As countries in the west continue to battle the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has now issued a red alert over the spread in Africa.

While Africa has recorded the lowest cases of infections and deaths since the outbreak, WHO however warns that COVID 19 is spreading at an alarming rate in rural areas of Africa.

According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, if the spread continues, the spate of cases and deaths he says, will be hard to control.

“We are now seeing clusters of cases and community spread in more than 16 countries… We anticipate severe hardship for already overstretched health systems, particularly in rural areas, which normally lack the resources of those in cities.” he said.

Ghebreyesus emphasized that African countries must do what it takes now to stop the spread further terming their health systems in the continent as ‘fragile’ and needing international support to boost them.

WHO has so far confirmed more than 14 000 cases of coronavirus and nearly 800 deaths in Africa.

These numbers are however low compared to recorded cases and deaths in Europe and the United States.

On a more positive note, Ghebreyesus announced a drop in new infections and deaths in some of the hardest-hit countries in Europe, among them Spain, Italy, Germany and France.

Countries across the globe have since imposed tight restrictions to help curb the spread of the virus.

Among the restrictions include; self-isolation, social distancing, regular washing of hands, observing basic hygiene, restricted movement in form of curfews and lockdowns.

This, according to Ghebreyesus, seems to be working in slowing the spread.

The WHO chief  has also advised that before the above restrictions are lifted, countries must make sure transmission of the virus is controlled, medical services are available, outbreaks in special settings such as nursing homes are minimized, and importation risks are minimized.

Latest statistics put the number of coronavirus cases at more than 1.6 million, with deaths now topping 100,000.