Coronavirus: Africa hits 2 million confirmed cases as second wave looms

Several African countries have confirmed virus cases in the six figures. South Africa leads with more than 750,000, while Morocco has more than 300,000

The world has taken hope from promising Covid-19 vaccines, African officials also worry the continent will suffer as richer countries buy up supplies

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South Africans queue for social grant payments at a post office in Port Elizabeth. Photo: AP

Published: 7:37pm, 19 Nov 2020Updated: 10:46pm, 19 Nov 2020

The African continent has surpassed 2 million confirmed cases as the top public health official on Thursday warned that “we are inevitably edging toward a second wave” of infections.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said the 54-nation continent had crossed the milestone. Africa has seen more than 48,000 deaths from Covid-19. Its infections and deaths make up less than 4 per cent of the global total.

The African continent of 1.3 billion people is being warned against “prevention fatigue” as countries loosen pandemic restrictions to ease their economies’ suffering and more people travel.

“We cannot relent. If we relent, then all the sacrifices we put into efforts over the past 10 months will be wiped away,” Africa CDC director John Nkengasong told reporters.

He expressed concern that “many countries are not enforcing public health measures, including masking, which is extremely important”.

While the world takes hope from promising Covid-19 vaccines, African health officials also worry the continent will suffer as richer countries buy up supplies.