A study has found a significant under-counting of infections on the continent because of so many cases with no symptoms.

This indicates that true infections on the continent were 97 times larger than reported confirmed cases.

Speaking to journalists, WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti said that the analysis showed that current reported Covid-19 confirmed cases were only a fraction of the actual number of infections on the continent.

Africa has had milder coronavirus cases compared with other parts of the world because there is a comparatively smaller proportion of people with risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension and other chronic diseases that are associated with more severe cases and deaths.

Africa’s youthful population is also a protective factor.