Algeria is second African country to confirm COVID-19
The spread of the deadly Wuhan coronavirus, COVID-19, is showing no sign of slowing, crossing continents with a second person testing positive on African soil, the WHO Africa has confirmed.
The Ministry of Health, Population and Hospital Reform of Algeria reported the country’s first case on Tuesday, February 25.
Iran’s deputy health minister contracts coronavirus 24-hours after downplaying preventive measures
The carrier is an Italian adult who landed in the country on February 17. The recorded cases are all limited to the north of the continent, with the first case detected in Egypt about a month earlier.
“This is the first case in the WHO African region,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “The window of opportunity the continent has had to prepare for coronavirus disease is closing. All countries must ramp up their preparedness activities.”
WHO Africa said in a statement that plans are underway to send a group of health professionals to Algeria to provide support.
Italy has been the source of the spread to Algeria and other European countries as it battles to control the devastating disease. Austria, Croatia, Spain and Switzerland have all witnessed cases traceable to Italy. A Brazilian who returned to his country from Italy is the first to test positive in Latin America.
Coronavirus: We haven’t abandoned students in China: Gov’t to Minority
Four cases of the virus have forced a lockdown of a hotel in Spain while authorities carry out further tests on occupants at the hotel.
As of Tuesday, 80, 239 cases have been confirmed globally. China, where the infection originated, has 77, 780 confirmed infections with 2,666 deaths.
Outside of China, there are 2,459 cases in 33 countries with 34 deaths.
In the wake of the outbreak, only 24 countries in the WHO African region can test for COVID-19. This includes Ghana, which is moderately prepared for an outbreak.