Loewenson R

Language: English
References: 4
Page: 59-60
PDF size: 114.97 Kb.

Text Extraction

By June 2020, the cumulative cases and deaths related to COVID-19 in 16 East and Southern African (ESA) countries were still rising, with an average case fatality rate of 1.46%. From its initial presence in cities and regional transport hubs, cases are spreading, including to rural areas, among health workers and as migrants cross borders to return home.
The pandemic has highlighted important public health deficits in the region. While hand washing with soap is a key intervention, in 12 ESA countries fewer than 50% of their populations can access safe water and hand-washing facilities. While many ESA countries implemented early lockdowns, high levels of socioeconomic inequality and precarious employment make them difficult to sustain, as income and food security depend on working daily. Testing for, tracing and quarantining cases work when tests are available and results can be returned quickly. Yet ESA countries have not been able to access sufficient test kits or reagents.[3] Although testing levels in these countries increased to an average of 1800 tests per million people by June 12 (excluding higher levels in Botswana, Mauritius and South Africa), this is well below levels in countries such as South Korea that have effective test and trace strategies.

REFERENCES

1. Worldometer [Internet]. [place unknown]: Worldometer; c2020. Coronavirus. COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC; [updated 2020 Jun 26; cited 2020 Jun 12]. Available at: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

2. World Health Organization. COVID-19. The Situation update for the African Region. External Situation Report 15. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020 [cited 2020 Jun 15]. 11p. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/ handle/10665/332321/SITREP_COVID-19_WHOAFRO_20200610-eng.pdf

3. East Central and Southern African Health Community (ECSA HC); EQUINET: TARSC; SEATINI. Brief: Securing COVID-19 related diagnostics, health technology, medicines and vaccines for African public health, May 2020 [Internet]. Brussels: EQUINET; 2020 [cited 2020 Jun 15]. 11p. Available at: https://www .equinetafrica.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/EQ%20ECSA%20 brief%20COVID19%20health%20tech%20May2020.pdf

4. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UN ECA). COVID-19 in Africa: Protecting Lives and Economies, UN ECA, Addis Ababa: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UN ECA); 2020 [cited 2020 Jun 15]. 48 p. Available at: https://www.uneca.org/sites/default/fi les/PublicationFiles/eca _covid_report_en_24apr_web1.pdf