Coronavirus Africa: UN warns THREE MILLION could die

Africa could see anywhere between 300,000 and 3.3 million deaths due to coronavirus, according to the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

It warned that if the continent does not implement measures to prevent the spread of the virus then total infections could spiral out of control and reach 1.2 billion. 

But if intense social distancing measures are implemented, the number of total infections could drop to 122 million by the end of the pandemic. 

 The first confirmed COVID-19 case in Africa was reported in Egypt on February 14 and since then there have been more than 18,000 confirmed cases.

Algeria has the most COVID-19 related deaths in Africa with 348, with Egypt, Morocco and South Africa the next hardest hit countries.

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The UN projections are based on a host of pre-exiting research, including statistics and modelling from Imperial College London.

A separate study from a team of African researchers has found that more than 16million Africans will likely be infected by the end of June.

Their own mathematical model predicts more than 20,000 people on the continent will lose their lives to COVID-19 during the next 10 weeks alone.

However, the scientists warn these figures have a wide range depending on various factors taken into account when conducting the study.  

The lower boundary for the total infections by the end of June 2020 is 2.7million, while the upper boundary could be as high as 98.4million. 

What the actual number will be depends on how the continent responds to the outbreak and the African researchers are now in the process of using statistical models to see how effective different interventions will be. 

The lowest and highest reaches of the range would lead to a corresponding death toll of around 3,500 and 126,000 people, respectively, by June 30 2020. 

Today, World Health Organization officials also stated Africa could become the next epicentre of the global pandemic unless the spread of the virus is contained.   

Combating the disease will be complicated by the fact that 36% of Africans have no access to household washing facilities, and the continent counts just 1.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people. France, in comparison, has 5.98 beds per 1,000 people. 

United Nations experts warn the rate of increase is similar to European countries that have been ravaged by COVID-19 and the World Health Organisation has today stated Africa could become the next epicentre of the pandemic. 

Both pieces of research were published to address a dearth of literature examining how Africa will deal with the novel coronavirus.

The UN report says poverty, crowded urban conditions and widespread health problems make Africa ‘particularly susceptible’ to the virus. 

‘Of all the continents Africa has the highest prevalence of certain underlying conditions, like tuberculosis and HIV/Aids,’ it reads. 

According the the research, Northern Africa will be hit hardest of the continent’s five sub-regions over the next couple of months, with a predicted 8.5million cases by June. 

However, under the worst case scenario this could skyrocket to more than 54million cases. 

The researchers created an equation that predicts how COVID-19 will spread throughout Africa based on current infection levels and data from all around the world, with a specific focus on China and Italy. 

Factors that can influence the spread of infection include: time since first reported case, rate of disease expansion, urbanicity, living standard, household size, population age structure, access to healthcare, quality of healthcare and the prevalence of HIV and asthma, according to the study led by Tom Achoki of the University of Pretoria in South Africa. 

Djibouti, a country with a high population density, is predicted to be the African nation with most infections per capita. 

The study expects 32.8 people per 1,000 in the East African nation to be infected. 

Swaziland (26.8), Morocco (11.97), Algeria (9.8) and Cote d’Ivorie (6.65) make up the five countries with the most predicted infections per capita. 

Researchers say the more urbanised and wealthier countries will experience a faster growth of the epidemic.

Countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, South Africa and Kenya were singled out as fitting this criteria. 

Closeness between residents and a geographic proximity to some of the European countries at the epicentre of the global outbreak put these nations most at-risk.

But the researchers add ‘some of these countries also have higher living standards and better health system than most countries in the region’ and are well-equipped to cope with an influx of cases.

However, less urbanised countries such as Angola, Botswana and Mozambique are poorly connected and infection spread is therefore likely to be limited.

However, if the virus does spread in these countries, they are likely to be harder hit. 

The researchers explain ‘as the epidemic grows many of these countries are projected to experience increases in cumulative infections that are likely to overwhelm their health system.’  

As healthcare systems struggle to cope, suitable critical care cannot be administered and the death rate of COVID-19 patients increases. 

Most deaths will be recorded in the Northern Africa sub-region while Southern and Western Africa are expected to experience a comparable death toll, the scientists add.

Deaths in the Eastern Africa sub-region are expected to be the lowest of the sub-regions in Africa.

Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tunisia and Cote d I’vorie are expected to be the countries with the largest loss of life. 

According to the UN report, the issues in Africa extend beyond the horrific loss of life.  

It warns of severe economic pain across Africa, with growth contracting 2.6 per cent in the worst-case scenario and 27 million people pushed into extreme poverty. 

The World Bank has said sub-Saharan Africa could fall into its first recession in a quarter of a century.

‘Collapsed businesses may never recover,’ the new report said. ‘Without a rapid response, governments risk losing control and facing unrest.’

Nearly 20 European and African leaders called this week for an immediate moratorium on all African debt payments, public and private, until the pandemic is over, as well as billions in immediate financial help so countries can focus on fighting the virus.

The UN report said the continent has no fiscal space to deal with shocks from the pandemic.

It recommended a ‘complete temporary debt standstill for two years for all African countries, low and middle-income included’.

The report comes days before African officials launch a new initiative to dramatically accelerate testing for the new virus. 

More than a million tests are being rolled out starting next week to address a major gap in assessing the true number of cases.

It is possible that 15 million tests will be required in Africa over the next three months, the head of the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, told reporters on Thursday.

Africa has suffered in the global competition for badly needed medical equipment, but in recent days created a continental platform so its 54 countries can team up to bulk-buy items at more reasonable prices.

One major shipment of equipment, including more than 400 ventilators, arrived this week for sharing among all 54 countries.