Abstract:
There were only 75 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reported in Libya by the National Center for Disease Control during the first two months following the first confirmed case on 24 March 2020. However, there was dramatic increase in positive cases from June to now; as of 19 November 2020, approximately 357940 samples have been tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and the results have revealed a total number of 76808 confirmed cases, 47587 recovered cases and 1068 deaths. The case fatality ratio was estimated to be 1.40%, and the mortality rate was estimated to be 15.90 in 100000 people. The epidemiological situation markedly changed from mid-July to the beginning of August, and the country proceeded to the cluster phase. COVID-19 has spread in almost all Libyan cities, and this reflects the high transmission rate of the virus at the regional level with the highest positivity rates, at an average of 14.54%. Apparently, there is an underestimation of the actual number of COVID-19 cases due to the low testing capacity. Consequently, the Libyan health authority needs to initiate a large-scale case-screening process and enforce testing capacities and contact testing within the time frame, which is not an easy task. Advisably, the Libyan health authority should improve the public health capacities and conduct strict hygienic measures among the societies and vaccinate as many people against COVID-19 to minimize both the case fatality ratio and socio-economic impacts of the pandemic in Libya.
摘要:
国家疾病控制中心在2020年3月24日首例确诊病例后的前两个月,利比亚仅报告了75例2019年冠状病毒病(COVID-19)确诊病例。然而,从6月到现在,阳性病例急剧增加;截至2020年11月19日,通过逆转录聚合酶链反应检测了大约357940个样本,结果显示,确诊病例总数为76808例,47587例康复病例和1068例死亡。病死率估计为1.40%,死亡率估计为10万人中的15.90。从7月中旬到8月初,流行病学情况发生了明显变化,该国进入集群阶段。新冠肺炎已经在利比亚几乎所有城市传播,这反映了病毒在区域一级的高传播率,阳性率最高,平均为14.54%。显然,由于检测能力低,低估了COVID-19的实际病例数。因此,利比亚卫生当局需要启动大规模病例筛查程序,并在规定时间范围内加强检测能力和接触检测,这不是一件容易的事。明智的,利比亚卫生当局应提高公共卫生能力,在社会中采取严格的卫生措施,并为尽可能多的人接种COVID-19疫苗,以尽量减少利比亚大流行的病死率和社会经济影响。