Afghanistan's Covid-19 Crisis: A Nation Grappling With A Hidden Pandemic

As of May 3, 2024, there have been 233,472 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Afghanistan, with 7,985 deaths. Kabul Province has had the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Afghanistan, with 18,896, followed by Herat with 9,343 cases, and Balkh with 3,431. However, an official survey from the Ministry of Public Health reported that approximately a third of the country's population, or roughly 10 million people, had contracted COVID-19.

As of May 3, 2024, there have been 233,472 confirmed positive cases and 7,985 deaths

As of May 3, 2024, there have been 233,472 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Afghanistan, with 7,985 deaths. This makes Afghanistan the latest country to be affected by the worldwide pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have spread to Afghanistan when its index case, in Herat, was confirmed on February 24, 2020.

Kabul Province has had the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Afghanistan, with 18,896 cases, followed by Herat with 9,343 cases, and Balkh with 3,431 cases. However, it is important to note that the number of confirmed cases is always lower than the true number of infections due to limited testing. On August 5, 2020, an official survey from the Ministry of Public Health reported that approximately 10 million people, or about a third of the country's population, had contracted COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Afghanistan, with the government implementing various measures to control the spread of the virus, including lockdowns, social distancing guidelines, and the release of prisoners to slow the spread. The pandemic has also affected various aspects of Afghan society, including cultural events, religion, sports, and education. Additionally, there have been job losses and economic difficulties due to the closure of shops and factories.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations have provided aid and support to Afghanistan during the pandemic. As of November 26, 2023, a total of 22,606,931 vaccine doses have been administered in the country.

Kabul Province has had the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Afghanistan

As of May 3, 2024, Kabul Province has had the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Afghanistan, with 18,896 cases. This is followed by Herat with 9,343 cases, and Balkh with 3,431 cases. However, an official survey from the Ministry of Public Health on August 5, 2020, reported that approximately a third of the country's population, or roughly 10 million people, had contracted COVID-19.

The first COVID-19 case in Afghanistan was confirmed on February 24, 2020, in Herat. The country has seen a total of 233,472 confirmed positive cases and 7,985 deaths as of May 3, 2024. The number of confirmed cases in Afghanistan has continued to rise, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting 229,289 confirmed cases as of December 13, 2023.

An official survey from the Ministry of Public Health reported that approximately a third of the country's population had contracted COVID-19

On 5 August 2020, an official survey from the Ministry of Public Health reported that approximately a third of Afghanistan's population, or roughly 10 million people, had contracted COVID-19. This survey was based on antibody tests with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO). 11,500 people from all 34 provinces participated in the survey.

The COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan was part of the worldwide pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was first confirmed to have spread to Afghanistan on 24 February 2020, when a 35-year-old man in Herat tested positive. As of 3 May 2024, there have been 233,472 confirmed positive cases and 7,985 deaths. Kabul Province has had the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Afghanistan, with 18,896, followed by Herat with 9,343 cases, and Balkh with 3,431.

The Ministry of Public Health in Afghanistan has faced various challenges during the pandemic, including inadequate healthcare personnel and service coverage, insufficient testing capacity, and shortages of laboratory kits and reagents. Lower public awareness and trust in the government have also resulted in most patients seeking home treatment rather than going to healthcare facilities.

The normal flow of life in Afghanistan does not seem to have changed much due to the pandemic. Markets, hotels, mosques, schools, and universities remain overcrowded, and people do not seem to be following infection prevention protocols such as wearing masks, avoiding crowded places, observing physical distance, and maintaining hygiene practices. This could potentially lead to a catastrophe in the country if left unchecked.

The first COVID-19 case in Afghanistan was confirmed on February 24, 2020

The first case of COVID-19 in Afghanistan was confirmed on 24 February 2020. The patient was a 35-year-old man from Herat, who had recently returned from Qom, Iran. The man presented with a fever, headache, cough, and dyspnoea. He was referred to a government hospital to investigate COVID-19 disease.

At the time, there were concerns about the capacity of Afghanistan's healthcare system to handle a COVID-19 outbreak. The country's healthcare system had improved over the past 17 years, but it was unclear if it was prepared for a prompt and functional response to the pandemic. There was only one central public health laboratory in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, that could conduct diagnostic tests for COVID-19, with a maximum capacity of 50 tests per day.

By 25 March 2020, there were 75 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across 12 provinces of Afghanistan, with one death attributed to the virus. The Afghan government had suspended all schooling and restricted Nowruz (Persian New Year) celebrations to curb the pandemic.

The first COVID-19 patient in Afghanistan recovered and was released from quarantine at home on 20 March. The patient, a 35-year-old man, was the first confirmed case in Herat province. He had contracted COVID-19 in Qom and was hospitalised for two weeks.

The number of confirmed cases is lower than the true number of infections due to limited testing

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Afghanistan is lower than the true number of infections due to limited testing. The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a new COVID-19 lab in Parwan province to accelerate testing and surveillance of the coronavirus. However, there has been a drop in COVID-19 testing and vaccination in Afghanistan, with the WHO warning that around 1.6 million doses of the vaccine will expire if not used quickly.

Afghanistan has a low testing capacity, with only 664,045 tests administered for a population of 40.4 million. The country also has a weak infrastructure, with only 35 laboratories across the nation, and some provinces have no laboratories at all. The current daily testing capacity is 4,000, and plans to scale up to 8,500 tests per day are uncertain under the Taliban regime.

The low testing capacity has had drastic repercussions for healthcare capacity, with hospitals facing bed shortages, lack of oxygen, and low vaccination capacity. The number of healthcare workers is also a concern, with only 9.4 healthcare workers and 1.9 physicians per 10,000 people. Healthcare workers also face burnout and a lack of training in COVID-19 preparedness and protective equipment.

The situation is particularly challenging in rural areas, where healthcare access and security are low due to a lack of provision of general healthcare services. With an unstable political situation, mass migration from rural areas to cities, and underlying socioeconomic challenges, providing even minimal healthcare access has become nearly impossible.

To address these issues, humanitarian organizations must be allowed to continue their work despite the challenging circumstances. Negotiations between the international community and the Taliban are necessary to ensure the safety of Afghans and humanitarian workers. International allies must also pressure the Taliban to ensure human rights are respected, education remains available for both males and females, and female healthcare workers can continue their work without threat.

Additionally, the international community should continue to support Afghanistan's healthcare system with vaccine supply, protective equipment, testing capacity, medical equipment, and monetary support for healthcare workers. These efforts are critical to controlling the spread of COVID-19 in Afghanistan and addressing the complex public health crisis the country is facing.

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