Coronavirus: Africa CDC revises mass testing target for coronavirus in Africa to 10-15 million
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) – The Africa Union (AU) has revised its rapid mass testing target to 10-15 million people to accelerate the fight against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Director Dr John Nkengasong, said on Thursday with the initial target of 1 million testing kits almost met, there was the need to seek further support from international partners to bolster the continental response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are reaching the one million mark for the rapid testing kits from different sources,” Nkengason said. At least 1.2 million people have been tested for the coronavirus disease in Africa, according to the Africa CDC Director, who addressed a news conference.
The Africa CDC chief said said some 750,000 testing kits would have been distributed to the rest of Africa during the week and a further 500,000 testing kits from the Jack Ma Foundation, which has been providing the rapid testing kits and personal protective equipment for medical workers.
The disease has so far infected 95,000 people in 53 African countries, with at least 3,000 deaths, a fatality rate of 3.2%. At least 38,000 people have recovered from the disease in Africa. At least 21,000 new cases were reported within the continent in the last one week alone, the Africa CDC chief said.
At least 3,000 people are getting newly infected with the coronavirus outbreak in Africa daily.
Southern Africa region had at least 6,400 new cases of the coronavirus disease, followed by North Africa, with 5,400 new cases and West Africa with 4,600 new cases, 2,300 new cases from East Africa and 500 cases from Central Africa.
“The regions are affected differently and the variations in each country in the region is also very significant. South Africa is driving the cases."
South Africa currently has the highest number of the cumulative cases, with 18,000 cases, Egypt, with 14,200 cases, Algeria, 7,742, Nigeria, 6,667 cases, which account for 56 percent of the total cases reported in Africa.
Sao Tome, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verge have recorded the highest number of cases per 100,000 people in Africa.
-0- PANA AO/VAO 21May2020
