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Africa and the coronavirus

by Salaamedia

Opinion | Humairaa Mayet

As Covid-19 began its rapid journey around the world in January 2020 after being contained in China, an onslaught of racism followed. Beginning with verbal and physical attacks on any and all people of Asian descent in America and European countries, followed by Donald Trump calling the pandemic the “Chinese virus”, Sinophobia experienced an exponential spike in the Northern Hemisphere.

Once the epicentre of the disease shifted from Wuhan, China to Europe – specifically Spain and Italy – many were brought to their senses and realised that Covid-19 was not a “Chinese virus” but a global epidemic. This realisation resulted in the masses turning their attention to Africa as they raised questions surrounding the low rates of Covid-19 on the continent.

Africa is perceived as a single entity by the West – one pervaded by disease, poverty, inequality, the list is endless. Historically, Africa has been plagued by several epidemics in the past few centuries, most notably cholera, yellow fever, and Ebola. These diseases have come to be associated with Africa and its inadequate healthcare systems as they rarely occur in the developed world.

As the coronavirus ravaged Europe, Asia, and America, many wondered why Africa reported far fewer cases than all the other continents. Reaching Africa long after it had taken roots in the Global North, Covid-19 was confined to the North African region for approximately two weeks before the disease began to work its way down the continent.

Only in March did Covid-19 begin spreading through Africa’s other regions, claiming many lives over the course of its stay. The dispersion of the disease through Africa has been slower than its dispersion in the West, with Africa reporting fewer cases and deaths than most countries in the Northern Hemisphere.

African governments have taken many noteworthy precautions as the pandemic grows; providing information, making water available in informal settlements and drought-stricken areas, and several have even locked and shut their countries down. If they continue to put rigorous measures into place, they will assist greatly in curbing the spread of the virus in Africa.

Featured image via Google

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