'Coronavirus Strain In Africa Seems To Be Weak'

Health experts have indicated that the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) strain affecting Africa is mild compared to what has affected Europe and Asia.

COVID-19 Chief Coordinator in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Agnes Mahomva told Zimpapers radio division on Thursday that Africa in general, and Zimbabwe in particular, will not experience the severe cases as witnessed in Europe. She said:

A number of people do not suspect that they are positive before they are tested. They only realise after being tested that they are actually carrying the virus. They do not have any symptoms, everything is okay, but they still test positive.

In fact, science has actually indicated that the epidemic here in Africa seems to be attenuated. We are not going to have as severe cases as we saw in Europe, so that is very positive and encouraging.

One of the academic papers published by the USA’s Social Sciences Research Council on May 14, 2020, and done by two African researchers alluded to a weaker strain of COVID-19 in Africa.

Zimbabwe has as of 14 June 2020 recorded 383 coronavirus cases including 4 deaths and 54 recoveries.

The 27 cases recorded on Sunday were all in quarantine centres after returning from South Africa.

More: The Herald