WHO: Africa’s COVID-19 Deaths To Drop 94% By 2022

The number of COVID-19 deaths in Africa is expected to decline by almost 94 percent in 2022, as compared to 2021, which was when the pandemic was at its most lethal.

In a report published this week in the scientific journal, the Lancet Global Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the region reported 113,102 deaths in 2021 through the official channels, but over one in three deaths was missed, and the real figure was actually 350,000.

The new reports suggests that approximately 23,000 deaths are to be expected by the end of 2022 if the current variants and transmission dynamics remain constant.

According to Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa said, “Last year, we lost an average of 970 people every day. This is a catastrophically high toll. Our latest analysis suggests that estimated deaths in the African region will shrink to around 60 a day in 2022. The low number of deaths expected this year is a huge achievement for the region and a testament to the efforts of countries and partners. However, the job is not yet done.”

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The African region experienced a particularly deadly pandemic in 2021, with COVID-19 ranking as the seventh major cause of death, just behind malaria, while in 2020, the virus was ranked as the 22nd major cause of death in the region.

The delta variant, which was more infectious and caused more harm, was the cause of the significant increase in deaths in 2021.

“We have learned many lessons on how to stay a step ahead of the virus. Now is the time to refine our response and identify populations most at-risk of COVID-19. Countries must intensify efforts to conduct a targeted response that provides the most vulnerable people with the health services they need, including COVID-19 vaccines and effective treatment.”

The burden of COVID-19 deaths has been uneven across the African region. In high-income or upper middle-income countries, as well as those in the South African Development Community, mortality rates are about double those of countries with lower incomes and middle incomes in other economic regions in Africa.

The results of the analysis indicate that the variation in the number of deaths is related to biological and physical factors, particularly comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, HIV and obesity, which increase the risk of mortality in COVID-19 patients. The prevalence of these comorbidities was increased in countries with higher death tolls.