UN warns that Africa faces complete economic collapse if coronavirus is not contained

Africa faces devastating collapse unless the coronavirus is brought under control on the continent, UN experts have have warned.

So far the continent has been spared the impact of Covid-19 that the rest of the world has experienced - but cases and deaths are now beginning to soar.

According to the World Health Organisation the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Africa has risen to more than 10, 000 and caused more than 500 deaths.

But without the health systems of rich nations and with diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis already a major problem, the effects of coronavirus could be much worse.

COVID-19 has the potential not only to cause thousands of deaths, but to also unleash economic and social devastation, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director for Africa.

Its spread beyond major cities means the opening of a new front in our fight against this virus.

The coronavirus reached the continent through travellers returning from hotspots in Asia, Europe and the United States.

Africa’s first COVID-19 case was recorded in Egypt on 14 February and since then 52 countries have reported cases.