Africa’s disaster response has surprised many as cases, relative to further developed nations, have been low. Though there has been a 1.2% increase in cases since Mid November 2020 as winter has approached,

Africa has maintained low morbidity: 2.1 million cases compared to America’s 13 million cases. The continent’s death rate has totaled to 51,000 deaths and has been a minor mortality source in the world’s overall affected rate. However, there is the possibility that the lack of testing and fear of health care promotes false numbers.

Low morbidity and mortality rates in Africa have not had foolproof reasoning as the numbers have been unexpected to the scientific community. Possible reasoning for these rates includes the younger population as more than 60% of Africans are under the 25-year-old threshold. It also holds that lower rates of obesity and type two diabetes are a source of complications for those battling COVID-19.

There has also been speculation that Africa’s past encounters with epidemics had caused preparedness for another viral disaster, which spawned efficient and drastic action when cases began to appear. Additionally, postulations that adherence to public health measures such as hand washing and quarantining has also been a contending reason for Africa’s numbers.

COVID-19 spawned when the DRC was on high alert as Ebola was rapidly spreading, causing health measures to be strict. Other factors, such as warmer climates, have been called to the stand as reasons for lower rates.

Though the response to COVID-19 has been effective thus far, increases in cases are occurring as restrictions begin to ease. Africa’s effective primary protocol on treating COVID-19 should be accounted for as cases rise once again.

References

Mwai, P. (2020, November 26). Coronavirus: What's happening to the numbers in Africa? BBC. Retrieved November 27, 2020, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53181555

Soy, A. (2020, October 7). Coronavirus in Africa: Five reasons why Covid-19 has been less deadly than elsewhere. BBC. Retrieved November 27, 2020, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54418613

By Anjali Jalwan