Preparedness and vulnerability of African countries against importations of COVID-19: a modelling study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic has spread from China to 25 countries. Local cycles of transmission have already occurred in 12 countries after case importation. In Africa, Egypt has so far confirmed one case. The management and control of COVID-19 importations heavily rely on a country's health capacity. Here we evaluate the preparedness and vulnerability of African countries against their risk of importation of COVID-19.

Methods

We used data on the volume of air travel departing from airports in the infected provinces in China and directed to Africa to estimate the risk of importation per country. We determined the country's capacity to detect and respond to cases with two indicators: preparedness, using the WHO International Health Regula

SUBMITTER: Gilbert M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7159277 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature