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WORLD NEWS Friday 3 april 2020
Africa faces an 'existential threat' as virus cases spread

By CARA ANNA ready,’” Nkengasong said.
Associated Press Even if equipment is ob-
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — tained, getting them to
Some African countries will countries is a growing chal-
have more than 10,000 lenge with Africa’s wide-
coronavirus cases by the spread travel restrictions,
end of April, health officials though countries have
projected Thursday, as the made exceptions for cargo
continent least equipped or emergency humanitar-
to treat serious infections ian flights.
has an “enormous gap” in Simply gauging the num-
the number of ventilators ber of coronavirus cases in
and other critical items. Africa is a challenge, even
While cases across Africa in South Africa, the most
are now above 6,000 at developed country on the
what has been called the continent, where authori-
dawn of the outbreak, ties have acknowledged a
the continent is "very, very testing backlog.
close" to where Europe was Other countries suffer from
after a 40-day period, the the widespread shortage
head of the Africa Centers of testing kits or swabs,
for Disease Control and though 43 countries in the
Prevention, Dr. John Nken- WHO Africa sub-Saharan
gasong, told reporters. Homeless people stay at the Caledonian stadium downtown Pretoria, South Africa, Thursday April region now have testing
The virus “is an existential 2, 2020, after being rounded up by police in an effort to enforce a 21 days lockdown to control capability, up from two in
threat to our continent,” he the spread of the coronavirus. Many of them being addicted, they are receiving methadone early February.
said. All but five of Africa's syrup from a local NGO, and were complaining about the lack of sanitizer and soap. The new As more African countries
54 countries have cases, coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older impose lockdowns, both
adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.
and local transmission has (AP Photo/Jerome Delay) the WHO and Africa CDC
begun in many of those expressed concern for
with the virus. multilateral partners," but country-based colleagues. The health officials plead- the millions of low-income
Nkengasong said authori- "we still have to see that ... What we can say without ed for global solidarity at people who need to go
ties are "aggressively" look- translate into concrete ac- a doubt is there is an enor- a time when even some of out daily to earn their living.
ing into procuring equip- tion," he said. mous gap.” the world’s richest countries That’s a “huge challenge,”
ment such as ventilators The World Health Organi- Some countries have only a are scrambling for basic Moeti said, noting that hun-
that most African countries zation doesn’t know how few ventilators. Central Afri- medical needs, including dreds of thousands of chil-
desperately need, and lo- many ventilators are avail- can Republic has just three. face masks. dren are now out of school
cal manufacturing and able across Africa to help A small percentage of peo- “Countries like Cameroon as well.
repurposing are being ex- those in respiratory distress, ple who are infected will just reached out yesterday, It is too soon to tell how
plored. regional director Dr. Mat- need ventilators and about Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, the lockdown in places like
"We’ve seen a lot of good- shidiso Moeti told report- 15% may need intensive asking, ‘Look, we need South Africa has affected
will expressed to supporting ers. “We are trying to find care, said WHO official Dr. tents because we’re run- the number of cases, she
Africa from bilateral and out this information from Zabulon Yoti. ning out of hospital beds al- added.q

Thailand imposes 6-hour nightly curfew to combat virus

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai- enacted a one-month state
land's prime minister an- of emergency allowing it
nounced a nationwide 10 to impose harsh restrictions
p.m.-to-4 a.m curfew start- not normally allowed under
ing Friday to combat the law. They include the pow-
spread of the coronavirus. er to implement curfews,
The measure announced censor the media, disperse
Thursday evening by Prime gatherings and deploy the
Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha military for enforcement.
is the latest in a slow tight- Financial packages to aid
ening of restrictions since businesses and individuals
the country's cases began affected by the restrictions
rising sharply in mid-March. have also been approved.
Thailand announced 104 Measures instituted before
new confirmed cases of the state of emergency
the disease on Thursday, A nurse in protective clothing takes notes from a woman with symptoms of new coronavirus at a include shutting down all
bringing its total to 1,875. carpark that turned into a COVID-19 infection screening center at Chulalongkorn University health schools, postponing a ma-
The restrictions are still not service center in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 1, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild jor three-day holiday and
as sweeping as in some or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with allowing provincial gov-
other countries, where existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. ernors to close any gath-
people have been told to (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) ering spaces and closely
stay home throughout the be allowed for people who cine, medical supplies and eling to and from an airport; regulate travel. Restaurants
day except for necessary work in medicine, banking equipment, newspapers and people with permission have been closed except
tasks. Prayuth said excep- and delivery of consum- and gas; people who work from their district officials. for takeout and delivery
tions under the curfew will able goods, crops, medi- shifts; people who are trav- Last week, the government service. q