ECOWAS Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control recently released report on Covid-19 shows a cumulative total of 214,896 confirmed cases in the 15 member countries of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States).
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- The report released on 10 December 2020 revealed that 3 countries – Nigeria 71,334, Ghana 52,738, and Cote d’Ivoire 21,590, contributed 67.8% of this cumulative figure.
- As of December 1, 2020, the cumulative total of confirmed cases was 206,388, meaning that there were 8,498 new cases within a space of 10 days, with the 41% of the cases largely contributed by Nigeria (3,496).
- As of December 10, 2020, the case fatality rate (CFR) and recovery rate declined compared to their respective positions as of December 1, 2020(i.e. CFR: 1.4% to 1.37%, Recovery rate: 94.3% to 93.1%), with only the Active rate increasing from 4.3% to 5.6%.
- Nigeria occupies the 7th position out of the 15 countries, with an active case rate of 6.6% (moving from 4.8% as of December 1, 2020). The list is topped by Niger 37.5%, followed by Mali 33.9%, Sierra Leone 21.1%, etc. The least countries are Gambia 0.3%, Cote d’Ivoire 1.2%, Ghana 1.7%.
- In recovery rate, Nigeria dropped from 93.5% to 91.8%, with Cote de Ivoire topping the list with 98.2%, followed by Ghana 97.7%, Cape Verde 96.7%, etc. The least countries are Liberia 58.7%, Mali 62.8%, Sierra Leone 75.9%.
- In terms of death rate (CFR), Nigeria occupies the 10th position with 1.67% (declined from 1.73% as of December 1, 2020), with Liberia 4.95% topping the list, followed by Niger 3.76%, Mali 3.3%, etc. The least countries are Guinea 0.59%, Cote d’Ivoire 0.62%, Ghana 0.62%.
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What this means
The recent spikes in the new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 from country to country in the ECOWAS sub-region signals an imminent second wave of the pandemic, if not properly and timely managed.
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The big concern being expressed by many stakeholders is that the numbers might likely go up as the yuletide season approaches with its increased economic activities (i.e. Christmas shopping activities, etc) and the fact that many are yet to come to terms with full and strict adherence to various personal hygiene measures and protocols.
At this time, it has become expedient for ECOWAS member countries and their disease control agencies to proactively commence aggressive and comprehensive awareness programmes to appropriately alert all and sundry of the imminent danger of the looming pandemic should it be allowed to resurface for the second time, which no doubt would be quite monumental in terms of losses.
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