The World Health Organization has
warned of the risk that Covid-19 could overwhelm strained public
health systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Here is a selection of
measures countries are taking to prepare for the virus and limit
its spread.
SOUTH AFRICA
With more cases than any other country in sub-Saharan
Africa, South Africa is barring entry to foreign
travellers coming from or transiting through high-risk countries
including Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, France,
Switzerland, the United States, the United Kingdom and China,
according to an advisory issue by the foreign ministry on
Tuesday.
Travellers who arrived from these countries since
mid-February must report for testing. Those arriving from
medium-risk countries – Portugal, Hong Kong and Singapore – will
undergo high intensity screening.
South Africans are advised to cancel or postpone all
non-essential foreign travel. The government has also ordered
schools to close early for the Easter break and will prohibit
gatherings of more than 100 people.
NIGERIA
Africa's most populous nation has stepped up surveillance
and is preparing for the possibility of an influx of patients.
Lagos, the biggest city with some 20 million people, could
handle 2,000 cases, said Bamidele Mutiu, who heads a regional
biosafety team. To do this, they would need to use two camps
previously housing people displaced by violence, he said.
Authorities are checking the temperature of anyone who
arrives at Nigeria's airports, ports and land borders.
Those coming from high-risk countries such as China, Iran,
Italy and Spain are asked to self-isolate for 14 days, said
Tarik Mohammed, a technical advisor at the Niger Centre for
Disease Control. If they develop symptoms, a laboratory team
will visit them and collect a sample for testing.
Medics work at the Coronavirus Isolation Unit at the Coast Provincial General Hospital (CPGH) in Mombasa, Kenya. Picture: Fred Mutune/Xinhua
KENYA
The East African country is suspending travel from any
nation with reported COVID-19 cases.
Only Kenyan citizens, foreigners with residence permits and
United Nations workers will be allowed to come in, provided they
proceed on self-quarantine, the government said this week.
Schools and universities are closing, and public minibuses
are providing hand sanitizer.
ETHIOPIA
Ethiopian Airlines said on its website that medics stationed
at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, a key regional
transit hub, carry out continuous health screenings 24/7.
The government in the Horn of Africa country has closed
schools nationwide and offered to transport people on government
buses to ease congestion on public transport.
RWANDA
The East African country is flooding its capital, Kigali,
with portable sinks for hand-washing at bus stops, restaurants,
banks and shops. Schools, universities, churches and courts are
closed nationwide. Some flights are suspended.
CAMEROON
From Wednesday, Cameroon, in central Africa, will close
land, air and sea borders indefinitely, the government said in
statement on Tuesday. International flights will be grounded,
with the exception of cargo planes. Schools and restaurants will
shut, and gatherings of more than 50 people are banned.
People walk at a vegetable market to cushion against running out of stock in the spreading of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) fears, in Addis Ababa. Picture: Tiksa Negeri/Reuters
LIBERIA
The West African country is applying lessons learned
fighting a devastating Ebola outbreak in 2014-15.
"We were one of the first countries to start enhanced
screening at the airport on Jan. 25," said Mosoka P. Fallah,
acting director general of the National Public Health Institute
of Liberia.
More than 200 people have been trained as field
epidemiologists and check for diseases in all 90 districts, said
Tolbert Nyenswah, senior research associate at the Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United States and
former incident manager for Liberia’s Ebola response.
"If there is a case of a suspected disease, a sample is sent
to a lab and tested."
There are hand-washing stations at public places including
stores, shops, schools, hospitals, restaurant and government
offices.
SENEGAL
Has been taking all passengers' temperatures since Jan. 28
and asks for contact details, so officials can reach them if
someone else on the plane tests positive, a spokesman for Dakar
airport said.
GHANA
Has implemented some of the most stringent measures in West
Africa with a mandatory 14 days of quarantine for all people
arriving from abroad. Travelers from countries with over 200
cases of coronavirus are barred from entering the country unless
they are Ghanaian citizens or residents.
MAURITANIA
After confirming its first case on March 13, the West
African country closed the international airport, suspended
teaching in schools and universities, and banned weekly markets.
MADAGASCAR
One of the world’s poorest countries, the island nation has
suspended all flights for 30 days, a blow to its tourism
industry.