Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in the African Region are expected to decline by almost 94% in 2022 compared to 2021 which was the deadliest year of the pandemic, according to a new analysis by the World Health Organization. Health (WHO).
This drop comes as the number of cases is expected to fall by just over 25% this year.
The analysis, published this week in the scientific journal The Lancet Global Health, shows that while the Region officially declared 113,102 deaths in 2021, around one in three deaths was not taken into account and the true number of deaths would be of 350,000. The analysis predicts about 23,000 deaths by the end of 2022 if current variants and transmission dynamics do not change. However, a 200% more lethal variant would increase the death toll to over 70,000.
Dr Moeti spoke today at a virtual press conference. She was accompanied by Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, Director General of the Center for Disease Control of Nigeria, and Dr Alioune Badara Ly, Director of the Health Emergency Operations Center of the Ministry of Health and Social Action of Senegal.
Last year, we lost an average of 970 people a day. It is a very heavy toll,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
“Our latest analysis indicates that the estimated number of deaths in the African Region will drop to around 60 per day in 2022. The low number of deaths expected this year is a great achievement for the Region and a testament to the efforts of countries and partners.
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