Africa will likely see higher numbers of coronavirus cases in coming weeks because of the likelihood some are slipping through the net, the head of a regional disease control body said on Thursday.
The virus has multiplied in Africa more slowly than Asia or Europe, but 34 nations on the continent have now reported a total of more than 600 cases. Worldwide, it has infected nearly 220,00 people and killed nearly 9,000.
“We are picking some people but we are also missing some people,” said John Nkengasong, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which is a branch of the African Union bloc.
“The situation will get worse before it gets better because the chances are clear that people have slipped through.”
Many countries worldwide have suspended flights, closed borders and banned public gatherings to curb its spread.
