Background The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutants might lead to European border closures, which impact on trade and result in serious economic losses. In April 2020, similar border closures were observed during the first SARS-CoV-2 wave in East Africa. Main body Since 2017 the East African Community EAC together with the Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine BNITM established a mobile laboratory network integrated into the National Public Health Laboratories of the six Partner States for molecular diagnosis of viral haemorrhagic fevers and SARS-CoV-2. Since May 2020, the National Public Health Laboratories of Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan deployed these mobile laboratories to their respective borders, issuing a newly developed “Electronic EAC COVID-19 Digital Certificate” to SARS-CoV-2 PCR-negative truck drivers, thus assuring regional trade. Conclusion Considering the large financial damages of border closures, such a mobile laboratory network as demonstrated in East Africa is cost-effective, easy to implement and feasible. The East African Community mobile laboratory network could serve as a blueprint for Europe and other countries around the globe.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, East Africa, pandemic, BSL4, SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics, Border closures, Mobile laboratories, EAC, Electronic health certificate, Trade, 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Uganda, Europe, Laboratory, Medicine, Viral, Molecular diagnosis, African, Fever, Kenya, Digital, Trade, tropical medicine, lead, truck drivers, Drivers, blueprint, partner, South, SARS-CoV-2 mutants, PCR-negative, East, Public, state, European, country, globe, demonstrated, feasible, SARS-CoV-2 mutant, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Europe, Laboratory, African, East,