Number of COVID-19 Cases in Africa Rose by 51% Last Week (WHO)

17 avril 2020 Printable Version

Geneva - The number of coronavirus cases in Africa rose by 51% last week, though the actual toll of those infected may be higher due to challenge of obtaining testing kits, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday.

"But although we see encouraging signs in some countries, there are worrying trends in others. In the past week there has been a 51% increase in the number of reported cases in Africa and a 60% increase in the number of reported deaths," Tedros said, as quoted by the WHO on Twitter.

According to him, most African countries now have the capacity to detect the disease due to the help of the WHO, but there are still significant gaps in access to testing kits.

The organization is working closely with partners to fill those gaps, Tedros added.