by Auburn Mann

As China braces for a potential resurgence in COVID-19 presence after more than a month of sustained flattening of infection rates, xenophobia has reared its ugly head.

President Ji Xiping issued a warning looking out for imported cases. In many cities and provinces Chinese officials have warned of a dreaded second wave as early signs have indicated maybe occurring in neighboring Japan.

This collective mood is particularly aimed at the African immigrant community, which already has shared a contentious relationship with the majority demographic of Chinese society even in relatively benign times.

In Guangzhou, where there are large concentrations from places like Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana and Uganda, especially in the Yuexiu and Baiyun areas, this has become especially acute. Many have shared stories through various social media platforms of being evicted from longtime homes, denied entry into shops, bars and restaurants, mistreatment on the streets, constant testing or arbitrarily being ordered to over-quarantine in their homes despite no record of recent travel.

By Auburn Mann
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​Senegal has taken a unique path in the war against Covid-19, by developing a $1 (N360.50) diagnostic testing kit.
 
In addition, instead of relying on overpriced imported ventilators, domestic Senegalese engineers manufactured 3D printed ventilators, saving thousands of dollars and allowing them to test every citizen regardless of apparent symptoms.
 
According to Aljazeera, any person that enters a health center is given a test module originally designed to detect malaria. The test works by patients drawing bodily fluids like  blood or saliva onto the device and wait for a blood line to appear. If the person tests positive for the virus, they are given chloroquine that is used to treat Dengue Fever and other malarial illnesses.
 
Thus, giving the francophone West African nation the third highest rate of recovery in the world, with marginal deaths.
 
In a interview with Al Jazeera, Dakar Institute Pasteur Dr. Amadou Sall stated:
 
“The idea is to rapidly produce 2-4 million kits not just
for us(Senegal) but for other African countries detect and isolate patients quickly”.