COVID-19 pandemic in Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic pandemic was confirmed to have spread to Africa on 14 February 2020, with the first confirmed case announced in Egypt. The first confirmed case in sub-Saharan Africa was announced in Nigeria at the end of February. Within three months, the virus had spread throughout the continent, as Lesotho, the last African sovereign state to have remained free of the virus, reported a case on 13 May. By 26 May, it appeared that most African countries were experiencing community transmission, although testing capacity was limited. Most of the identified imported cases arrived from Europe and the United States rather than from China where the virus originated. It is believed that there is widespread under-reporting in many African countries with less developed healthcare systems.

Experts have worried about COVID-19 spreading to Africa, because many of the healthcare systems on the continent are inadequate, having problems such as lack of equipment, lack of funding, insufficient training of healthcare workers, and inefficient data transmission. It was feared that the pandemic could be difficult to keep under control in Africa, and could cause huge economic problems if it spread widely. As of April 18, 2020, the supply of ventilators was low in much of Africa: 41 countries had only 2,000 ventilators between them, and ten countries had no ventilators at all. Even basic supplies like soap and water are subject to shortages in parts of the continent.

Matshidiso Moeti of the World Health Organization said that hand washing and physical distancing could be challenging in some places in Africa. Lockdown may not be possible, and challenges may be exacerbated by the prevalence of diseases such as malaria, AIDS, tuberculosis, and cholera. Advisers say that a strategy based on testing could allow African countries to minimise lockdowns that inflict enormous hardship on those who depend on income earned per day to be able to feed themselves and their families. Despite this, there is an increased risk of famine in several African nations. Even in the best scenario, the United Nations says 74 million test kits and 30,000 ventilators will be needed by the continent's 1.3 billion people in 2020. The World Health Organization helped many countries on the continent set up laboratories for COVID-19 testing. Matshidiso Moeti of the WHO said: "We need to test, trace, isolate and treat". Many preventive measures have been implemented in different countries in Africa, including travel restrictions, flight cancellations, event cancellations, school closures, and border closures. Experts say that experience battling Ebola helped some countries prepare for COVID-19.

There are no reported cases in British Indian Ocean Territory, French Southern Territories and Saint Helena.

By the second week of June, Africa had surpassed 200,000 cases in total. The number of confirmed new cases is accelerating, with the continent having taken 98 days to record the first 100,000 cases, and 18 days for the second 100,000. The pace of acceleration has continued, with cases passing both the 300,000 and 400,000 marks on 6 July. On 8 July 2020, cases had exceeded half a million. Half of the 500,000 cases reported in the continent are from South Africa or Egypt. Ten countries account for 80% of the reported cases. The World Health Organization voiced alarm at the spread in Africa on 20 July 2020, stating that South Africa's surging numbers could be a precursor for further outbreaks across the continent. The number exceeded a million by 6 August, with five countries making up over 75% of the total confirmed cases: South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Ethiopia and Nigeria. The true case numbers are believed to be significantly higher than the confirmed counts, due to low testing rates in many African countries. The mortality rates of African countries, however, are relatively low compared to Europe due to the younger age of their populations. On 21 August the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) expressed "cautious optimism" as the number of new cases took a downturn, while warning against complacency. In some countries, the number of cases began to rise. On 29 October, John Nkengasong, the head of Africa CDC, said: "The time to prepare for a second wave is truly now."

The pandemic has had a serious economic impact in African countries, damaging the continent's growing middle class and threatening to increase the rates of poverty and extreme poverty. There are also lessons such as early travel bans, well-organised contact tracers, etc. that need training, as they are critical for containment of the pandemic. As of September 9, Morocco and Ethiopia have increasing cases in the continent.

On November 12, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that confirmed cases have been increasing since July, particularly in North Africa (Tunisia, Morocco and Libya). The curve has flattened in South Africa and Kenya, while Senegal and Equatorial Guinea have seen a steady decline.

Total confirmed cases by country
Daily cases for the most infected African countries:

Total confirmed cases since Day 1 of Outbreak

The number of active cases by country.

Algeria
The first case in the country was confirmed on 25 February. On the morning of 2 March, Algeria confirmed two new cases of the coronavirus, a woman and her daughter.

On 3 March, Algeria reported another two new cases of the coronavirus. The two new cases were from the same family, a father and daughter, and were living in France.

On 4 March, the Ministry of Health recorded 4 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus, all from the same family, bringing the total number to 12 confirmed cases.

According to WHO prediction modelling estimates Algeria faces a relatively high risk for a spread of COVID-19 if containment measures such as contact tracing are not prioritized.

Angola
On 21 March, the first two cases in the country were confirmed. Effective 20 March, all Angolan borders have been closed for 15 days.

As of 18 April 2020, there was a total of 19 confirmed cases, 2 deaths and 6 recovered cases.

Benin
On 16 March, the first case in the country was confirmed.

As of 18 April 2020, there was a total of 35 confirmed cases, 1 death and 18 recovered cases.

Botswana
On 30 March, the first three cases in Botswana were confirmed.

Burkina Faso
On 9 March, the first two cases in the country were reported in Burkina Faso.

On 13 March, the third case was also confirmed, a person who had had direct contact with the first two cases.

As of March 14, 2020, a total of 7 cases have been confirmed in the country. 5 of the new confirmed cases had had direct contact with the first two cases. 1 is an English national employed at a gold mine in the country who vacationed in Liverpool and came back on March 10, transiting through Vancouver and Paris.

As of 18 April 2020 there was a total of 557 confirmed cases, 35 deaths and 294 recovered cases.

Burundi
On 31 March, the first two cases in the country were confirmed. The President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, died during the pandemic; officially he died of a heart attack, but it is speculated that he may have died from COVID-19 with members of his family also reported to have contracted the disease.

Cameroon
On 6 March the first case was confirmed in Cameroon. According to WHO prediction modelling estimates Cameroon faces a relatively high risk for a spread of COVID-19 if containment measures such as contact tracing are not prioritized.

Cape Verde
On 20 March, the first case in the country was confirmed, a 62 year old from the United Kingdom.

Central African Republic
On 14 March, the first case in the country was confirmed.

Chad
On 19 March, the first case in the country was confirmed.

Comoros
As a preventative measure, arriving travellers were to be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival. In order to prevent the spread of the virus, the government has cancelled all incoming flights and banned large gatherings. On 15 April 2020, a person arriving in Mayotte from the Comoros tested positive for COVID-19.

On 30 April, the first case was confirmed in the Comoros. On 4 May, the first death was announced. 54 people had been tested, and 53 contacts had been traced.

Democratic Republic of the Congo


On 10 March, the first case was reported in the country.

Republic of the Congo
The country's first case was announced on 14 March, a 50-year-old man who had returned to the Republic of the Congo from Paris, France.

Djibouti
On 18 March, the first case in Djibouti was confirmed.

Egypt
Egypt's health ministry announced the first case in the country at Cairo International Airport involving a Chinese national on 14 February.

On 6 March, the Egyptian Health Ministry and WHO confirmed 12 new cases of coronavirus infection. The infected persons were among the Egyptian staff aboard the Nile cruise ship MS River Anuket, which was travelling from Aswan to Luxor. On 7 March 2020, health authorities announced that 45 people on board had tested positive, and that the ship had been placed in quarantine at a dock in Luxor.

Equatorial Guinea
On 14 March, the first case in the country was confirmed.

Eritrea
On 20 March, the first case in Eritrea was confirmed.

Eswatini
On 14 March, the first case in the country was confirmed.

Ethiopia
The country's first case was announced on 13 March, a Japanese man who had arrived in the country on 4 March from Burkina Faso. Three additional cases of the virus were reported on March 15. The three individuals had close contact with the person who was reported to be infected by the virus on 13 March. Since then eight more confirmed cases were reported by the health ministry to the public, bringing the total to twelve. Among the infected individuals an elderly Ethiopian in her eighties has been said to have some escalating symptoms while other eight have been on a recovery route and showing fewer symptoms of the disease. On March 27, another statement was issued by the health minister stating that four additional cases have been identified while one case being in the Adama city of the Oromia regional state and the other three being in Addis Ababa. Moreover, three more cases were confirmed by the Health Minister on March 31, 2020. Similarly, the following day another three cases were added. On the previous press release the government authorities had noted that one case was retested and confirmed negative and two of the confirmed cases have been sent to their country (Japan). In aggregate, twenty-nine cases are confirmed so far as of 1 April 2020. On April 3, 2020 due to further tests made, six additional cases have been discovered moving up the tally to thirty-five. Measures are being taken by the government and the community together strictly to suppress the further spreading of this deadly virus. Among the six cases identified there were individuals with no traveling history recently, that has made it alarming to the public.

On 4 April, three additional cases of the virus were reported. All of the cases were from Addis Ababa. Two of the patients, a 29-year-old and a 34-year-old male Ethiopians, had travel histories to Dubai on different dates. The third case is of a 35-year-old female Ethiopian who had arrived from Sweden on 3 April.[31] On the same date, one additional recovery was reported, increasing the total number of recoveries to 4.[32]

On 5 April, five more positive cases of the virus were reported. Three of them are Ethiopians. The other two are Libyan and Eritrean nationals.[33]. There are 43 total cases as of April 5, 2020. On April 7 more individuals detected and totally 54. Among 200+ tests conducted on April 8, 2020, one additional case has been added to the tally making it 55. With the current situation indicating the spread of the virus Ethiopia has declared a state of emergency.

As of April 17, the total cases reported were 92 of which three patients have died and fifteen have recovered. Ethiopia has tested more than 5,000 citizens since the first case was reported.

Tilahun Woldemichael, an Ethiopian Orthodox monk who is said to be 114 years old, was released from the hospital on 25 June after being treated with oxygen and dexamethasone for coronavirus. Ethiopia has 5,200 confirmed cases.

Mayotte
The first case of the COVID-19 pandemic in the French overseas department and region of Mayotte was reported on 13 March 2020. On 31 March the first person died of COVID-19.

Réunion
The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the French overseas department and region of Réunion on 11 March 2020.

Gabon
The country's first case was announced on 12 March, a 27 year old Gabonese man who returned to Gabon from France 4 days prior to confirmation of the coronavirus.

The Gambia
The Gambia reported its first case of coronavirus from a 20-year-old woman who returned from the United Kingdom on 17 March.

Ghana
Ghana reported its first two cases on 12 March. The two cases were people who came back to the country from Norway and Turkey, with the contact tracing process beginning.

On 11 March, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, made the cedi equivalent of $100 million available to enhance Ghana's coronavirus preparedness and response plan.

The Ghana Health Service reported on August 6 that over 2,000 health workers had been infected and six have died.

Guinea
On 13 March, Guinea confirmed its first case, an employee of the European Union delegation in Guinea.

A mosque was forcefully opened by faithful in Dubréka in May.

Guinea-Bissau
On 25 March, Guinea-Bissau confirmed its first two COVID-19 cases, a Congolese U.N. employee and an Indian citizen.

Ivory Coast
On 11 March, the first case in the country was confirmed.

Kenya
On 12 March 2020, the first case was confirmed in Kenya by President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta.

On 13 March, the first case in Kenya was confirmed, a woman who came from the US via London.

On 15 March 2020, further restrictions were ordered, including closing of schools, banning of all social gatherings including religious gatherings, and banning of all flights banned effective 25 March.

Lesotho
On 13 May, the first case in Lesotho was confirmed.

The country recorded its first death on 9 July.

Liberia
On 16 March, the first case in Liberia was confirmed.

Churches and mosques were allowed to reopen as of May 17.

Libya
On 17 March, in order to prevent the spread of the virus, the UN-recognised Government of National Accord closed the country's borders, suspended flights for three weeks and banned foreign nationals from entering the country; schools, cafes, mosques and public gatherings have also been closed.

On 24 March, the first case in Libya was confirmed.

Madagascar
On 20 March, the three first cases were confirmed in Madagascar. All were women. Madagascar had a total 225 confirmed coronavirus cases, 98 recoveries, and no deaths as of 8 May 2020.

Madagascar's plant-based "cure" called COVID-19 Organics is being pushed despite warnings from the World Health Organization that its efficacy is unproven. Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Guinea Bissau have all already received thousands of doses of COVID-19 Organics free of charge.

Malawi
On 2 April, the three first cases were confirmed in Malawi.

In April 2020 the High Court of Malawi issued an order temporarily blocking the lockdown measures imposed by the government of Malawi. In August 2020 the government of Malawi instituted additional measures including mandatory mask wearing in public areas to stem the spread of the virus

Mali
On 25 March, the two first cases were confirmed in Mali.

Mauritania
On 13 March, the first case in the country was confirmed.

By 18 April 2020, there had been 7 confirmed cases in the country, 6 of whom recovered, and one died making Mauritania at the time the only affected country in Africa and in the world to become free of COVID-19.

A further case was confirmed on the 29th of April.

Mauritius
Since the first three cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on 18 March 2020, the Mauritian authorities have been conducting 'Contact tracing': people who have been in contact with infected patients have been placed under quarantine, including doctors, nurses and police officers. No cases have been reported in Rodrigues, Agaléga and St. Brandon. On 1 May 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the ongoing COVID-19 curfew will be extended to 1 June 2020 and schools will remain closed till 1 August 2020. As from 15 May 2020, more businesses will be allowed to operate, namely bakeries, hardware stores and fish markets and the opening hours of supermarkets will be extended to 20 00 hrs. Banks will continue to operate under strict hygiene protocol. On 13 May 2020, the government elaborated strict guidelines and regulations that both commuters and public transport operators will have to adhere to. These guidelines and regulations were in line with Government's strategy to ensure that there is no risk of the propagation of COVID-19 as the country gradually prepares itself to allow certain economic activities to resume as from 15 May 2020. On 15 May 2020, Mauritius embarks on the first phase of easing its lockdown protocol.

Morocco
On 2 March, Morocco recorded its first case of COVID-19. It was a Moroccan national residing in Italy who had returned to Morocco.

Mozambique
The country's first case was announced on 22 March, a 75-year-old man who returned from the United Kingdom.

Namibia
On 14 March, the first two cases in the country were confirmed. In a first reaction by government air travel to and from Qatar, Ethiopia and Germany was suspended for 30 days. All public and private schools were closed for a month, and gatherings were restricted to fewer than 50 people. This included celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Namibian independence that took place on 21 March. Libraries, museums, and art galleries were also closed.

On 17 March, President Hage Geingob declared a state of emergency as a legal basis to restrict fundamental rights, e.g. to freely move and assemble, guaranteed by the Constitution.

By 25 March 2020 the total number of cases reached seven, of which one is thought to be a local transmission. A 21-day lockdown of the regions of Erongo and Khomas was announced for 27 March with inter-regional travel forbidden, excluding the commuter towns of Okahandja and Rehoboth. Parliament sessions were suspended for the same period, and bars and markets were closed. On 14 April this lockdown was extended for another 2 weeks ending 4 May, now encompassing all regions, although the stay-at-home order was already enforced countrywide.

After 5 April 2020, when 16 cases were identified, no new infections occurred until the end of April. Government subsequently eased the restrictions as from 5 May.

The country recorded its first death on 10 July.

Niger
Niger confirmed its first case on 19 March 2020.

Nigeria
On 27 February, Nigeria confirmed its first case, the first case of coronavirus in sub-Saharan Africa. An Italian citizen who works in Nigeria had returned on 25 February from Milan, Italy through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, fell ill on 26 February and was transferred to Lagos State Biosecurity Facilities for isolation and testing. The test was confirmed positive by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, part of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. He was transferred to the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos. On 28 February, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health announced that the Italian man had travelled on Turkish Airlines with a brief transit at Istanbul. As of 6 March, a total of 219 primary and secondary contacts of the index case had been identified and were being actively monitored.

Lock-down measures
The Federal government of Nigeria has instructed institutions to shut down for 30 days as a lockdown measure to limit the spread of COVID-19. It has also banned public gatherings. The state government of Lagos has asked schools to close and banned public gatherings of more than 50 people, particularly religious gatherings. There was no order from government to shutdown markets and club halls.

Several schools in Nigeria have shut down, following the directives of the federal government at Abuja. This led the Management of one of the most populated schools in Nigeria, the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri to declare an emergency holidays a precaution against COVID-19, stating that the emergency holiday will last for 30 days. The institution had already fixed the dates for the 2019/2020 academic year examinations.

There is widespread tension and anxiety in cities across Nigeria as students return to their various homes for fear of contracting COVID-19.

High-profile individuals with COVID-19
Reports have shown that some high-profile individuals in Nigeria have tested positive for coronavirus. The Nigeria's high profiled persons that have tested positive for COVID-19 are: Buhari's chief of staff, Abba Kyari, Governor of Bauchi state Bala Mohammed, Governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde, Governor of Kaduna state Nasir el-Rufai, Governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Delta state Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Ebonyi state, Dave Umahi, Governor of Ondo state Rotimi Akeredolu. In June, 2020 the former governor of Oyo state Abiola Ajimobi also announced he tested positive, he later succumbed to the disease on 25 June 2020. On the 19th of July, 2020, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, a member of the presidential task force on COVID-19, also announced he had tested positive.

As Muhammadu Buhari's closest staff, Nigerians suspected that the president would have the virus as his chief of staff tested positive. Meanwhile, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported that president Buhari tested negative after the test was carried out on him.

In Nigeria, there were fears everywhere that the chief of staff, Abba Kyari who had tested positive for the coronavirus may have transmitted it to more people including governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi, minister of information, Lai Mohammed, special assistant to the president on media, Garba Shehu; minister of special duties, George Akume; minister of state for FCT, Ramatu Tijani; Geoffrey Onyeama, and other dignitaries and visitors at the prayers held on March 17, 2020, for the deceased mother of the Kogi State governor.

The governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello was tested for coronavirus, but tested negative. Others from the list who met with Abba Kyari also tested negative, for the disease.

Rwanda
On 14 March, the first case in the country was confirmed.

In an interview with the Financial Times on 20 April, President Paul Kagame said he believes it will cost $100 billion (£80 billion) and an entire generation for Africa to recuperate from the pandemic.

São Tomé and Príncipe
On 6 April, the first four cases in the country were confirmed. The first death was recorded on 30 April.

Senegal
On 2 March, the first case in the country was confirmed.

Mosques are allowed to reopen for Ramadan despite 2,000 confirmed cases of the virus.

Seychelles
Seychelles reported its first two cases on 14 March. The two cases were people who were in contact with someone in Italy who tested positive. As of November, there has been No deaths by this date so far with Eritrea.

Sierra Leone
On 16 March, the government banned public officials from travelling abroad, and urged citizens to avoid foreign travel. Quarantine measures were put in place for all visitors arriving from countries with more than 50 cases. Public gatherings of more than 100 people were also banned. On 24 March, President Julius Maada Bio announced a year-long 'state of emergency' in order to deal with a potential outbreak.

The president of Sierra Leone confirmed the country's first case of coronavirus on 31 March, a person who traveled from France on 16 March and had been in isolation since.

Somalia
On 16 March, the first case in Somalia was confirmed. Somalia's Health Ministry reported that this was a Somali citizen returning home from China.

Somaliland
On 31 March, the first two cases in Somaliland were confirmed. The two cases were a Somaliland citizen and a Chinese national.

South Africa


On 5 March 2020 the first confirmed case was announced, a South African returning from Italy. On 15 March, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster and a national lockdown started on 26 March. From 1 May, a gradual and phased easing of the lockdown restrictions started, lowering the national alert level to 4, to be lowered to level 3 from 1 June.

According to WHO prediction modelling estimates South Africa faces a relatively high risk for a spread of COVID-19 if containment measures, including contact tracing, are not prioritized. The country is projected to have $40,000$ to $48,000$ COVID-19 deaths by November 2020.

South Africa's infections doubled to 250,000 in the first two weeks of July as public hospitals report shortages of medical oxygen. Treatment of coronavirus patients in South Africa is seen the most unequal in the world.

So far South Africa has been able to conduct almost 5 million tests with over 700 000 people testing positive. This so far shows that South Africa has the highest Coronavirus cases in Africa, with Morocco trailing behind with around 170 00 people testing positive.

On 18 December, Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize said scientists had discovered a new variant of virus, called 501.V2 Variant.

South Sudan
On 5 April, the first case was confirmed.

Two cases COVID-19 were confirmed on 13 May in a crowded civilian protection camp in Juba. The camp houses 30,000 people.

Canary Islands
The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the Canary Islands on 31 January 2020.

Ceuta
The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached in Ceuta on 13 March 2020.

Melilla
The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached in Melilla on 10 March 2020.

Sudan
The country's first case was announced on 13 March, a man who had died in Khartoum the previous day. He had visited the United Arab Emirates in the first week of March.

By 29 May, a surge of reported deaths in North Darfur raised fears of a serious outbreak in the region, although testing remains poor.

Tanzania
On 16 March, the first case was confirmed. Tanzanian authorities stopped reporting case numbers in May.

Togo
On 6 March, the first case in the country was confirmed.

Tunisia
On 2 March, the first case in the country was confirmed.

Uganda
On 20 March, the first case in Uganda was confirmed.

The first confirmed death was on 24 July.

Western Sahara
On 4 April, the first four cases in Moroccan-controlled part of Western Sahara were confirmed. Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic reported its first cases on 25 July 2020.

Zambia
Zambia reported its first 2 cases of COVID-19 on 18 March. The patients were a couple that had travelled to France on holiday. A third case was recorded on 22 March. The patient was a man who had travelled to Pakistan.

On March 25, President Edgar Lungu confirmed a total of 12 cases. He also announced measures which includes suspension of international flights Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula and Mfuwe International Airports and re-routing of all international flights to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport to facilitate screening of incoming passengers and mandatory quarantine where necessary, closure of all bars, nightclubs, casinos, cinemas and gyms and restriction of all public gatherings to 50 people or less.

By 17 March, the government had shut all educational institutions and put in place some restrictions on foreign travel.

On 19 August, the Vice President of Zambia, Inonge Wina tested positive for COVID-19.

Zimbabwe
Before there were any confirmed cases in the country, President Emmerson Mnangagwa had declared a national emergency, putting in place travel restrictions and banning large gatherings. The country's defence minister Oppah Muchinguri caused controversy by stating the coronavirus could be a divine punishment on Western nations for imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Its first case was reported on 21 March: it was a male resident of Victoria Falls who travelled from the United Kingdom via South Africa on 15 March.

Police report that 105,000 have been arrested for violating health measures between March and July, including 1,000 arrests for not wearing facemasks on July 18 and 19.

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
On 16 March three people who arrived by air to Ascension Island showed symptoms of COVID-19. However, on 23 March it was announced that they had tested negative on 22 March

On 17 March all travel by air to the Saint Helena island was banned, except for island citizens or residents and similar cases. There were no known cases on Saint Helena at this time.

On 16 March as a precaution the Tristan da Cunha Island Council on Tristan da Cunha made the decision to ban visitors to the island to prevent the potential transmission of the disease to islanders.

Responses
Many preventive measures have been implemented in different countries in Africa, including travel restrictions, flight cancellations, event cancellations, school closures, and border closures. Other measures to contain and limit the spread of the virus has included curfews, lockdowns, and enforcing the wearing of face masks. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme has been leveraged for surveillance and case-finding. Molecular testing has been scaled up across the continent utilising existing disease surveillance programs such as those for HIV, drug-resistant tuberculosis and Lassa fever. Pooled testing to expedite processing times has been pioneered in countries such as Ghana. Key leadership has been provided at country and regional level by public health institutes such as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the five regional Centres for Disease Control, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has worked to support the response across the continent and distributed tests donated by the Jack Ma Foundation. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organisation and COVID-19 Africa Open Data Project have collected and reported continent-wide data on the number of cases, recoveries and deaths. The COVID-19 Africa Open Data Project provides additional data on healthcare workers infected, health services, urgent needs and local laboratories.

Innovative uses of technology in health and other sectors such as drone delivery of test kits to isolated areas have been piloted. Local businesses have financially supported response efforts and initiated the manufacture of masks and hand sanitizers. There have been significant efforts to combat COVID-19 disinformation and provide accurate information to support the response to COVID-19. Social influencers and celebrities have joined voices with public health experts urging people to practice social distancing. The “Verified” social media initiative of the United Nations utilised “information volunteers” to help debunk false claims about vaccine trials and fake cures. UNESCO #DontGoViral initiative crowdsourced culturally relevant, open-sourced information in local languages. The Communications agency 35-North partnered with the COVID-19 Africa Open Data Project to combat misinformation through Telegaram and WhatsApp.

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention director John Nkengasong warned on December 10 that Africa might not see vaccines until after the second quarter of 2021. Separately, Richard Mihigo of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned against inequality in access to COVID-19 vaccines.

British Indian Ocean Territory
As of 5 May there have been no cases in the British territory. Access to the islands, already heavily restricted due to the presence of a military base on Diego Garcia, have been further curtailed, with licenses for visiting vessels suspended.

All people arriving into the territory are subject to a 14-day quarantine; social distancing measures have also been enacted.