WHO sends strong warning to Africa over coronavirus

The World Health Organization (WHO) has sent strong warning messages to Africa over coronavirus disease.

WHO warned Africa that the continent may experience an increase in cases of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19).

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Africa have to rise as official number of cases of the disease do not likely reflect the full picture.

According to the health organisation DG, numbers of positive cases could increase to higher rate if precautions are not adhered to.

Tedros said: “Till date more than 200,000 people have been and more than 8,000 killed with Africa as the least affected.

“Africa should wake up, Probably we have undetected cases or unreported cases.

“Even if there truly were no more than 233 cases of the disease in Africa, he warned that that number could scale up quickly.

“In other countries, we have seen how the virus actually accelerates after a certain tipping point, so the best advice for Africa is to prepare for the worst and prepare today.

“WHO’s recommendation is actually that mass gatherings should be avoided.”

Onyxnewsng recalls that the Federal Ministry of Health confirmed five new cases of coronavirus, adding to the three cases on ground, making it a total number of eight cases in Nigeria.

The infected persons were reported to have arrived in the country from the UK and the US.

Updating the country of the virus in Nigeria, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, during a press conference in Abuja, said all the new five cases had a travel history from the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

“We urge Nigerians to remain calm as public health response activities are intensified across the country,” the Minister of Health said on Twitter.

Updating Nigerians on the development, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) tweeted: “@Fmohnigeria has announced 5 new cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria bringing the total number confirmed cases in Nigeria to 8. All 5 cases had a travel history to the UK/USA.

“We urge Nigerians to remain calm as public health response activities are intensified across the country.”

Meanwhile, The Lagos State Government under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu banned any religious gathering that involves large number of people over the coronavirus pandemic. The state had also made a decision to shut down schools with effect on Monday 23, March 2020.