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Africa witnessing longest period of COVID-19 decline, says WHO

Thompson Nsisongabasi

Apr 14, 2022

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It said infections have dropped from a peak of over 308,000 cases weekly at the start of the year to less than 20,000.

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"Over the past week, around 18,000 cases and 239 deaths were recorded, a decline of 29% and 37% respectively compared with the week before. This low level of infection has not been seen since April 2020 in the early stages of the pandemic in Africa," the statement reads.

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"Africa's previous longest decline in COVID-19 infections was between 1 August and 10 October 2021. Currently, no country is witnessing COVID-19 resurgence.

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"World Health Organization (WHO) considers that a country is in resurgence when it records a 20% increase in cases in at least two consecutive weeks and that the recorded week-on-week rise is 30% or higher than the highest weekly infection peak previously reached."

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According to the statement, Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said despite the decreasing infections, it is crucial that countries remain vigilant and maintain surveillance measures.

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She said this includes genomic surveillance to swiftly detect circulating COVID-19 variants, enhance testing and scale up vaccination.

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"With the virus still circulating, the risk of new and potentially more deadly variants emerging remains, and the pandemic control measures are pivotal to effective response to a surge in infections," she added.

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While noting that several African countries are easing key COVID-19 measures, the WHO asked countries to weigh the risks and benefits as they do so and to take into account the capacity of their health systems, population immunity to COVID-19 and national socioeconomic priorities.

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"Systems should be in place to quickly reinstate the measures if the epidemiological situation worsens," it added.

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— Thompson Nsisongabasi

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