All Africa reports that according to the World Health Organization, 19 African countries have reported a 20 per cent rise in new coronavirus infections in the past month.

The WHO has issued a warning that, as families plan end-of-year festivities, the African continent could see a surge in Covid-19 cases.

According to All Africa, the continent had witnessed a downward trend, and then a plateau in the number of known new daily infections. However, All Africa reports that it has been experiencing a rise in cases since early October.

According to the WHO, the latest increase is driven by the North African region, where temperatures are falling. The agency’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, has called for vigilance in the next few weeks to avert a further surge. He fears that health systems could become overwhelmed. Dr Moeti specifically mentioned Kenya, Morocco and South Africa ,where infections have been increasing, saying, “As we near the time of year when people spend their holidays together, there is a bigger risk of Covid-19 transmission.” He added, “WHO is worried a new cluster of cases could emerge in places that have so far been unaffected as people travel or gather for festivities.”

Conversely, 17 African countries have reported a more than 20 per cent drop in the number of new cases over the past 28 days, compared with the previous four weeks. All Africa reports that Rwanda has closed 25 coronavirus treatment centers, with only seven remaining open.

Umm Muhammed Umar