Senegal on Monday reported its first case of COVID-19, becoming the fourth country in Africa – after Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria – to confirm the virus, as deadly outbreak’s global death toll climbs above 3,000, mainly in China where it originated end last year.

The case in Senegal was confirmed a day after Algeria reported two new cases on March 1.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the patient is a French national and a resident of Senegal who returned to Dakar on February 26.

The patient had stayed in the southern French town of Nimes as well as in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. He has been isolated at a hospital in Dakar.

"As countries in Africa confirm cases, the virus is no longer a threat to the continent, but a reality,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

"We are working with countries in the region to ensure that measures are taken to contain further spread of the virus.”

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, late Monday said: "Our message to all countries is: this is not one-way street. We can push this coronavirus back. Your actions now will determine the course of the COVID19 outbreak in your country. There’s no choice but to act now.”

"We are in unchartered territory with COVID19. We have never before seen a respiratory pathogen that is capable of community transmission, but which can also be contained with the right measures.”

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, last week noted that with the first case of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa confirmed in Nigeria – the third on the continent after one in Egypt and another in Algeria – the virus is no longer a threat but a reality in the region.

"Now is not the time for fear, but solidarity, cooperation and collective commitment from all,” she said.

Containment of the outbreak is feasible

More and more countries in Africa are stepping up their preparedness to detect and cope with COVID-19 importations, according to a report titled "Preparedness and vulnerability of African countries against importations of COVID-19,” published by The Lancet, a medical journal.

Global health experts emphasize that containment of the outbreak is feasible and must remain the top priority for all countries.

According to Global Health Strategies (GHS), an international consulting company that specializes in global health communications, advocacy, research and strategy, "With early, aggressive measures, countries can stop transmission and save lives."  

Contrary to some media reports and speculation, the fact is novel coronavirus is transmitted via droplets and fomites during close, unprotected contact between an infector and infectee. Airborne spread has not been reported for COVID-19.

The virus spreads from person to person mainly through the droplets produced when an infected person speaks, coughs or sneezes.

The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30.

The international community has asked for US$675 million to help protect states with weaker health systems as part of its strategic preparedness and response plan.

On Sunday, UN Humanitarian Chief Mark Lowcock released US$15 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to WHO and UNICEF to help fund global efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus.

Simple hygiene practices reduce risk

According to the WHO, simple hygiene practices can reduce your risk of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

People are especially urged to: wash hands regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub; avoid touching their face; and to clean surfaces regularly with disinfectant.

In Rwanda, the government upped preventive measures in the past week. Local government authorities have strengthened hygiene campaigns in a bid to prevent the outbreak of infectious and contagious diseases including Coronavirus and Ebola. In nearly all public places in Kigali – bars, supermarkets and others – disinfectant gels are used by people before they enter such places. Over the past weekend, parents and guardians who visited students in boarding schools found soap, water and wash basins at school entrances.  

According to the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), national preparedness and response capacity to deter COVID-19 is continuously being upgraded to ensure early detection and response to any suspected case at all entry points of Rwanda.

All arriving travellers are screened at Kigali International Airport and all other points of entry. Rwanda has, among other measures, set up a test lab at RBC’s National Referral Lab in Kigali.

Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in any workplace

The WHO has issued new COVID-19 guidance for businesses and employers, which outlines simple ways to prevent the spread of the virus, things to consider when employees travel and how to get your business ready in case COVID-19 arrives in your community.

It listed simple ways to prevent the spread of the outbreak in any workplace.

These low-cost measures, it says, will help prevent the spread of infections in the workplace, such as colds, flu and stomach bugs, and protect an organisation’s customers, contractors and employees.

"Employers should start doing these things now, even if COVID-19 has not arrived in the communities where they operate. They can already reduce working days lost due to illness and stop or slow the spread of COVID-19 if it arrives at one of your workplaces.”

One of those simple low-cost measures is making sure your workplaces are clean and hygienic.

Employers are also urged to promote regular and thorough hand-washing by employees, contractors and customers.

"Put sanitizing hand rub dispensers in prominent places around the workplace. Make sure these dispensers are regularly refilled,” says the WHO.

Another way is to advise employees and contractors to consult national travel advice before going on business trips, among others.

End last week, the WHO Director-General said that more than 20 vaccines are in development globally, and several treatment possibilities are in clinical trials.