May 22, 2020 - Health

Coronavirus in Africa reaches new milestone as cases exceed 100,000

Orion Rummler

In this image, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sits — WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva on March 30 Photo: AFP via Getty Images

The coronavirus pandemic "reached a milestone in Africa" on Friday, as the World Health Organization says the virus has spread to every country on the continent, with over 100,000 confirmed cases.

The big picture: Africa’s low mortality rate associated with COVID-19 may be caused in part by 60% of the continents' population is under the age of 25, according to early analysis by the WHO. Adults over 65 are at a higher risk of dying or being hospitalized due to the coronavirus, per the CDC.

Where it stands: South Africa is reporting the most cases, according to the WHO. The country — which has recorded the most cases since Africa's outbreak began in earnest in March — has now confirmed roughly 400 deaths, per Johns Hopkins.

The continent as a whole is reporting 3,100 confirmed deaths as of Friday, the WHO says.

What they're saying: "We don't know what the impact of this will be in undernourished children with chronic malnutrition, we don't know what the impact of this will be in overcrowded refugee camps," Michael Ryan, a senior advisor on the Global Polio Eradication Initiative said at a briefing on Friday.

Flashback: Africa was reporting just 600 cases of the coronavirus as of March 19.

Go deeper: Africa's coronavirus crisis arrived before the outbreak

Add Axios on Google

Coronavirus in Africa reaches new milestone as cases exceed 100,000

What to read next