Coronavirus: Africa braced for more cases with next two weeks ‘extremely critical’
- As dozens of nations report new infections, officials warn continent is ‘in the morning of the Covid-19 outbreak’
- Experts fear fragile health care systems could be overwhelmed and warn people not to be complacent in virus fight
African countries are bracing for a potential jump in coronavirus cases in the coming days after dozens of nations reported more infections, including local transmission.
“These coming two weeks are extremely critical, as we seek to contain the outbreak,” Mutahi Kagwe, Kenya’s health minister, said on Sunday as he announced eight new cases, taking the country’s total to 15.
“Evidence from other countries indicates that the number of infected persons increases dramatically in the second week following confirmation of the first case,” Kagwe said.
In South Africa, the health ministry warned over the weekend that a potential spread through public transport would be devastating for the country.
“Once the coronavirus begins to spread in the taxis, trains, informal settlements, it’s going to create a new dynamic,” South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.
