Syria, home to over six million displaced people, confirmed its first case on Monday. Gaza, one of the most densely populated places on Earth, now has two, while cases across sub-saharan Africa is nearing 3,000.
Many of the world’s poorest nations, no doubt more familiar with the realities of national disasters and aware of the weakness of their healthcare systems, are acting quicker than wealthy Western countries. Gaza, with cases still in the single figures, has already shut down restaurants and cafés, as well as cancelling Friday prayers.
Ghana, Burundi and Gabon were all quick to ban entry from affected countries and quarantine citizens arriving from hot spots. Senegal, Rwanda and Zambia closed schools after their first cases appeared, and resting facilities across Africa have been rapidly scaled up.
