DW: Do corona lockdowns in Africa make sense?
Hunger, violence and despair: lockdowns are meant to keep Africa’s coronavirus cases in check, but many people are suffering as a result — especially the poor.
The Kenyan police did not hold back. When the government imposed a lockdown in response to rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, Kenya descended into a night of violence. The press watched in disbelief as police officers beat up defenseless women, sending shockwaves across Kenya.
"We're not at war," wrote the country's biggest newspaper, Daily Nation. Its commentary oozed rage and helplessness.
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Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic In Africa-- News Updates April 25, 2020
Coronavirus in Africa tracker -- BBC
Tracking Africa's coronavirus cases -- Al Jazeera
US military declares virus emergency in Djibouti bases -- BBC
Tanzania's restrictions delay led to virus spike - WHO -- BBC
Coronavirus surges in Djibouti as population ignores measures -- Al JAzeera
South Africa to begin phased easing of lockdown on May 1 -- Reuters
Africa dangerously behind in global race for virus gear -- AP
Africa confronts COVID-19 with a poor prognosis -- DW
Coronavirus in Africa: How deadly could COVID-19 become? -- DW
Do lockdowns in Africa make sense? As is astutely pointed out in rhe article, they do not make sense in Africa is they destroy the economic livelihoods of the citizens. Tgis would actually be the case anywhere. In answer to the question, to actually solve the problem of a defeating a pathogen no they do not make sense. Ultimately whoever was going to get the disease will anyway and ultimately fatality numbers wull, at best, be unchanged and likely worse due to the extreme stress a lockdown causes. It's been known by serious medical professionals for quite some time that extreme stress reduces immune response.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason to consider a lockdown would be to keep the Healthcare system from being overwhelmed. Essentially it could be implemented temporarily perhaps for a few days to allow the system time to get the necessary assets in place to care for the sick. In America at least with very few exceptions this was never even a remote possibility even though Healthcare professionals tried to scare us with this in order to shake us down for power and money.
Furthermore a large economy such as America's may have the carrying capacity to somewhat recover from the stupidity of lockdowns, however, someone whose unemployed or lost their business will no doubt have a different take on this. The much smaller economies of African countries definitely wouldn't have the carrying capacity to absorb lockdowns.
Such an action is beyond stupid. As an American, I've learned to expect stupid from our government. Apparently our government doesn't have a monopoly on stupid. Of course tyrants find utility in such things and there's no shortage of them in America and elsewhere so other factors are surely at work.
The median age in Africa is 19.7years.
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