CORONAVIRUS: WHO warns African countries to prepare for the worst as Italy death toll reaches 3,000

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned African countries to prepare for the worst over the outbreak and possible spread of the deadly coronavirus also known as COVID-19.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO, issued the warning while speaking with the international media on Wednesday when he said; “Africa should wake up… in other countries, we have seen how the virus actually accelerates after a certain tipping point.”

Thus far, 16 deaths have been reported in Africa: six in Egypt, six in Algeria, two in Morocco, one in Sudan and one in Burkina Faso.

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Africa has been the least affected continent, but health experts warn that strained public health systems could become quickly overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, the death toll arising from the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus disease in Italy has jumped to 3,000 as the world turns to border closures and movement controls to stop the spread of the virus.

Italy is the country most affected by the coronavirus outside China, with health authorities in the country reporting a further 475 deaths from COVID-19 infection on Wednesday.

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