Four or five months, that's how long the Coronavirus emergency in Africa will last, according to the CEO of Amref Health Africa, Dr. Githinji Gitahi.
"This pandemic will cause long-term social disintegration," Gitahi explains in a statement issued yesterday, "It will take months before our lives return to normal and social gatherings are considered natural again.  In May and June we will probably reach the peak of contagion.
The warnings of what the people of the African continent Gitahi calls "the great lethargy", mainly concern the domestic economy and the rules to follow, such as social distancing and restrictive measures to protect public health, which is particularly lacking.
"My advice? - writes number one at Amref Health Africa - Let's learn from animals that hibernate during difficult times. They hibernate to survive, staying inactive, slowing their metabolism considerably and lowering their body temperature for days, weeks or months if necessary. Hibernation, as far as humans are concerned, means staying indoors, reducing unnecessary expenditure, keeping the small amount of money you have, abolishing capital expenditure and investment in assets, supporting each other".
Gitahi is not at all optimistic about the timing, he foresees a "marathon" from now until at least next July.
 "If you are planning to start a new project or business," concludes Gitahi, "review your plans unless they respond directly or are useful to the Covid-19 emergency. Take my advice, you'll thank me later".