This archive report was first published on 16 July 2020.
On July 16, 2020, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for Covid-19, a stark reminder of the devastating impact of the disease. In a shocking turn of events, Bolsonaro, who had previously downplayed the severity of the virus, has now become a victim of the very disease he had dismissed as 'a small flu.'
As the world grapples with the pandemic, African countries have been no exception. In Burundi, for instance, the government had initially disregarded warnings from the World Health Organisation, leading to a surge in cases and deaths. It was only when the disease reached the top echelons of the regime that the government scrambled to reverse its foolhardy policy.
But even in countries that adhered to WHO regulations, managing Covid-19 has been a daunting task. The need to balance lockdowns with economic reopening has left policymakers in a precarious position. With limited testing, decision-makers are unable to gauge the actual trend of the infection, making it challenging to make informed policy decisions.
There are still many unanswered questions about Covid-19. Is it airborne or transmitted through close contact? Can people who have recovered from the disease be re-infected? Can asymptomatic individuals infect others? And why does the disease affect individuals in vastly different ways?
It is imperative that African governments prioritize equipping our research institutions with the necessary resources to answer these questions and provide solutions for future outbreaks. By investing in research and development, we can develop vaccines and therapies to combat the disease and prevent a situation like the one in Madagascar, where the president touted an untested herbal concoction as a cure.
