"The success - so far - of combating covid-19 in Angola results from a combination of at least two factors: the youth of the Angolan population, coupled with the rapid reaction of the government", says that international entity dedicated to the study and research on political and economic issues in southern Africa, especially Angola, in an analysis to which Lusa had access.
This analysis, which was based on Worldometer numbers, which analyzes manually, validates and aggregates data from various sources and provides global live statistics from covid-19, covered, in addition to Angola, countries bordering the Angolan territory - Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Namibia.
According to the same analysis, "the Angolan situation seems, under the circumstances, quite positive, even when making a regional comparison", because "covid-19 is not affecting the health of the population in an excessive way".
However, he warns that among the several reasons that can explain this positive behavior in the country, one is of a natural order, that is, because the virus "has not yet arrived in Angola", although there is "the danger of this happening in the future", they affirm. university professors from CEDESA.
For now, one of the positive aspects pointed out "was the Government's rapid reaction to closing borders and declaring a state of emergency".
"There is no doubt that João Lourenço's executive was quick to act and take action at a time when the manifestations of covid-19 were almost nonexistent in Angola. This capacity for immediate decision may have had beneficial effects on public health", he says. up in the document.
Also according to the analysis, "the climatic characteristics of Angola, namely the warm weather", may also have helped to prevent the further spread of the virus. Although "there is still no consensus in the scientific community on the subject, some studies have emerged to demonstrate or indicate that hot weather and / or exposure to the sun limit the spread of the virus", he indicates.
"Finally, we have to consider that the Angolan population is extremely young. In fact, about 66 percent of the population is under 25 years old. Knowing that, in the majority, the disease attacks the most senior groups, it is easily perceived that Angola has a natural immunity to the virus, due to the youth of its population ", he concludes.
CEDESA currently has a protocol with the German International Security and Development Center, with which it is developing a survey on covid-19 globally.
According to its official page, CEDESA was born from an initiative of several academics and experts who met at the NRA (Angola Research Network).
