Africa CDC Policy Recommendation for African Union Meetings and Travel During COVID-19 Outbreak

Social distancing is an accepted strategy to delay and diminish outbreaks of respiratory infections, such as influenza. Similar to influenza, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can be readily transmitted human-to-human through respiratory droplets and contact with a contaminated surface. For pandemic influenza, the global consensus has been to defer mass gatherings, which have been defined as events involving more than 1000 people or events in which an outbreak could rapidly overwhelm existing health facilities. Mass gatherings can amplify infectious disease transmission at the event and lead to community transmission after participants return home. The transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 has led many countries and organizations to minimize international travel and delay public gatherings of any size, not just mass gatherings. Africa CDC has developed the following guidance for the African Union regarding meetings and travel to meetings in Africa.