Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said forty-three of Africa’s 54 countries now have confirmed coronavirus cases, with the total at 2,046.
Though the tally is still low compared to figures in the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy, it has doused the speculations that Africans having some kind of immunity against Covid-19 due to its sunny temperature.
Governments across Africa are now rushing to reinforce measures to contain the spread of the disease, knowing that Africa’s fragile healthcare systems will be swiftly overwhelmed if the disease spreads beyond the present small number of cases.
Social distancing and self-isolation are the measures recommended for the continent, as some states have gone on a total lockdown, to curb the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
The first line of drastic measures taken in Africa was to prevent importation of Covid-19 – the imposition of travel restrictions on especially Europe, Asia, and North America as many confirmed cases involve people arriving from there.
Algeria cut off all air and sea contact with Europe and Botswana barred travelers from 18 high-risk countries.
Africa’s busiest airport, in Johannesburg, South Africa blocked all foreigners from disembarking while two major airlines — Ethiopian Airlines and South African Airways — announced sweeping cancellations of international flights.
Nigeria has also announced the closure of airports to all incoming international flights for one month and Uganda is closing its borders to all but cargo.
Ethiopia said all arriving passengers will face mandatory quarantine from Monday while the Republic of Congo and Ghana are closing their borders.
While deterrence in welcoming foreign visitors proved helpful, health experts fear the move came a notch late as local transmission – confirmed cases with no foreign travel history – had gradually begun.
More than 14 countries in the African region are now experiencing local transmission.
Rwanda became the first nation in Africa to be placed on lockdown for at least 14 days followed by Tunisia.
Additionally, travel between cities and districts of the country is not permitted, except for medical reasons or essential services. All bars are closed.
South Africa will on Thursday shut all but essential health and economic activities in a bid to stop the spread.
No one is allowed to come out of houses except police, nurses, and the army.
South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, in a national address announced that the national lockdown will last for 21 days as the country’s coronavirus figures surged to over 500.
Lagos, Africa and Nigeria’s largest city with over 21 million population, has on Tuesday announced the shutting of markets selling all but essential life-saving products.