Recent Trends and Challenges with COVID-19 — Africa, April 4, 2020

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Since the first COVID-19 confirmed case was reported, the current epidemic in Africa has rapidly increased. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? As of April 4, 2020, a total of 7,405 confirmed cases and 305 deaths had been reported from 51 countries across Africa. The cumulative number of reported COVID-19 cases varied among the five regions of Africa, of which northern Africa reported the largest number of confirmed cases. The five countries with the highest number of cases are South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? Early detection, early isolation, early reporting, and early treatment of the COVID-19 are important and critical measures for the successful control of further transmission of COVID-19. Now more stringent prevention and control measures have been implemented in Africa, but due to often insufficient basic medical facilities and medical services, Africa is still facing challenges to the pandemic and needs to strengthen national health systems and develop immediate and future health plans.