Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response at the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa Dr Abdou Salam Gueye is urging Southern African countries to step up preparedness to ensure that they can effectively carry out a health response as the continent faces a fifth Covid-19 pandemic wave.

The region is facing an increase in Covid-19 cases for the third consecutive week as the winter season approaches. This comes after a two-month-long decline in overall infections recorded across the continent.

The sub-region recorded 46 271 cases in the week ending on May 8, a 32% increase from the week before. 

Gueye said this uptick in cases is an early warning sign, which WHO is closely monitoring.

He noted that the surge is driven by a rise in cases in South Africa. where weekly recorded cases have quadrupled in the past three weeks. However, deaths have not climbed as quickly. South Africa recorded 376 deaths in the past three weeks, twice as many compared with the previous period.

Although cases have risen, Gueye noted hospitalisation in the country remained low, with the number of patients currently admitted testing positive for Covid-19 at about 20% of the late December 2021 peak.

To date, Africa has reported 11.7-million cases and about 253 000 deaths. The continent recorded 52 878 cases in the week ending May 8, a rise of 38% from the week before. 

Meanwhile, Eswatini and Namibia have also recorded an increase in cases, with both reporting 50% more new cases in the past two weeks compared with the previous two weeks.

Gueye said over the past two years African countries have greatly improved their Covid-19 response, with surveillance, testing and treatment bolstered.

He noted that it is vital that these measures are maintained and quickly scaled up should Covid-19 cases surge further and across many countries.

He advocated for more vaccination and health measures to detect and prevent the spread of the virus, as well as treatment of patients.

“To beat this pandemic, we must stay vigilant. The harsh reality is that complacency comes at a high price,” Gueye said.