Africa’s confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed the 250,000-mark to reach 251,866 with 6,769 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon, maintaining a mortality rate far below the global average, beating forecasts from experts.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in its latest update on Tuesday said that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Africa rose from 242,105 on Monday afternoon to 251,866 as of Tuesday afternoon, while disclosing that the death toll from the pandemic also rose from 6,464 on Monday to 6,769 as of Tuesday.
So far, Africa’s anti-epidemic efforts have achieved unbelievable positive results despite the rising figure of confirmed cases, thanks to strict preventive measures, a young population and COVID-19 cooperation with China.
Amid the rising COVID-19 caseload across the continent, some 43 African countries are under full border closure due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus, according to the Africa CDC.
In addition to the 43 countries under full border closure, night-time curfew has been activated across 35 countries in an effort to halt the spread of the infectious virus, it was noted.
The Africa CDC also noted that 54 African countries are practicing limited public gathering, some 38 countries have exercised country-wide closure of educational institutions, while limited prison and hospital visits has been also ordered across 20 countries.
Some seven countries have imposed international air traffic closures, while two countries have imposed travel restrictions to and from specific countries, and two others have also activated entry/exit restrictions, according to the Africa CDC.
When population is taken into consideration, Africa has a youthful population which makes the COVID-19 less catastrophic with comparatively mild symptoms to this population.
Africa’s more youthful population with a median age of below 20 years, when compared with Europe and the United States (median age above 38 years), may have contributed to the low numbers of severe COVID-19 cases and deaths, media reports quoted a paper authored by experts in Kenya and Britain as saying.
China’s support also plays a key role for Africa to deal with the pandemic, given China and African countries have offered assistance to each other and joined hands in fighting COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic. -Xinhua
