The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Friday (April 17th) that the number of people infected with Covid-19 in Africa ‘is doubled in one week. There are now 18,441 confirmed cases and 1,020 deaths in 52 countries on the continent.
The WHO also evokes in a press release published Friday, “worrying trends” in some African countries.
“Last week, there was a 51% increase in the number of reported cases on my own continent, Africa, and a 60% increase in the number of reported deaths,” said WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at a virtual press conference in Geneva.
“With the current challenge of obtaining test kits, the actual numbers are likely to be higher than indicated,” added Tedros.
WHO has also pointed out that there are still significant gaps in access to testing in Africa.
The Director-General of WHO said that the UN agency was working with partners to fill these gaps and help countries do more testing.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday called for “exceptional solidarity” with Africa to help it face the Coronavirus pandemic and its health, social and economic consequences.
