Monitoring report on the impacts of COVID-19 in West Africa

Abstract

This document analyses the evolution of the impact of COVID-19 in the ECOWAS zone. It helps provide an understanding of the overall socio-economic impact of the pandemic and its effects on the life of households and identifies avenues for a lasting solution to the damage caused by the crisis. As of 30 July 2021, the epidemiological situation of COVID-19 in West Africa stood at 513,946 confirmed cases and 6,710 deaths. The sub-region accounts for 10.6% of all confirmed cases in Africa, down from 13.6% in 2020. The current context of the pandemic is characterized by the relaxation of social and preventive measures and the continuation of vaccination in the different ECOWAS countries. Indeed, 67% of the households surveyed say that the restrictive measures have been fully lifted. However, with the appearance of new variants, some countries have maintained certain measures such as extending the state of health emergency. Economically and financially, the ECOWAS Member States have implemented actions to mobilize resources from the international community to support the most vulnerable populations and to promote economic recovery.