When COVID-19 emerged as a global health threat, African countries were quick to enact public health measures to slow the spread of the virus. Now as some countries begin to ease lockdowns, it is important to maintain strong surveillance, case finding and testing among other control measures to halt the pandemic.
“National and regional lockdowns have helped to slow down the spread of COVID, but it remains a considerable public health threat,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “Lockdowns are being eased in some parts of Africa, but we cannot just revert back to how things were before the outbreak. If governments abruptly end these measures, we risk losing the gains countries have made so far against COVID-19.”
Africa has to date recorded more than 36,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 1,500 deaths. West and Central Africa are regions of concern. So far there are 11,000 cases in West and Central Africa, and 300 people have died. In the week of 13 April, cases increased by 113% in Central Africa and 42% in West Africa.
However, the worst fears of public health officials and governments have not yet come to pass. Africa has so far been spared an explosion in COVID-19 case numbers. Prompt action by governments to implement lockdowns and physical distancing, alongside effective public health measures to test, trace and treat have slowed down the spread of the virus.
The first country to implement a lockdown in the WHO African Region was Rwanda on 21 March, since then 11 countries have followed. A further 10 have instituted partial lockdowns of cities or high risk communities.
Preliminary data indicate that countries that implemented nationwide lockdowns found that the weekly increase in the number of new cases fell significantly from a 67% rise in the first week after the lockdown to a 27% rise in the second week. Furthermore, the initial analysis indicates that countries which implemented partial and targeted lockdowns along with effective public health measures may have been even more effective at slowing down the virus.
“We are still analysing the data. If further research corroborates our initial findings that targeted lockdowns, based on data and accompanied by public health measures contribute to flattening the COVID-19 curve, this could help balance the huge social costs of these measures for countries,” said Dr Moeti.
Countries are now starting to relax their confinement measures. Ghana was the first to lift its partial lockdown in Accra and Kumasi. However, other restrictions are in place, and the government has stressed that the end of the lockdown does not mean the end of the pandemic. While some essential businesses are being opened, mass gatherings are still not permitted and restrictions on the number of passengers on public transport services remain in place.
The government is continuing to monitor events in COVID-19 hotspots and has stated it will re-establish localized lockdowns if needed. Ghana is also averaging around 30 COVID-19 tests per 10,000 people per day – the highest in West Africa. South Africa is also considering easing its confinement measures and has scaled up its testing efforts. Despite progress on testing for COVID-19, countries in the WHO African region are averaging nine tests per 10 000 people.
African countries start easing COVID-19 confinement measures
Press Freedom and disinformation during the COVID-19 crisis, flagship event of World Press Freedom Day 2020
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, celebrated every year on 3 May, UNESCO and its Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, will host an online discussion on the importance of free media in providing the public with reliable independent information, vital in times of crisis. The High-level Dialogue on Press Freedom and Tackling Disinformation in the COVID-19 context, will be streamed online on Monday 4 May.
UNESCO’s flagship event of World Press Freedom Day will bring together UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, journalist Younes Mujahid, President of the International Federation of Journalists, Maria Ressa, investigative journalist from the Philippines, founder of the Rappler news website, and the Secretary General of Reporters Without Borders, Christophe Deloire, alongside a number of other high level participants. Prominent Mexican-born American journalist Jorge Ramos will moderate the debate.
The debate will address the danger of what the UN Secretary-General has described as the “dangerous epidemic of misinformation.” It will advocate the need for a free press in countering disinformation which is putting lives at risk and undermining the response to the COVID-19 pandemic by promoting false cures, conspiracy theories and myths.
The debate will follow the launch on 3 May of a global UNESCO media campaign called FACTS which highlights the role of free and independent media in the context of COVID-19. Leading media organizations around the world are joining the campaign, developed by communication agency DDB.
Every year on 3 May, the world comes together to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, take stock of freedom of expression around the world, and pay tribute to journalists who have faced attacks or lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 on the Recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference.
COVID19 MAKING THE CASE FOR PUBLIC ART IN ADDIS ABEBA
Ethiopia appears to be fairing well, in terms of managing those infected and who have perished from Covid19 and campaigns using visuals and jingles seem to be getting the message across to most. However, the management of the plethora of related issues and the aftermath are yet to be seen and at this point, anyone’s guess. So as we prepare for the “next” new way of life in Addis Abeba and wider urban areas of Africa for that matter, I wonder what we miss the most and will do first when allowed? Generally, I think it’s safe to say we miss the freedom of movement. Something as simple as visiting family and friends; participating at places of worship and fellowship and of course entertainment, from exhibitions to special events, all top the list. However the much taken for granted walk, especially in a walking city like Addis, is right up there with top ten things missed. This in mind and with new social tropes including 2 meters distancing, masks and no shakes, hugs or kisses, how will we interact and entertain ourselves, safely, while conscious of the fact that this novel virus and all its packaged propaganda has unleashed a host of economic, cultural, political and social complications. As usual, I turn to art for one aspect of the answer.
When the city of several million residents take to the streets of Addis, before we know it, what will and should we see? Research indicates that Public art can be transformative in the lives of urban dwellers on several levels. According to a dossier by African Studies Center Leiden (ASCL) that distinguishes between monuments, street art and public art they share the following. Monuments such as Emperor Menelik II in the center of Piassa, the iconic Abyssinian lion at National Theater or Delachin near the main post office are said to “propagate a certain view of the past and are therefore often places of contestation…the current post-colonial trajectories of African countries, such places are often politicized as they are a means to redefine identity, interpret history, and chart a path for the future.” ASCL notes that street art on the other hand, such as graffiti or the colorful motifs near Meskel Square or on the Addis Abeba University campus tend to include “non government… funded independent posters, and stickers, and other art forms of street art, (and) are ideal ways to confront – rather than promote – governments.” Then there is Public Art, which according to ASCL researchers “is interwoven in daily life…”. The current trend in public art, previously expressive in a visual landmark or aesthetic statement, is moving more towards “being expressive in social and local context as a collective anchor-point” changing the way art is viewed and received by daily passer-byes whether pedestrians or in vehicles.
In this booming and diverse international city, the diplomatic capital of Africa, I have always questioned the lack of public art. ASCL offers, “The change of format and ways how public art communicates or is inserted in the city, changed also the expectations of audiences, which see public art as a medium that can help develop senses of spatial identity, contribute to community needs and promote social change. In contrast to previous periods, when public art inserted socio critical messages in the aesthetic format, it is now being justified also on the basis of its social engagement and wider ‘pro-active role’ in the local community, city and region.” So, you dear avid readers must know where I am going with this. When we hit the streets of Addis with little desire to be cooped up ANYWHERE ANYTIME soon, we will be outdoors. We will be walking and meeting outside. We will see new buildings, like mushrooms and shinkut that have popped up and are plentiful. However wouldn’t it be wonderful to see fresh oversized sculptures and murals amidst green spaces…made of metal, glass, acrylic, bronze, rubber, even paper and any material for that matter and in any form. Knowing that some will remain for centuries and some will be washed away over time. It doesn’t matter if we dislike it, love it and wonder what da…its about the experience its about the range of emotions, aspirations and opinions that cause us to think, talk laugh or simply shake our heads. It’s about using space to share stories that are typical to Addis and how we see things. It’s about the people of Addis, who deserve if not need a new view and perspective on life as we all try to figure out what’s next.
Dr. Desta Meghoo is a Jamaican born
Creative Consultant, Curator and cultural promoter based in Ethiopia since 2005. She also serves as Liaison to the AU for the Ghana based, Diaspora African Forum.
