of cases in West Africa would have been 1,260, 871 by May 17, the region recorded 24,345 cases.
She stated, “We are seeing fewer cases (in Africa) than expected.” The WHO regional director said while West Africa recorded 16 per cent daily growth rate of confirmed cases before April 1, the rate had gone down to 6.5 per cent
In the case of Central Africa, she said the growth rate reduced from 14 per cent before April 1 to four per cent. She said while the number of cases expected in the region on May 17 was 149,353, the cases reported as of that day was 8,021.
She stated, “We are seeing fewer cases than expected. For West Africa, it was 16 per cent of daily growth rate before April 1. Number of cases expected on May 17 was 1,260, 871 but number of cases reported was 24,345. Daily growth rate is now 6.5 per cent.
“For Central Africa, it was 14 per cent of daily growth rate before April 1. Number of cases expected on May 17 was 149,353, but number of cases reported was 8,021. Daily growth rate is now 4 per cent.”
The WHO chief also said that said public health and social measures in Africa appeared to have slowed the spread of COVID-19 across the continent.
“The WHO believes that Africa’s measures of curtailing the virus are working and are reporting a slowing down of the rate of spread,” Moeti declared.
She said countries with higher testing levels per 10,000 people and sharing of date suggested a true picture of the outbreak.
