The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is noticeably accelerating across the African continent. According to the WHO, it took 98 days for the continent to reach 100,000 cases and just 18 days to reach 200,000. As of mid-June 2020, over 5,500 coronavirus-related deaths have been confirmed across Africa. Just 10 African countries account for 75% of confirmed cases, with the highest number of cases in South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, and Sudan.
Africa’s share of global cases accounts for less than 3% of the global total. Although this is relatively low compared to countries like the United States, Russia, Brazil, or India, community transmission of the virus has begun in more than half of Africa’s 54 countries, leading total case numbers to double in just 18 days. It is likely that the virus is spreading to rural areas after international travelers brought it to major cities.
This rapid spread represents a significant risk given that Africa contains many of the world’s poorest countries, several of which lack the healthcare infrastructure needed to combat the virus. Most African countries have a low testing capacity given limited access to coronavirus testing kits. Moreover, millions of people are already displaced by conflict and will have increased difficulty receiving treatment.
