Africa has so far been spared the worst impact of the coronavirus, but the World Health Organization is worried the continent could face a 'silent epidemic' if its leaders do not prioritize testing for it, a WHO envoy said on Monday.
FILE PHOTO: The World Health Organization logo is pictured at the entrance of its headquarters in Geneva, January 25, 2015. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy/File Photo
“My first point for Africa, my first concern, is that a lack of testing is leading to a silent epidemic in Africa. So we must continue to push leaders to prioritize testing,” special envoy Samba Sow told a news conference. The WHO regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said some countries had taken measures to curb the disease at a high economic cost. Those measures meant the pandemic was having a milder impact so far than some models had predicted, Moeti said.
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