Abstract
Introduction: Public health safety measures have been advocated for towards the effective containment of COVID-19. This study aimed to assess the effects of public health safety measures (PHSM) implemented during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the COVID-19 control measures implemented across Africa. We extracted and collated data on COVID-19 cases, deaths, and stringency level (SL) from online data repositories between 18 July, 2020 and 18 December, 2020 in Africa. Results: In the South African region, COVID-19 cases increased when there was partial closure of work sectors (SL = 41.67), but decreased with complete closure of work sectors (SL=46.30) in South Africa. In North Africa, COVID-19 cases increased when there was limited contact tracing (SL = 23.15), but decreased with comprehensive contact tracing (SL = 75.00) in Tunisia. In West Africa, COVID-19 cases increased when there was partial school closure (SL = 50.93), but decreased with complete school closure (SL = 65.74) in Nigeria. In East Africa, COVID-19 cases increased when contact tracing was limited (SL = 28.70), but decreased with comprehensive contact tracing (SL = 51.85) in Sudan. In Central Africa, COVID-19 cases increased when there was partial school closure (SL = 43.52), but decreased with complete school closure (SL = 56.48) in Congo. Conclusion: PHSM should be intensified to ensure the effective containment of COVID-19 in Africa. Evidence-based decisions should be made by policy makers and contextualized in each African country as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.
Highlights
Public health safety measures (PHSM) have been advocated for towards the effective containment of COVID-19
In the South African region, South Africa is in the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has recorded 892,813 COVID-19 cases, with 1,537 cases recorded per 100,000 population, and 24,011 deaths as of 18 December, 2020
When there was closure of some work sectors, restrictions on gatherings of 11-100 people, and border closures (SL = 41.67), there was an increase in COVID-19 cases in South Africa
Summary
Public health safety measures (PHSM) have been advocated for towards the effective containment of COVID-19. Steady records of a high proportion of COVID-19 cases (> 1 million) have been recorded in Brazil, India, Russia, and the United states, and every continent has had its share of the COVID-19 experience [9]. Due to this shared experience, many public health safety measures (PHSM) such as border closures, public health campaigns, regular hand hygiene, and the compulsory use of face masks have been implemented in many countries and continents [10,11,12]
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