Some countries in Africa have not reported cases of coronavirus
A few countries in Africa that have not recorded cases of coronavirus have been revealed. Just six countries out of a total of 54 countries in Africa are yet to report any cases of the novel coronavirus.
According to a recent report by AFP, the global pandemic has been
confirmed in almost every country, but for a handful of far-flung tiny
island states, war-torn Yemen and isolated North Korea.
In Africa authorities claim they are spared by god, or simply saved
by low air traffic to their countries, however some fear it is lack of
testing that is hiding the true impact.
– South Sudan –
The east African nation is barely emerging from six years of civil
war and with high levels of hunger, illness and little infrastructure,
observers fear the virus could wreak havoc.
Doctor Angok Gordon Kuol, one of those charged with overseeing the
fight against the virus, said the country had only carried out 12 tests,
none of which were positive.
He said the reason the virus has yet to reach South Sudan could be
explained by the low volume of air traffic and travel to the country.
“Very few airlines come to South Sudan and most of the
countries affected today they are affected by… people coming from
abroad.”
He said the main concern was foreigners working for the large NGO
and humanitarian community, or people crossing land borders from
neighbouring countries.
South Sudan has shut schools, banned gatherings such as weddings,
funerals and sporting events and blocked flights from worst-affected
countries. Non-essential businesses have been shuttered and movement
restricted.
The country can currently test around 500 people and has one isolation centre with 24 beds.
– Burundi –
In Burundi, which is gearing up for general elections in May, authorities thank divine intervention for the lack of cases.
“The government thanks all-powerful God who has protected Burundi,” government spokesman Prosper Ntahorwamiye said on national television last week.
At the same time he criticised those “spreading rumours” that
Burundi is not capable of testing for the virus, or that it is spreading
unnoticed.
Some measures have been taken, such as the suspension of
international flights and placing handwashing stations at the entrances
to banks and restaurants in Bujumbura.
However several doctors have expressed their concerns.
“There are zero cases in Burundi because there have been zero tests,” a Burundian doctor said on condition of anonymity.
– Sao Tome and Principe –
Sao Tome and Principe — a tiny nation of small islands covered in
lush rainforest — has reported zero cases because it is unable to test,
according to World Health Organisation representative Anne Ancia.
However “we are continuing preparations,” with around 100 people in
quarantine after returning from highly-affected countries, and the WHO
keeping an eye on cases of pneumonia.
With only four ICU beds for a population of 200,000 people, the
country is desperate to not let the virus take hold and has already shut
its borders despite the importance of tourism to the local economy.
– Malawi –
Malawi’s health ministry spokesman Joshua Malango brushed aside
fears that Malawi might not have registered any Covid-19 cases due to a
lack of testing kits:
“We have the testing kits in Malawi and we are testing.”
Dr Bridget Malewezi from the Society of Medical Doctors told AFP that while “we may not be 100 percent ready”, government was gearing up for the arrival of the virus.
She suggested it may only be a matter of time before the pandemic hits Malawi.
“It’s only been in the past few weeks that it has been
rampantly spreading across Africa so most people feel it will get here
at some point…,” she said.
Malawi has asked people coming from hard-hit countries to self-quarantine, which Malawezi said had helped “safeguard the country from any possible spread of the virus”.
– Lesotho –
Tiny Lesotho, a kingdom encircled by South Africa with only two
million inhabitants, went into national lockdown on Monday despite
registering zero cases.
Until last week the country had no tests or testing centres, and
received its first kits thanks to a donation by Chinese billionaire Jack
Ma.
Authorities had reported eight suspected cases which they had not been able to test and the first results are expected soon.
– Comoros –
The Indian Ocean island nation of the Comoros, situated between
Madagascar and Mozambique, has yet to detect a single case of the virus,
according to the health ministry.
One doctor in the capital Moroni, Dr Abdou Ada, wonders if it may
not be because of the wide use of the drug Artemisinin to treat malaria.
“I believe that the mass anti-malarial treatment explains the
fact that the Comoros are, at least for now, spared from Covid-19. it is
a personal belief that needs to be confirmed scientifically.”
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