Coronavirus: AU holds emergency meeting to agree on continental strategy

Addis Ababa, February 22, 2020 (FBC) – The African Union (AU) held today an emergency meeting of ministers of health in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The meeting was to agree on a continental strategy to strengthen preparedness response to the coronavirus outbreak by member states.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak was officially declared in January 2020, and since then the disease has been spreading very fast.

It has affected over 25 countries, in addition to China. Last week Egypt reported the first case of the disease in Africa.

The African Union Commission has been engaging Member States to learn and assess their preparedness for the outbreak.

The coronavirus has infected more than 78,000 people, including 2,345 deaths.