SSHAP-AFRICA CDC Webinar: Lockdowns and Easing of Restrictions: What Can be Done to Adapt to Local Contexts and Protect those who are Vulnerable?

Abstract

Early responses to COVID-19 in Africa were characterised by stringent public health and safety measures (PHSM). While these measures might have delayed or contained outbreaks, African countries now face increasing political pressures to ease restrictions, as their wider impacts necessitate a weighing up of the relative effects of an outbreak surge and of the restrictions respectively. Indeed, the socio-economic impacts of restrictive measures have been dire, especially considering the continent’s high reliance on informal economic activity. Similarly, siloed, vertical responses to COVID-19 in health systems are driving concerning secondary health impacts as health service provision and utilisation, such as child immunisation, have faced significant disruption. In light of these negative impacts, the Africa CDC has released guidance for easing stringent PHSMs while African countries continue to confront various epidemiological scenarios related to SARS-COV-2.