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| 'Aggressive action' needed as Africa coronavirus cases pass 1m | 'Aggressive action' needed as Africa coronavirus cases pass 1m |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| "Aggressive and bold" action is needed as Africa's coronavirus cases pass the one-million mark, according to the African Union (AU) body dealing with the pandemic. | "Aggressive and bold" action is needed as Africa's coronavirus cases pass the one-million mark, according to the African Union (AU) body dealing with the pandemic. |
| It says South Africa - where testing has been widespread - accounts for more than half of all cases. | It says South Africa - where testing has been widespread - accounts for more than half of all cases. |
| Tanzania's lack of data meanwhile is a "concern" for the AU. | Tanzania's lack of data meanwhile is a "concern" for the AU. |
| Experts say a lack of comprehensive testing across Africa means the true extent of the pandemic is not known. | Experts say a lack of comprehensive testing across Africa means the true extent of the pandemic is not known. |
| Tanzania, for example, has not published figures for weeks and in early July its health minister said the virus was "heading towards an end". | Tanzania, for example, has not published figures for weeks and in early July its health minister said the virus was "heading towards an end". |
| "We continue to reach out [to Tanzania] but we're not having the right responses," director of the AU's Centres for Disease and Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr John Nkengasong, told the BBC. | |
| In the continent overall, more than 22,000 people have died with Covid-19 and almost 690,000 people have recovered, the figures show. | In the continent overall, more than 22,000 people have died with Covid-19 and almost 690,000 people have recovered, the figures show. |
| Just over eight million tests have been carried out, but Dr Nkengasong said at least 13 million tests should have taken place. | |
| Africa's first coronavirus case was confirmed in Egypt in February - three weeks after Europe, and two months after the outbreak began in China in December. | Africa's first coronavirus case was confirmed in Egypt in February - three weeks after Europe, and two months after the outbreak began in China in December. |
| Where are Africa's hotspots? | Where are Africa's hotspots? |
| The two countries with the highest numbers of cases are South Africa and Egypt. They accounted for 75% of all the new cases reported by mid-July. | The two countries with the highest numbers of cases are South Africa and Egypt. They accounted for 75% of all the new cases reported by mid-July. |
| South Africa has the highest recorded number of total cases and reported deaths, and make up more than half of all the cases in Africa. | South Africa has the highest recorded number of total cases and reported deaths, and make up more than half of all the cases in Africa. |
| You may also want to watch: | You may also want to watch: |
| The Africa CDC is keeping a close eye on Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Dr Nkengasong told the BBC's Newsday programme. | The Africa CDC is keeping a close eye on Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Dr Nkengasong told the BBC's Newsday programme. |
| More than 65% of Africa's 55 countries have reported fewer than than 5,000 cases, Africa CDC says. | More than 65% of Africa's 55 countries have reported fewer than than 5,000 cases, Africa CDC says. |
| What is being done? | What is being done? |
| African nations have been praised for locking down more swiftly than other parts of the world. | African nations have been praised for locking down more swiftly than other parts of the world. |
| But there are concerns about insufficient testing, and the Africa CDC admits this should be expanded along with tracing. | But there are concerns about insufficient testing, and the Africa CDC admits this should be expanded along with tracing. |
| Dr Nkengasong said another risk was "community fatigue" where people tire of prevention messages. | Dr Nkengasong said another risk was "community fatigue" where people tire of prevention messages. |
| "We know that wearing masks constantly will help this situation," he added. | "We know that wearing masks constantly will help this situation," he added. |
| A coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and tested in South Africa, the UK and Brazil, appears to be safe and triggers an immune response. | A coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and tested in South Africa, the UK and Brazil, appears to be safe and triggers an immune response. |
| But it is still too soon to know if this is enough to offer protection and larger trials are under way. | But it is still too soon to know if this is enough to offer protection and larger trials are under way. |
| A milestone and a mystery | A milestone and a mystery |
| This is a significant milestone and an alarming one. But it is also a mystery. | This is a significant milestone and an alarming one. But it is also a mystery. |
| More than 500,000 cases of Covid-19 have already been confirmed in South Africa alone. The country has good data and - compared with most of Africa - a huge testing operation under way. | More than 500,000 cases of Covid-19 have already been confirmed in South Africa alone. The country has good data and - compared with most of Africa - a huge testing operation under way. |
| So, is it really possible that there are only another half a million cases across rest of the entire continent? | So, is it really possible that there are only another half a million cases across rest of the entire continent? |
| The short answer is no. | The short answer is no. |
| Experts here agree that, given the minimal amount of testing it is almost certain that Africa has already sailed far past the one million mark. | Experts here agree that, given the minimal amount of testing it is almost certain that Africa has already sailed far past the one million mark. |
| But doctors also point out that hospitals in many countries are not yet overloaded with suspected Covid-19 cases. | But doctors also point out that hospitals in many countries are not yet overloaded with suspected Covid-19 cases. |
| There are many possible explanations: fear of going to clinics, early lockdowns in many countries and sparser populations. | There are many possible explanations: fear of going to clinics, early lockdowns in many countries and sparser populations. |
| And because there is still so much to learn about Covid-19, it is possible that some populations may enjoy some extra protection against the virus, perhaps because of immune systems already bolstered by previous battles against malaria, cholera and other diseases. | And because there is still so much to learn about Covid-19, it is possible that some populations may enjoy some extra protection against the virus, perhaps because of immune systems already bolstered by previous battles against malaria, cholera and other diseases. |