COVID-19: Up to 1,90,000 could die in Africa in one year, says WHO

The World Health Organization has said that 80,000 to 1,90,000 people could die of Covid-19 in the African continent in the first year of the pandemic.  As many as 29 million to 44 million people could get infected.

This shocking scenario will play out only if containment measures fail, not otherwise.  WHO’s research looks at 47 countries comprising of 1 billion population.

The good news is that Africa has been taking containment measures, by and large.  As such, the worst-case scenario will not play out.  

Even so, it’s important to bear in mind WHO’s gloomy predictions.  “There would be an estimated 3.6 million to 5.5 million COVID-19 hospitalizations, of which 82,000 to 1,67,000 would be severe cases requiring oxygen, and 52,000 to 1,07,000 would be critical cases requiring breathing support,” WHO says.

But Africa’s healthcare system is not in a position to cater to the demand. “There are on average nine intensive care unit beds per one million people. These would be woefully inadequate,” WHO says.