Title |
Africa's COVID-19 Situation in Focus and Recent Happenings: A Mini Review
|
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Published in |
Frontiers in Public Health, December 2020
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DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2020.573636 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
John Elvis Hagan, Bright Opoku Ahinkorah, Abdul-Aziz Seidu, Edward Kwabena Ameyaw, Thomas Schack |
Abstract |
Given that COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has crept into Africa, a major public health crisis or threat continues to linger on the continent. Many local governments and various stakeholders have stepped up efforts for early detection and management of COVID-19. This mini review highlights the current trend in Africa, history and general epidemiological information on the virus. Current ongoing efforts (e.g., improving testing capacity) and some effective ways (e.g., intensified surveillance, quick detection, contact tracing, isolation measures [e.g., quarantine], and social distancing) of preventing and managing COVID-19 in Africa are described. The review concludes by emphasizing the need for public health infrastructure development (e.g., laboratories, infectious disease centers, regional hospitals) and human capacity building for combating COVID-19 and potential future outbreaks. Additionally, regular public health educational campaigns are urgently required. Future epidemiological studies to ascertain case fatality and mortality trends across the continent for policy directions are necessary. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
South Africa | 1 | 33% |
Switzerland | 1 | 33% |
Ghana | 1 | 33% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 2 | 67% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 33% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 92 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 17 | 18% |
Student > Bachelor | 8 | 9% |
Researcher | 6 | 7% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 6 | 7% |
Student > Postgraduate | 5 | 5% |
Other | 16 | 17% |
Unknown | 34 | 37% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 16 | 17% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 11 | 12% |
Social Sciences | 6 | 7% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3 | 3% |
Environmental Science | 3 | 3% |
Other | 19 | 21% |
Unknown | 34 | 37% |