Table 1.
Timing of lockdown and border closures for six most populous African countries in relation to COVID-19 cases
| Country (by population size) | Population Size (millions) | Per capita income (in US $) | Number of confirmed infections as per 7/2/20 | Date lockdown when into effect | Borders and airports closed (dates) | Specifics of lockdown | Case count when lockdown began; date of first death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria [25] | 206.1 | $5680 | 27,100 | March 30 (Lagos, FCT, Ogun) | Airports (3/21)-no international flights | No movement between states. Businesses closed. Individuals shelter in place | 22 cases (when airports shut on 3/21); 3/23 (first death - 2 days after lockdown) |
| Ethiopia [26] | 114.9 | $1066 | 5846 | 3/16 (school closures) | Land borders closed 3/20 | 3/16 – school closures, no large gatherings including sporting events-religious institutions to limit gathering | 9 cases-3/20 (shutdown of schools, land borders) (first deaths, 4/5 which was 16 days after the land border closures) |
| 3/12 (land borders and bars) | Ethiopian flights stopped to 30 countries | 3/20 – closure of nightclubs and bars. | |||||
| 3/24 (work from home for Govt employees) | 3/24 – Govt employees work from home; Lockdowns enforced by security/Defense | ||||||
| Democratic Republic of Congo [27] | 89.6 | $561.8 | 7189 | 3/24 | Borders closed from 3/24. No domestic travel including road and river travel from Kinshasa to provinces | 3/24 – schools closed, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, cafes, gatherings of 20 or more people; security forces to ensure compliance | 45 cases on 3/24 on date of lockdown (1st death 3/21- 3 days before first lockdown) |
| Tanzania [28] | 59.7 | $1159 | 509 | 3/17 closure of schools, sporting events and public gatherings | 1st case (3/16) 1st death 3/31 which was 14 days after the closure of schools and public gatherings | ||
| 3/23 quarantine of travelers | |||||||
| Republic of South Africa [17] | 59.3 | $6374 | 124,590 | 3/16 citizens from certain countries denied admission | 3/26 closure of all borders | 3/26 shelter in place/lockdown with only essential workers allowed to move about | 927 cases (3/26); 1st death 3/27, 1 day after the shelter in place |
| 3/18 (schools closed) | |||||||
| 3/26 closure of all borders-shelter in place | |||||||
| Kenya [29] | 53.7 | $1710 | 6941 | 3/15 Only Kenyan allowed back into country | 3/13 Schools will be closed (Kenya Ministry of Health) | 3/13(1st case). 3/20 (six cases). 3/26 (1st death, 13 days after schools are closed and 4 days after restaurants and bars are closed). | |
| 3/22 Restaurants and bars closed | |||||||
| 3/25 international flights suspended |