Is Africa prepared for tackling the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic. Lessons from past outbreaks, ongoing pan-African public health efforts, and implications for the future

Abstract

Word count: 1,998 words J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f

COVID-19 in Africa: care and protection for frontline healthcare workers

“…Many governments in Africa will require support from international donors to protect frontline healthcare workers from the outset of the pandemic. The government of China has provided personnel and equipment to support COVID-19 services in many parts of the world [26]. Support from China, building on already wellestablished links with countries across the continent, could play a major role in shaping the trajectory of the pandemic in Africa.…”

Clinical features of the first cases and a cluster of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Bolivia imported from Italy and Spain

“…After its zoonotic emergence in China, during November-December 2019 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8], the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID- 19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [9], spread significantly into other countries in Asia [10][11][12][13][14]. Then, to other continents such as the Pacific region [15], North America [16,17], Europe [18][19][20][21][22], and even Africa [23][24][25][26].…”

The Late Arrival of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Africa: Mitigating Pan-continental Spread

“…The African continent has remained relatively unaffected, but African countries with unstable health systems and travel links between China, Italy, and other high COVID-19-endemic countries are most vulnerable. In anticipation of importation of cases to Africa, WHO, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), national governments, and public health organizations have spent 2 months scaling up preparedness efforts to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout Africa [2][3][4]. This support is critical to allow African governments to implement the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee recommendations.…”