Somali National News Agency
So
Ar
Search
  • Home
  • Local News
    Local NewsShow More
    Somali Embassy in Uganda Hosts First-Ever Official Independence Day Celebration
    July 2, 2025
    National Leaders Gather at Prime Minister’s Office to Mark Somalia’s 65th Independence Anniversary
    July 1, 2025
    UAE leaders congratulate President of Somalia on National Day
    July 1, 2025
    A Journey into Xinjiang’s Heart: Unveiling Prosperity and Harmony Through Initial Local Engagement
    July 1, 2025
    Somalia, Tanzania Renew Aviation Pact, Approve Direct Flight Route
    July 1, 2025
  • World News
    World NewsShow More
    Protests intensify in Los Angeles after Trump deploys hundreds of National Guard troops
    June 9, 2025
    31 Palestinians are killed heading to a Gaza aid site, witnesses say. Israel denies responsibility
    June 7, 2025
    Hajj Season 1446 AH: Synergy Between Technology and Humanity in Serving the Guests of Allah
    June 6, 2025
    Machine Gun, AK-47 Rifles Recovered as 4 Al-Shabaab Terrorists are Killed in Garissa
    June 3, 2025
    Israel kills 2 Gaza aid seekers as UN warns of ‘catastrophic hunger’
    May 31, 2025
  • Articles
    ArticlesShow More
    July 1st: The “Mataaneyntii Maandeeq” – Somalia’s Unity day
    July 1, 2025
    Dr. Hodan Osman Abdi, poses with distinguished diplomats and senior Chinese officials during the 65th Independence Day celebration at the Somali Embassy in Beijing.
    Somalia celebrates independence day in Beijing with a showcase of heritage and diplomacy
    July 1, 2025
    Reviving Somalia’s Tourism and Hospitality Sector: A Path Toward Economic Resilience and Cultural Renaissance
    June 21, 2025
    Somalia’s Strategic Path in a Resurgent China-Africa Partnership
    June 12, 2025
    Remarks on Somalia’s participation in the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo
    June 13, 2025
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Somalia Unveils the Blueprint for a Modern and Sustainable Mogadishu
    December 21, 2024
    Djibouti Launches $57.4 Million Youth Entrepreneurship Project to Combat Climate Change
    November 25, 2024
    FM meets Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia
    October 28, 2024
    President Hassan Sheikh Inaugurates New LPG Storage Center in Mogadishu
    May 12, 2024
    Collaboration of ICT transformation for digital Infrastructure
    October 24, 2023
  • Sports
    SportsShow More
    Mogadishu Stadium to Host Star-Studded Match Featuring Somali Legends and International Football Icons
    May 27, 2025
    Arsenal held at Brighton while Man City bounce-back continues
    January 5, 2025
    Galmudug wins the Inter-State Football Tournament
    January 29, 2024
    Somalia set for two int’l friendlies ahead of WC qualifier clashes against Algeria and Uganda
    October 10, 2023
    Chicago woman, 104, skydives from plane, aiming for record as the world’s oldest skydiver
    October 3, 2023
  • Tenders
    TendersShow More
Reading: COVID-19: ‘Quick response, less mobility can save Africa’
Share
Font ResizerAa
Somali National News AgencySomali National News Agency
  • SOMALI
  • ARABIC
Search
  • Home
  • Local News
  • World News
  • Articles
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Tenders
Follow US
©2023 || All rights reserved SONNA
Somali National News Agency > Blog > News > COVID-19: ‘Quick response, less mobility can save Africa’
NewsWorld News

COVID-19: ‘Quick response, less mobility can save Africa’

By admin
Last updated: April 22, 2020
4 Min Read
Share

ADDIS ABABA(SONNA):Experts have warned against any complacency in Africa, although the coronavirus pandemic has so far produced relatively few reported deaths on the continent.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Deputy Director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Ahmed Ogwell Ouma said the quick response by different countries and less mobility of people in the continent has so far saved the continent.

“Africa is different because we started acting quickly. When we saw the pandemic spreading, we began to prepare. And governments began to put in place mechanisms to identify those who may have the disease, to test them and to follow up those who may have been exposed,” he said.

Ouma said due to past experiences that have devoured many lives in African countries, they started early, unlike much privileged European and American counterparts.

He said the less mobility of people and the absence of a rapid transport system also made a difference.

“The second difference is that in Africa the modes of travel as not the same as the rest of the world. Someone in Addis Ababa is unlikely to go outside the city frequently. And the modes of transport are poor. In other parts of the world, air travel is the most common means. And people travel quite frequently, which also made the virus to travel fast,” said Ouma.

He, however, cautioned that it was not time to celebrate as the continent is not completely out of danger.

“We must remain vigilant to make sure we do not have many infected people. It will be a disaster in the continent, “he said.

The top expert also complained that lockdown across the continent has also affected medical and other supplies. He said there was a need to start solidarity flights to transport supplies.

Of the five regions in Africa, northern Africa has taken over southern Africa as the most affected both in terms of cases and deaths. According to U.S.-based John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre, Egypt has so far reported 3,490 infected cases with 264 deaths, while South Africa registered 3,465 cases and 58 deaths.

East Africa has been least affected so far. Djibouti, with a population of 958,920 has registered 945 cases, while its neighbor Ethiopia with 110 million population has so far 114 confirmed cases.

Like all over the world, Africa is also likely to witness a sharp decline in productivity, loss of jobs and revenues to the pandemic.

“As engines and drivers of economic growth, cities face considerable risks in light of COVID-19 with implications for the continent’s resilience to the pandemic,” said Thokozile Ruzvidzo director of the Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

“The effects are likely to be severe in urban areas. The urban economy [manufacturing and services] currently account for 64% of GDP in Africa,” said Ruzvidzo.

Firms and businesses in African cities are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 related effects, especially SMEs which account for 80% of employment in Africa.

“Additionally, urban consumption and expenditure [on food, manufactured goods, utilities, transport, energy, and services] are likely to experience a sharp fall in light of COVID-related lockdowns and reduced restrictions,” he said.

 

Source: Anadolu Agency

Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Email Copy Link Print

MORE NEWS

Official Reopening of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archives

CultureEducationLocal News
November 23, 2024

Kenya’s small farmers find respite in avocados amid changing climate

NAIROBI(SONNA) As crop diseases and pests rise in Kenya amid a rapidly changing climate that…

March 11, 2023

Somali Embassy in Uganda Hosts First-Ever Official Independence Day Celebration

Kampala, (SONNA) — The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia in Uganda has, for…

July 2, 2025

Nimcaan Hilaac appointed to lead Waberi National Band

Mogadishu (SONNA)-Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed…

March 3, 2020

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Immediate Release: COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Somalia

Mogadishu, 15 March 2021 – Efforts to protect Somalis during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic stepped up today with the…

News
March 15, 2021

Sudan’s warring factions agree seven-day ceasefire

A temporary ceasefire in Sudan has been agreed as fighting between two warring factions entered its sixth week. Previous truce…

World News
May 22, 2023

18 killed, 14 injured in northeastern Pakistan road accident

SONNA - At least 18 passengers were burned to death and another 14 were injured when a passenger bus caught…

World News
August 20, 2023

Prime Minister Receives UN Special Representative for Somalia Ambassador James Swan.

Mogadishu (SONNA)-The Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia H.E Mohamed Hussein Roble on Monday received in his office…

NewsWorld News
October 27, 2020

Somali National News Agency established in 1964. It is one of the main pillars of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.

  • Home
  • Local News
  • World News
  • Articles
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Tenders
  • SNTV
  • RADIO MOGADISHU
  • DALKA JOURNAL
  • TOURISM DEPARTMENT

Follow US: 

  • MoICT
  • VILLA SOMALIA
  • OPM SOMALIA

All rights reserved SONNA

©2023

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?