Melinda GatesThe co – chair of the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda Gates, has warned on the impact of the COVID – 19 disease in Africa, noting that it may exact a high death toll on the continent.
She observed that COVID – 19 situation in Africa might turn out as bad as the situation in Europe, China or the United States.
According to the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, there are now 13,814 confirmed cases of COVID – 19 in 52 countries across Africa, with over 747 deaths.
Speaking to CNN’s Poppy Harlow on Monday about the coronavirus pandemic and the crisis facing countries in Africa, Gates advised African countries to act fast to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
She warned that not doing so could lead to a large death toll on the continent.
Gates noted that the low number of cases of COVID – 19 in African countries compared to some other parts of the world was because of the limited testing facilities.
The philanthropist stated, “It’s going to be horrible in the developing world. Part of the reasons you are seeing the case numbers still do not look very bad is because they don’t have access to many tests. Look at what is happening in Ecuador, they are putting bodies out on the streets; you are going to see that in countries in Africa.”
She said African countries had a poor health care system and needed humanitarian support.
She added, “When I saw what China had to do to isolate the enormous part of its population, my first thought was Africa. How in the world are they going to deal with this?
“I have been in townships all over Africa and slums. When we talk about physical distancing and hand – washing, if you live in slums you can’t physically distance, you have to go out and get your meals. You don’t have clean water to wash your hands.”
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