New crown virus outbreak in Africa, making it into a disaster state far larger than Ebola
For many days, as the new coronavirus continued
to spread globally, many countries in the world were affected by this
infectious virus to varying degrees. Today, even African countries more than
10,000 kilometers away from China are not immune.
To date, according to real-time statistics released by Johns
Hopkins University in the United States, 46 countries across Africa have
reported new coronavirus confirmed patients, and the total
number of confirmed patients has exceeded 2475.
In this real-time statistics,
although there are relatively few confirmed cases in some landlocked countries,
the real-time statistics clearly show that the new crown virus still has a firm
foothold on the north and south ends of the African continent.
According to reports, in an interview with the media, the
"Director of the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention"
emphasized very seriously: "The new crown virus has changed from an
imminent threat into an imminent disaster!" Then, in the face of Africa,
which is not rich, Land, medical resources are very weak, and sanitation
conditions are poor.
For a continent with a population of nearly 1.3 billion people, will this be a sonata of an outbreak and disaster?
According to relevant media reports, on the evening of March
15, South African President Cyril Ramafossa gave a national television speech,
"In our history of democracy, there has never been such a severe situation,
at this time he announced that according to the disaster Management Act".
The Republic of South Africa, the southernmost country on the African
continent, has inevitably entered a "state of disaster".
Subsequently, Ramaphosa announced a series of rather tough epidemic prevention
measures in the country:
- Closing 37 of the 72 ports of entry
- Canceling large-scale celebrations such as National Day
- Banning gatherings of more than 100 people and closing schools
At this time, there were only 61 confirmed cases of New
Coronavirus in South Africa. Ramaphosa's attitude was not optimistic, when he
predicted that the number of confirmed diagnoses would rise sharply in the next
few days.
However, the facts also tell us that Ramaphosa's prediction is
correct:
The confirmed cases of New Coronavirus in South African countries have
increased 11 times in just 11 days, and the number of patients has now reached
709.
Faced with this outbreak, South Africa, a country known as the
"Rainbow Country", had to implement national closed management
measures.
Epidemic currently infected by the virus
The epidemic is currently infected by the virus. Closed
traffic and airports are common anti-epidemic measures. Prohibition and
isolation are the best prevention and control measures to better stop the virus
from continuing to flow.
According to Nandu reporters, many countries in Africa
have adopted a series of preventive and control measures including varying
degrees of traffic restrictions, segregation, closure of major traffic routes,
suspension of schools, prohibition of assembly, and reduction of public
transportation.
E.g: At the beginning of February, EgyptAir, the national airline
of Egypt, suspended all flights to China.
On March 19th, Egypt’s traffic
control was further upgraded, and all airports and air travel in the country
were closed.
Also, Egypt The government also ordered a curfew, with offenders
jailed for up to three years.
Many other countries have implemented different control
measures. For example, in Cameroon, all schools in the country have been closed;
in Nigeria, designated hospitals have been opened for new crown patients; in
Rwanda, all bars in the country have been closed.
In Uganda, harsh Religious
parties and weddings are prohibited.
In addition, according to incomplete statistics, these countries
in Africa have adopted different levels of travel restrictions: Cameroon,
Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Nigeria, etc., and some of them
have closed their borders and entered " State ”, for example, Ethiopia,
Rwanda, Uganda, etc.
According to relevant media, as of March 26th, Beijing time,
the number of newly crowned patients in South Africa with the highest number of
confirmed cases in Africa has increased again, so the country’s epidemic
prevention and control has escalated again, except for police, doctors,
pharmacy staff, material transporters and other special personnel.
The country
has implemented a "21-day fully closed" state-everyone must stay at
home. In response, South African President Ramaphosa said:
"This is a
decisive measure that can prevent millions of South Africans from being
infected and save hundreds of thousands of lives."
I hope the epidemic in
South Africa can be controlled as soon as possible.
So how did Africa, the second-largest continent in the
western eastern hemisphere, trigger the spread of the new crown pneumonia virus
here?
There is no doubt that the increase in global exchanges has
increased the risk of virus transmission, and Europe, the plate located in the
northwestern part of the eastern hemisphere, is the springboard for the new
crown epidemic to invade Africa:
"Dangerous viruses from tropical
rainforests can be found within 24 hours Arrive by air to any city on Earth.
"American writer Richard Oreston wrote in Blood Plague. This is why many
experts have expressed their concerns about the epidemic in Africa. This
epidemic in Africa is different from the early Chinese cases in European and
American countries.
The new crown virus mostly landed on the African continent with Europe as a springboard
From late February to early March, when the new crown virus
was still expanding in Europe, the African zone was still in a relatively safe
period. However, the safety period is very short. During this period, the virus
quietly entered South Africa.
On March 5, the first patient was confirmed in
the country and he had a history of travel in Italy. By March 8, the African
epidemic had entered a period of rapid rise. On March 8th, the number of
confirmed diagnoses in the country of Egypt rose from three to 48 at one time;
after mid-March, the number of confirmed diagnoses in the South African country
rose rapidly.
Africa has been preparing for the introduction of new coronary pneumonia
On March 10th, John Kengersson, director of the African
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a news conference that day:
"Africa has been preparing for the introduction of new coronary pneumonia,
and now the 'wolf' has come."
On that day, Africa More than one hundred
confirmed cases were diagnosed.
Ten days later, the number of confirmed cases in Africa
increased rapidly and quickly broke the thousand. For example, the DRC, Zambia,
Djibouti, Gambia and other countries all reported the first confirmed patient.
At this time, the new crown virus spread to almost all of Africa.
At a news conference on March 18, the current Director-General
of the World Health Organization, Tandesser, once again shouted, "Africa
should wake up." He also stressed, "We must do everything we can to
stop the epidemic in its infancy."
Situation could be worse if the virus breaks out in Africa
However, many health experts around the world say the
situation could be worse if the virus breaks out in Africa. The shortage of
anti-epidemic materials has seriously troubled the countries on this continent.
In response to this, the head of the WHO African Region "Morty" said,
"Many people in many families must sit in the same space and sleep in the
same space."
Because the house they live in cannot guarantee a bedroom for
each member, which is why This means that epidemic prevention is very
difficult, because it is difficult for their family members and even their
neighbors to maintain a sufficient "prevention distance."
As a result, many health experts worry that the spread of the
new crown virus in Africa, or sub-Saharan Africa, will become the
"post-Ebola era".
Because around 2014, the "Ebola" virus
was severely outbreak in South Africa, and the epidemic situation was very
serious at that time. The data showed that the average case fatality rate was
as high as 50%, and even some areas were as high as 90%.
Well, such a serious situation is not only related to the
characteristics of Ebola, but also to the adverse effects of epidemic
prevention in African countries at that time. For example, at that time in
Africa, in terms of the prevention and control of infectious viruses, not only
were resources limited, but the health system was generally weak, and there was
a large shortage of trained medical staff.
Now, the more powerful new crown
virus has invaded Africa again, which undoubtedly increases the challenges for
African countries.
The epidemic may bring heavy financial pressure on African economic powers
On March 13, Willa Songui, Executive Secretary of the United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa, said:
"The epidemic may bring
heavy financial pressure on African economic powers such as South Africa,
Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt and Angola. Directly lead to the economic failure of
African countries."
However, it is difficult to say one side, and the eight sides
support it. There is also good news uploaded in this difficult land in Africa.
In mid-March, China's "Ma Yun Foundation" announced that it would
donate to each country in Africa: 100,000 masks, 1,000 Protective clothing,
1000 protective masks, 20,000 test kits and other medical epidemic prevention
substances.
Moreover, it is reported that these materials have
successfully arrived in Ethiopia on March 22. In this regard, Ethiopian Prime
Minister Abi Ahmed said he will distribute the batch of anti-epidemic materials
to African countries. Then, it is best to hope that the people of all African
countries can overcome the new crown epidemic as soon as possible.
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