Coronavirus: Don’t repatriate infected foreign nationals – AU advises

The African Union (AU) has appealed to its member states not to repatriate citizens of member states who may test positive of COVID-19 in their country’s.

According to the commissions for its Centre for Disease Control Prevention, Dr. John Nkengasong, it is not right for infected foreigners to be repatriated to their home countries.

His statements follow an indication by the government of Ghana to repatriate 10 ECOWAS nationals who tested positive for coronavirus after being arrested for entering the country illegally.

“If a national of a member state, tests positive in a country different from their home country, they should seek care in that country, and officials ought to engage with physicians on how to adequately manage the process of care,” Dr Nkengasong said.

Dr Nkengasong who was addressing journalists across Africa via a video conference, said it is necessary for AU member states to step up their testing capacity, as well as their case management measures in the fight against COVID-19.

While commending leadership of African nations who have declared lockdowns to manage the spread of the virus, Dr NKengasong said it is important this measure is followed up with the use of mobile laboratories to test for cases and isolate them as a containment measure.

As of today April 9, 2020, Africa has recorded over 11,400 cases, 574 deaths and 1,405 recoveries with continent still yet to reach its apex in these numbers.