China deaths from COVID-19 now over 2,500 as Africa steps up preparedness

Chinas death toll from the new coronavirus rose to 2,592 on Monday, after the National Health Commission there reported 150 more fatalities, all but one in the epicentre of Hubei province. In addition, many countries in Africa are stepping up their preparedness to detect and cope with COVID-19 importations, according to a report titled “Preparedness and vulnerability of African countries against importations of COVID-19,” published by The Lancet, a medical journal. Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the Director-General of Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), told The New Times that: “The national preparedness and response to COVID-19 has been upgraded and will continue to ensure early detection and response to any suspect case at all entry points of Rwanda.” “Screening of all travellers at Kigali International Airport and all other points of entry at land and water borders is in place.” Rwanda has, among other measures, set up a test lab at RBCs National Referral Lab in Kigali. Dr Nsanzimana explained that laboratory diagnosis capacity is “optimized to test coronavirus using polymerase chain reaction technique, the latest technology available, and is now accessible at RBC. Asked about the state of resources to set up quarantine rooms for suspected cases at airports and hospitals, or to trace contacts of confirmed cases in Rwanda, he said “almost all hospitals have isolation rooms and are equipped with protective equipment.” The first reports of cases of acute respiratory syndrome in the Chinese Wuhan municipality came at the end of December 2019. A female doctor at a Wuhan hospital that receives patients infected with the novel coronavirus died from the virus on Sunday. Despite Chinas growing number of newly cured patients surpassing that of new confirmed infections, the infection has now spread to seven Middle Eastern countries. Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan and Iraq on Monday reported their first infections from the coronavirus. According to reports, in Italy where confirmed cases surged from three on Friday morning to more than 150 by Sunday, authorities have announced sweeping closures in the countrys north as they scramble to contain Europes biggest outbreak of the novel coronavirus. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), an agency of the EU, on Sunday, stated that the Italian Ministry of Health confirmed an increasing number of COVID-19 cases, including two deaths, clustered in two regions in Northern Italy. Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria at highest risk In Africa, the first case of the outbreak was confirmed in Egypt, the first in Africa, on February 14. But not others have been confirmed on the continent as all suspected cases of COVID19 have tested negative so far in Africa. African Health Ministers on Saturday held an emergency meeting at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to continue to reinforce continental preparedness efforts and how to potentially respond to the outbreak. According to The Lancet, China is Africas leading commercial partner; thus, “there are large travel volumes through which severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 could reach the continent.” It is noted that measures – such as heightened surveillance and rapid identification of suspected cases, followed by patient transfer and isolation, rapid diagnosis, tracing, and follow-up of potential contacts – have already been implemented to prevent and control possible case importations from China. However, The Lancet notes, the ability to limit and control local transmission after importation depends on the application and execution of strict measures of detection, prevention, and control. “The application of such a vast technical and operational set of interventions depends on each countrys public health and laboratory infrastructures and resources,” the report states. “We show that the risk of importation to African countries is highly heterogeneous, with Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Nigeria estimated to be at highest risk.” The Lancet indicates that flight bans implemented by some African airline companies serving China might alter future risk through a different repartition of the flow of travel; however, these bans are not expected to prevent importations. It is also noted that not all connections between Africa and China have been cut since the main transporters continue to fly. Ethiopian Airlines, the largest carrier in Africa, operating almost half of the flights from Africa to China, together with all Chinese airline companies, continues to fly there. The WHO is fundraising for $675.5 million, the money needed to implement priority public health measures in support of countries to prepare for and respond to the outbreak. Basic precaution measures The WHO office and the Ministry of Health have recommended basic precaution measures for the public such as washing hands regularly, either with alcohol-based drop or soap; keeping a distance from people who are coughing or sneezing; covering the mouth and nose with a tissue or the elbow when coughing or sneezing. Dr Nsanzimana, earlier noted that despite the fact that the threat of the novel coronavirus is real with the virus evolving quickly across the globe, the public should not panic. Nsanzimana outlined six daily practices to help keep the virus at bay as: – Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. – Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. – Avoid close contact with people who are sick. – Stay home when you are sick. – Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. – Avoid unnecessary handshaking if you present clinical signs of the flu-like syndrome. The UN health agency does not recommend any specific health measures for travellers. In case of symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness either during or after travel, it says, travellers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their health care provider. The WHO has said a vaccine for the virus could be available in 18 months.

News

China deaths from COVID-19 now over 2,500 as Africa steps up preparedness