{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,8]],"date-time":"2026-03-08T23:50:26Z","timestamp":1773013826307,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":60,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,24]],"date-time":"2020-06-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1592956800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Journal of Medical Virology"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:p>Global powerhouses with tried and tested health systems have struggled to contain the COVID\u201019 pandemic. One is left to wonder what will be left of Africa, the second most populous continent after Asia, which is torn by civil wars, hunger, and diseases like AIDS and TB and, in recent years, the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The majority of countries\u2019 health systems, already dependent on donor aid, are ill\u2010equipped and under\u2010resourced to deal with the raging pandemic. There is a lack of isolation and intensive care infrastructure, ventilators, and financial resources to bankroll the fight against COVID\u201019 pandemic. However, there is some cause for optimism, for example, in West Africa where infrastructure like diagnostic testing facilities, intensive care units, surveillance, and systems for reporting emergencies used during the EVD outbreak of 2013\u20132016 can be leveraged to fight the COVID\u201019 pandemic. Further, a number of African countries have responded swiftly by activating the necessary political and financial tools to combat the pandemic. Technical support from continental bodies like the Africa Centers for Disease Control and global development partners has improved the capacity of the continent to handle the pandemic. In this article, the authors unpack, review, and share a perspective on Africa's capacity to contain and control the COVID\u201019 pandemic and review the current response.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/jmv.26159","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,11]],"date-time":"2020-06-11T15:01:59Z","timestamp":1591887719000},"page":"2465-2472","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":93,"title":["COVID\u201019: A perspective on Africa's capacity and response"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"92","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9929-5739","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tafadzwa","family":"Dzinamarira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health University of KwaZulu\u2010Natal  Durban South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9910-0700","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mathias","family":"Dzobo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences University of Zimbabwe  Harare Zimbabwe"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6306-8916","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Itai","family":"Chitungo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences University of Zimbabwe  Harare Zimbabwe"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_8_2_1","unstructured":"Worldometer.Coronavirus Update (Live).2020.https:\/\/www.worldometers.info\/coronavirus\/. Accessed May 29 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_3_1","first-page":"1440","article-title":"Severe asthma global evaluation (SAGE): an electronic platform for severe asthma, pandemics: deadly disease outbreaks","volume":"7","author":"Denton M","year":"2019","journal-title":"Greenhaven Publishing LLC"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_4_1","unstructured":"WHO.Director\u2010General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID\u201019 \u201011 March 2020.https:\/\/www.who.int\/dg\/speeches\/detail\/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-COVID-19---11-march-20202020. Accessed April 13 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMp2008193"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_6_1","article-title":"WHO declares the outbreak of the new coronavirus is a pandemic","author":"Wetsman N","year":"2020","journal-title":"The Verge"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_7_1","unstructured":"WHO.Advice on the use of point\u2010of\u2010care immunodiagnostic tests for COVID\u201019: scientific brief 8 April 2020. World Health Organization;2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2020.138532"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2020.00154"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_10_1","unstructured":"HammondJRWaning of Vaccine\u2010Conferred Immunity After Four Years World Health. Dehai Eritrea Online2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_11_1","unstructured":"CDC.People at high risk of flu.https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/highrisk\/index.htm Atlanta Georgia2018. Accessed April 8 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eclinm.2020.100380"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_13_1","unstructured":"CorniaGA JollyR StewartFCOVID\u201019 and children in the North and in the South.2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_14_1","unstructured":"WHO.African countries move from COVID\u201019 readiness to response as many confirm cases. Geneva Switzerland.https:\/\/www.afro.who.int\/health-topics\/coronavirus-COVID-192020. Accessed April 8 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_15_1","unstructured":"NCDC.First case of corona virus disease confirmed in Nigeria.https:\/\/ncdc.gov.ng\/news\/227\/first-case-of-corona-virus-disease-confirmed-in-nigeria. Accessed May 31 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_16_1","unstructured":"Johns HopkinsCRCNew Cases of COVID\u201019 In World Countries. Has the curve flattened?https:\/\/coronavirus.jhu.edu\/data\/new-cases2020. Accessed May 29 2020."},{"issue":"20","key":"e_1_2_8_17_1","first-page":"30234","article-title":"Leveraging Africa's preparedness towards the next phase of the COVID\u201019 pandemic","volume":"2214","author":"Senghore M","year":"2020","journal-title":"Lancet Global Health"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.11604\/pamj.supp.2020.35.2.23059"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_19_1","first-page":"1","article-title":"COVID\u201019 pandemic\u2013an African perspective","author":"Lone SA","year":"2020","journal-title":"Emerg Microb Infect."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_20_1","unstructured":"ReporterSNWHO Africa to Tanzanian president: COVID\u201019 kits valid.https:\/\/www.scidev.net\/sub-saharan-africa\/coronavirus\/news\/who-africa-to-tanzanian-president-COVID-19-kits-valid.html?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=96a72697bf6f4bae17c8b73d1fe99bb0f66b870d-1590945816-0-AYqp-cXpbHSqQgEFNL5N9Y9PjEO06knefPPBSApW1IRcW5PD15bwVtBtBJiR607LfKh1kwhHkotaCmdrVWdGnlcskJ0t8nozzRdnlXDowWRVXp_qD10ROcHxSjiyLUCsnoxX6Ow-bBEc8u5T-AnRsgkPGWr1CrHJKQObWFkN1iiTm1sIEXQldVEVXHWGEMiYTW0DCz6SQ4JC649ekgCR5QLZgldIbNyrgA_-es7cazfoU9Q7mVs1zoCyWovh82dTneazojj6DdFNHwEZ4cJpBSs-57uOtCSXoJKGi41heCDh3zvhfQHKb_i2Pwd3pH-ws6BR3uptpJ1-QGMYbTfJH8S5PJa5DoSM_VlJdTjJ5cT4QFBvYJRc8Z_CIQMHoRvzmjq1mywIReJNHJt6S1UqTYM. Accessed May 31 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(20)30382-0"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_22_1","unstructured":"VaughanAWe don't know why so few COVID\u201019 cases have been reported in Africa.2020.https:\/\/www.newscientist.com\/article\/2236760-we-dont-know-why-so-few-COVID-19-cases-have-been-reported-in-africa\/. Accessed April 13 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(20)30464-5"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(20)30411-6"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_25_1","unstructured":"Andres CastanedaRAguilarDean Mitchell JolliffeTony FujsChristoph LaknerEspen Beer Prydz. 85% of Africans live on less than $5.50 per dayhttps:\/\/blogs.worldbank.org\/opendata\/85-africans-live-less-550-day. Accessed May 31 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_26_1","unstructured":"BurkeJ.Africa's fragile health systems rush to contain coronavirus.The Guardian.2020.https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2020\/mar\/20\/africas-fragile-health-systems-rush-to-contain-coronavirus. Accessed April 1 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_27_1","unstructured":"The World Bank.Hospital beds (per 1 000 people).https:\/\/data.worldbank.org\/indicator\/SH.MED.BEDS.ZS. Accessed May 31 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_28_1","unstructured":"Sign\u00e9L Gurib\u2010fakimAAfrica is bracing for a head\u2010on collision with coronavirus.https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2020\/03\/26\/africa-coronavirus-pandemic-economic-crisis\/. Accessed April 13 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dsx.2020.04.048"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_30_1","unstructured":"Politico.Export restrictions threaten ventilator availability.https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/morning-trade\/2020\/03\/24\/export-restrictions-threaten-ventilator-availability-786327. Accessed May 29 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_31_1","unstructured":"Soumar\u00e9MAlibaba's Jack Ma Paul Pogba mobilise against coronavirus in Africa.https:\/\/www.theafricareport.com\/24991\/fighting-coronavirus-across-africa-from-vips\/. Accessed April 13 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_32_1","article-title":"Nigeria lacks sufficient hospital beds in face of viral pandemic \u2010 Data","author":"Abba A","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int Centre Investigat Rep"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_33_1","unstructured":"PheageTDying from lack of medicines. Encouraging local production right policies the way out.https:\/\/www.un.org\/africarenewal\/magazine\/december-2016-march-2017\/dying-lack-medicines. Accessed May 29 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mashamba\u2010ThompsonTP CraytonEDBlockchain and artificial intelligence technology for novel coronavirus disease\u201019 self\u2010testing. In: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute;2020.","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics10040198"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_35_1","article-title":"A strategy for finding people infected with SARS\u2010CoV\u20102: optimizing pooled testing at low prevalence","author":"Mutesa L","year":"2020","journal-title":"arXiv preprint arXiv:200414934"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_36_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(20)31025-4"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_37_1","first-page":"0147995","article-title":"Identifying future disease hot spots: infectious disease vulnerability index","volume":"11","author":"Moore M","year":"2016","journal-title":"Santa Monica, CA"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_38_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jrs\/fey068"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_39_1","unstructured":"APO. Coronavirus \u2013 Burkina Faso: International Organization for Migration (IOM) Calls for Increased Support for Displaced Amidst Deteriorating Humanitarian Crisis Emergence of COVID\u201019 in Burkina Faso.2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_40_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2174\/1874613601610010034"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_41_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0950268819001912"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_42_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.12688\/aasopenres.13052.1"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_43_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jtm\/taaa037"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_44_1","unstructured":"WamsleyL Simmons\u2010DuffinSThe Science Behind A 14\u2010Day Quarantine After Possible COVID\u201019 Exposure.https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/health-shots\/2020\/04\/01\/824903684\/the-science-behind-a-14-day-quarantine-after-possible-COVID-19-exposure. Accessed April 2 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_45_1","unstructured":"Cdc.2014\u20102016 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa.https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vhf\/ebola\/history\/2014-2016-outbreak\/index.html2019. Accessed April 13 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_46_1","unstructured":"LeachMJEEchoes of Ebola: social and political warnings for the COVID\u201019 response in African settings.2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_47_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"EbensoB OtuAJTLGH.Can Nigeria contain the COVID\u201019 outbreak using lessons from recent epidemics?2020.","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(20)30101-7"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_48_1","unstructured":"PasteurICOVID\u201019 pandemic: The Institut Pasteur International Network collective effort.2020.https:\/\/www.pasteur.fr\/en\/COVID-19-pandemic-institut-pasteur-international-network-collective-effort. Accessed May 31 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_49_1","unstructured":"HaqueNSenegal trials begin for $1 COVID\u201019 test kit.2020.https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2020\/04\/senegal-trials-1-COVID-19-test-kit-200428132313740.html. Accessed June 4 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_50_1","unstructured":"MburuY BoumYCoronavirus: Amid the global pandemic lessons for Africa. Brookings;2020.https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/blog\/africa-in-focus\/2020\/03\/20\/coronavirus-amid-the-global-pandemic-lessons-for-africa. Accessed April 1 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_51_1","unstructured":"World Economic Forum.Why Sub\u2010Saharan Africa needs a unique response to COVID\u201019;2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_52_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa2002032"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_53_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2020.4169"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_54_1","unstructured":"WHO.Diabetes: Factsheet.2020.https:\/\/www.afro.who.int\/health-topics\/diabetes. Accessed May 29 2020."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_55_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5334\/gh.778"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_56_1","first-page":"1","article-title":"\u201cEverything is a Mess\u201d: how COVID\u201019 is impacting engagement with HIV testing services in rural Southwestern Uganda","author":"Ponticiello M","year":"2020","journal-title":"AIDS Behav"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_57_1","first-page":"1","article-title":"HIV care continuum and COVID\u201019 outcomes among people living with HIV during the COVID\u201019 Pandemic, Chicago, IL","author":"Ridgway JP","year":"2020","journal-title":"AIDS Behav"},{"issue":"5","key":"e_1_2_8_58_1","first-page":"663","article-title":"Quick community survey on the impact of COVID\u201019 outbreak for the healthcare of people living with HIV","volume":"41","author":"Guo W","year":"2020","journal-title":"Zhonghua liu Xing Bing xue za zhi"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_59_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jia2.25503"},{"key":"e_1_2_8_60_1","unstructured":"Bown CP.2 COVID\u201019: Demand spikes export restrictions and quality concerns imperil poor country access to medical supplies.COVID\u201019 and Trade Policy: Why Turning Inward Won't Work.2020:31."},{"key":"e_1_2_8_61_1","unstructured":"Sadr\u2010AzodiNFollowing the 2001 Abuja Declaration of committing 15 percent government expenditure on health is Africa making progress towards universal health coverage?2019."}],"container-title":["Journal of Medical Virology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/api.wiley.com\/onlinelibrary\/tdm\/v1\/articles\/10.1002%2Fjmv.26159","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/jmv.26159","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1002\/jmv.26159","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/jmv.26159","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,4]],"date-time":"2023-09-04T15:08:07Z","timestamp":1693840087000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/jmv.26159"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,24]]},"references-count":60,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,11]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1002\/jmv.26159"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/jmv.26159","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["0146-6615","1096-9071"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0146-6615","type":"print"},{"value":"1096-9071","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,24]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2020-04-20","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2020-06-08","order":1,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2020-06-24","order":2,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}]}}