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COVID-19: WHO warns growing case in S’Africa could be precursor for outbreaks across the continent

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the growing cases of COVID-19 in South Africa could be a “precursor” for outbreaks across the continent.

“I am very concerned right now that we are beginning to see an acceleration of disease in Africa,” WHO’s emergencies chief Michael Ryan told a virtual news conference.

He also warned that the situation there could be seen as “a warning” for what the rest of the continent might have in store.

READ ALSO: Confirmed COVID-19 cases to 14m globally —WHO

“While South Africa is experiencing a very, very severe event, I think it is really a marker of what the continent could face if urgent action is not taken to provide further support,” he said.

“South Africa may, unfortunately, be a precursor, it may be a warning for what will happen in the rest of Africa,” he added.

This came a day after the Human Rights Watch (HRW) revealed in a new report that no fewer than 14 prisoners have died from likely COVID-19 complications in scantly-monitored outbreaks of the disease at Egyptian detention centres.

The group in a statement on Sunday said that its report is based on witness accounts, leaked letters from prisons and reports by local rights groups.

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