Today: 8 October 2025
7 February 2022
1 min read

Ongoing AU summit proves game changer in Africa’s fight against pandemic: Africa CDC Chief

As part of the strict Covid-19 preventive methods enrolled at the summit, an antigen test is mandatory for participants before accessing the AU headquarters compound in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa…reports Asian Lite News

Strict Covid-19 prevention methods enrolled at the ongoing African Union (AU) summit, underway for the first time physically since the onset of the pandemic, proved a game-changer in Africa’s fight against the infection, John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has said.

The Director on Sunday added that critics were labeling the summit, which was convened physically following a hiatus in 2021 due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as “a transmission event or a super spreader event”.

“We stood firm and we said, we want to be sure to understand the kinetics of infection during the summit. So when we pronounced ourselves and we said that the summit was Covid-19 free, we backed that with science,” said Nkengasong addressing the media on the sidelines of the summit.

As part of the strict Covid-19 preventive methods enrolled at the summit, an antigen test is mandatory for participants before accessing the AU headquarters compound in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

During the first three days of the event, comprising the meetings of AU Executive Council and AU Assembly, the Africa CDC managed to conduct more than 5,400 Covid-19 tests using temporary testing centers installed inside the AU premises, Xinhua news agency reported.

ALSO READ: AU Chief expresses concern over security situation in Africa

According to the Africa CDC Director, some 25 positive Covid-19 cases were detected during the first three days of the summit, which began on Wednesday, with an overall positivity rate of around 0.6 per cent.

“This summit has become a game-changer for the way that such conferences and meetings are organised in this continent, where people actually follow public health measures very strictly,” he said.

As of Saturday evening, a total of 10,896,302 Covid-19 cases were reported in Africa. The death toll from the pandemic across the continent stands at 241,112, while 9,917,757 patients have recovered from the disease.

Previous Story

Balochistan in ‘real danger’ of militias regrouping

Next Story

Economic crisis takes heavy toll on Pak’s youth

Latest from Africa News

More Killings in Gaza

Israel’s state-owned Kan TV News reported that Israel will stop the airdrop operation of humanitarian aid over Gaza City in the coming days, and the entry of ground aid via trucks to

South Africa woos India at PIO summit

Hosted by the Indian High Commission, the gathering marked a fresh initiative to celebrate the contributions of the Indian community to South Africa’s democratic and cultural life More than a dozen prominent

Kenya Blaze Bill Burns British Army

The £2.9 million settlement follows a lawsuit over a devastating wildfire started accidentally by British soldiers during training exercises in 2021 Britain’s government has, for the first time, agreed to pay millions

Ban Coal Exports to Israel

More than 100 pro-Palestine activists launched protests on Thursday in three major South African cities, calling on the government to ban coal exports to Israel…reports Asian Lite News Pro-Palestine activists are pictured

UAHR slams ‘baseless’ Port Sudan allegations

The Union Association for Human Rights (UAHR) has strongly condemned recent accusations by the so-called “Port Sudan Authority” against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), calling them “baseless” and a deliberate attempt to
Go toTop

Don't Miss

‘China committed genocide against Uyghurs’

The Uyghur Tribunal said on Wednesday that China by the

Asia’s proposed gas build-out is a risky $379 billion bet

A planned $379 billion expansion of gas infrastructure in Asia