‘Expect the best but prepare for the worst’ – head of Africa CDC
Head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention John Nkengasong believes the continent needs to prepare for the worst as the Covid-19 pandemic gains momentum.
Africa has now surpassed 500 000 cumulative cases, with more than 12 000 deaths.
South Africa remains the hardest hit country on the African continent, with some provinces now preparing mass graves amid the expected surge in the number of Covid-19 deaths.
Nkengasong says the continent should prepare for any eventuality.
“It’s always good to prepare for the worst-case scenario and take the appropriate measures. Expect the best but prepare for the worst.
“We encourage all countries to be thinking ahead in the entire spectrum of the pandemic from prevention to deaths and to the prevention of harm.”
ALSO READ:
Mkhize: SA expected to reach Covid-19 peak in mid-August
Briefing Parliament on Wednesday afternoon - Mkhize said fewer people were infected in May and June than was previously predicted. "While the model projects a lower need for hospital (non-ICU) and ICU beds at a national level, bed capacity is still expected to be breached or overwhelmed in all provinces.
Nkengasong also warns that a delay in a vaccine could hit the continent hardest.
“We are faced with a global crisis that requires global solidarity.
“We want to be sure that we don’t find ourselves in the 1996 scenario where HIV drugs were available but it took 7 years for those drugs to be accessible to the continent of Africa.”
He adds: “A delay in Africa of even one year would be catastrophic.”
Vaccine trials have already begun in South Africa.