The World Health Organisation estimates that if current trends continue, the continent can contain the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022.
But the WHO cautioned that keeping an eye on things is essential to controlling the viral pandemic.
According to the global health organization, there have been four waves of COVID-19 over the continent in the past two years, each with higher peaks or more new cases overall than the prior wave.
It stated that novel SARS-CoV-2 virus types, which were highly transmissible but not necessarily more deadly than previous waves, were primarily responsible for the surges.
“Each successive wave has prompted a more effective response than the one before it, with an average surge length of twenty-three percent less than the preceding wave. The fourth wave ended in six weeks, or roughly a fifth of the period, whereas the first wave lasted roughly 29 weeks, the company said in a news release on Thursday.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director of WHO for Africa, stated that in the last two years, the continent of Africa has become more adept at adapting quickly, shrewdly, and effectively to every new wave of COVID-19 cases.
“We’ve weathered the COVID-19 storm with tenacity and drive, guided by Africa’s long history and expertise controlling outbreaks, despite the odds, including large disparities in access to vaccination. However, COVID-19 has come at a heavy cost to us, since our economies have suffered greatly and over 242,000 lives have been lost.
The World Bank estimates that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused up to 40 million people on the continent to live in extreme poverty, and that each month that containment efforts are delayed, Africa loses US$ 13.8 billion in gross domestic product.
“There is hope despite the fact that COVID-19 will persist for some time. We can regain control over our lives and put an end to the chaos and carnage the virus has caused this year, Dr. Moeti continued. “Although we recognize that no two countries have experienced a pandemic in the same way, each must, therefore, chart its own way out of this emergency, controlling this pandemic must be our top priority.”
WHO observed that during the first wave of COVID-19 infections in Africa, which was caused by the wild SARS-CoV-2 virus spreading, the average case fatality ratio—that is, the percentage of infected individuals who die from the virus—was high (2.5 percent).
It also showed that during the second wave, which was powered by beta, the percentage increased to 2.7 percent; but, during the third wave, which was powered by delta, it fell back to 2.4 percent. The average CFR for the fourth wave, on the other hand, is modest (0.8 percent), marking the first instance in which a wave’s jump in cases has not been accompanied by an increase in hospitalizations or deaths.
“Since the pandemic began, the continent’s ability to handle COVID-19 patients has progressively improved due to the increased accessibility of medical supplies, educated healthcare personnel, and oxygen. Across the continent, there are now 20 Intensive Care Unit beds available, up from 8 beds per million in 2020.
“WHO has also contributed to the repair, upkeep, and acquisition of new oxygen plants, resulting in a 60% increase in the number of oxygen producing facilities in Africa from 68 to 115. The cost of oxygen has dropped by forty percent in areas where plants have been installed. The majority of patients who need oxygen as part of their clinical treatment plan are unable to obtain it, despite significant advancements in oxygen availability.
