Okonjo-Iweala: Africa has Little Time Left to Contain Coronavirus

Ololade Adeyanju/

Nigeria’s former finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has raised the alarm over the narrowing window for African countries to stop the spread of COVID-19 from getting out of control.

Okonjo-Iweala in tweet today said despite the daily increasing numbers of infections and deaths due to the virus, most countries in Africa are not handling the pandemic with the level of seriousness required to overcome it.

She blamed governments for not doing enough to enforce the restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the disease given the reports of crowds still gathering in churches, mosques and markets across the continent.

Okonjo-Iweala tweeted, “COVID19 Africa’s window for containment is narrowing! As of March 28, there are 4,106 cases in 46 countries with 124 deaths. Still too many reports and videos of people gathering in churches, mosques and markets. Spread the word! Don’t congregate. Save lives!”

See tweet: