IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i19p9968-d640693.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Current State of COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa: Lessons for Today and the Future

Author

Listed:
  • Godwin Attah Obande

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
    Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Federal University of Lafia, PMB 146, Lafia 950101, Nigeria)

  • Ahmad Ibrahim Bagudo

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
    Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, PMB 1144, Aliero 863104, Nigeria)

  • Suharni Mohamad

    (School of Dental Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia)

  • Zakuan Zainy Deris

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
    Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Hospital USM, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia)

  • Azian Harun

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
    Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Hospital USM, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia)

  • Chan Yean Yean

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
    Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Hospital USM, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia)

  • Ismail Aziah

    (Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia)

  • Kirnpal Kaur Banga Singh

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
    Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Hospital USM, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia)

Abstract

This study is a cross-sectional, observational analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, to understand the progression of the disease across the continent. Published data on COVID-19 from 20 January 2020 to 21 June 2021 were obtained and analyzed. Case fatality ratios, as well as case growth rates and other indices were computed. On 21 June 2021, a total of 178,210,532 confirmed cases and 3,865,978 deaths had been recorded worldwide. While the Americas recorded the highest number of cases, Southern Africa recorded the majority of African cases. Fatality rate since from 20 February 2020 to 21 June 2021 was highest in the Americas (2.63%) and low in the South Eastern Asia region (1.39%), globally increasing from 2.17% at the end of January to 6.36% in May 2020 and decreasing to a range between 2.14% to 2.30% since January 2021. In Africa, the infection rate per 100,000 persons was up to 3090.18, while deaths per 100,000 and case fatality ratio were as high as 119.64 and 5.72%, respectively, among the 20 most-affected countries. The testing rate per million population was highest in Botswana (512,547.08). Fatality appears to be increasing in some regions of Africa. The rate of infection and fatality in Africa could still likely take an upward turn. Strict control measures are required, considering the continent’s weak healthcare systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Godwin Attah Obande & Ahmad Ibrahim Bagudo & Suharni Mohamad & Zakuan Zainy Deris & Azian Harun & Chan Yean Yean & Ismail Aziah & Kirnpal Kaur Banga Singh, 2021. "Current State of COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa: Lessons for Today and the Future," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:9968-:d:640693
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/19/9968/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/19/9968/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ewen Callaway, 2021. "Delta coronavirus variant: scientists brace for impact," Nature, Nature, vol. 595(7865), pages 17-18, July.
    2. Oyelola A. Adegboye & Adeshina I. Adekunle & Ezra Gayawan, 2020. "Early Transmission Dynamics of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-10, April.
    3. Demombynes,Gabriel, 2020. "COVID-19 Age-Mortality Curves Are Flatter in Developing Countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9313, The World Bank.
    4. Joshua R. Goldstein & Ronald D. Lee, 2020. "Demographic perspectives on the mortality of COVID-19 and other epidemics," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117(36), pages 22035-22041, September.
    5. Karla Romero Starke & René Mauer & Ethel Karskens & Anna Pretzsch & David Reissig & Albert Nienhaus & Anna Lene Seidler & Andreas Seidler, 2021. "The Effect of Ambient Environmental Conditions on COVID-19 Mortality: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-20, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Isaac Sasson, 2021. "Age and COVID-19 mortality: A comparison of Gompertz doubling time across countries and causes of death," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 44(16), pages 379-396.
    2. Demombynes,Gabriel & De Walque,Damien B. C. M. & Gubbins,Paul Michael & Urdinola,Beatriz Piedad & Veillard,Jeremy Henri Maurice, 2021. "COVID-19 Age-Mortality Curves for 2020 Are Flatter in Developing Countries Using Both Official DeathCounts and Excess Deaths," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9807, The World Bank.
    3. Emanuele Amodio & Michele Battisti & Antonio Francesco Gravina & Andrea Mario Lavezzi & Giuseppe Maggio, 2023. "School‐age vaccination, school openings and Covid‐19 diffusion," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(5), pages 1084-1100, May.
    4. Ewa Małgorzata Szepietowska & Ewa Zawadzka & Sara Filipiak, 2022. "Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Sense of Gains and Losses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-19, March.
    5. Leo H. Kahane, 2021. "Politicizing the Mask: Political, Economic and Demographic Factors Affecting Mask Wearing Behavior in the USA," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 47(2), pages 163-183, April.
    6. Abel Brodeur & David Gray & Anik Islam & Suraiya Bhuiyan, 2021. "A literature review of the economics of COVID‐19," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(4), pages 1007-1044, September.
    7. Cohen, Philip N., 2020. "The COVID-19 epidemic in rural U.S. counties," SocArXiv pnqrd, Center for Open Science.
    8. Amrita Ahuja & Susan Athey & Arthur Baker & Eric Budish & Juan Camilo Castillo & Rachel Glennerster & Scott Duke Kominers & Michael Kremer & Jean Lee & Canice Prendergast & Christopher M. Snyder & Ale, 2021. "Preparing for a Pandemic: Accelerating Vaccine Availability," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 111, pages 331-335, May.
    9. Mihaela ZAMFIR & Ileana CIOBANU & Mihai Viorel ZAMFIR, 2021. "Vatra Luminoasa, age friendly study of intergenerational architecture in a Bucharest neighborhood," Smart Cities International Conference (SCIC) Proceedings, Smart-EDU Hub, vol. 9, pages 437-460, November.
    10. Lin Ma & Gil Shapira & Damien de Walque & Quy‐Toan Do & Jed Friedman & Andrei A. Levchenko, 2022. "The Intergenerational Mortality Trade‐Off Of Covid‐19 Lockdown Policies," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 63(3), pages 1427-1468, August.
    11. Shapiro, Vladimir, 2021. "COVID-19 Sex-Age Mortality Modeling - A Use Case of Risk-Based Vaccine Prioritization," SocArXiv 5c8bd, Center for Open Science.
    12. Feng, Gen-Fu & Yang, Hao-Chang & Gong, Qiang & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2021. "What is the exchange rate volatility response to COVID-19 and government interventions?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 705-719.
    13. Johannes Burtscher & Gregoire P. Millet & Barbara Leitner & Martin Burtscher, 2022. "Health Benefits of Residence at Moderate Altitude Do Not Reduce COVID-19 Mortality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-7, December.
    14. Robert E. Hall & Charles I. Jones & Peter J. Klenow, 2020. "Trading Off Consumption and COVID-19 Deaths," Quarterly Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, vol. 42(1), pages 1-14, June.
    15. de León, Ugo Avila-Ponce & Avila-Vales, Eric & Huang, Kuan-lin, 2022. "Modeling COVID-19 dynamic using a two-strain model with vaccination," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    16. Ion Papava & Liana Dehelean & Radu Stefan Romosan & Mariana Bondrescu & Cristian Zoltan Dimeny & Eugenia Maria Domuta & Felix Bratosin & Iulia Bogdan & Mirela Loredana Grigoras & Codruta Victoria Tigm, 2022. "The Impact of Hyper-Acute Inflammatory Response on Stress Adaptation and Psychological Symptoms of COVID-19 Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-12, May.
    17. Robert Fatton, 2021. "The Paradoxes of the Pandemic and World Inequalities," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-22, September.
    18. Yupeng Li & Kul Prasad Kapri, 2021. "Impact of Economic Factors and Policy Interventions on the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    19. Fulian Yin & Meiqi Ji & Zhongliang Yang & Zhaoliang Wu & Xinyu Xia & Tongtong Xing & Yuwei She & Zhiwen Hu, 2022. "Exploring the determinants of global vaccination campaigns to combat COVID-19," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13, December.
    20. Rocha Filho, T.M. & Moret, M.A. & Chow, C.C. & Phillips, J.C. & Cordeiro, A.J.A. & Scorza, F.A. & Almeida, A.-C.G. & Mendes, J.F.F., 2021. "A data-driven model for COVID-19 pandemic – Evolution of the attack rate and prognosis for Brazil," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:19:p:9968-:d:640693. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.