The recommendation is given to those Member States that intend to alleviate containment measures in the light of a possible reduction in the number of new infections, the latest SADC report on the response to the covid-19 pandemic in the region, consulted this Friday by Lusa, puts forward.
As the number of patients in intensive care and contagion has declined, several countries around the world have begun to develop plans to alleviate containment.
SADC warns of the risks of these decisions without proper precautions for countries in the region, given that the number of cases continues to rise.
"Member States intending to re-open educational establishments should consider establishing basic hygiene, water and sanitation facilities," the document adds.
The number of cases in the SADC region continues to rise, with South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Mauritius and Madagascar accounting for 92 percent of the total number of cases in the 16 member countries, according to the report.
The number of deaths due to covid-19 in Africa rose this Friday to 2074, with more than 54,000 cases of the disease recorded in 53 countries, according to the latest pandemic statistics on that continent.
On Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus could kill 190 000 people in Africa, among the 44 million who could become infected if containment measures fail.
The total number of patients recovered rose from 17,590 to 18,636.
Among the African countries that have Portuguese as their official language, Guinea-Bissau leads in number of infections (564 cases and two deaths), followed by Equatorial Guinea (439 and four deaths), São Tomé and Príncipe (208 cases and five deaths), Cape Verde (218 and two deaths), Mozambique (81) and Angola (36 infected and two deaths).
On a global level, according to an assessment by the AFP news agency, the covid-19 pandemic has already caused around 267,000 deaths and infected more than 3.8 million people in 195 countries and territories.
Some 1.2 million patients have been considered cured.
