ABSTRACT
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing major public health challenges due to a confluence of major outbreaks of Ebola virus disease, measles, and COVID-19. The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in DR Congo was diagnosed on March 10, 2020, and the government declared a state of emergency on March 24, 2020. Although the COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges that threaten the health, economy, and social fabric of DR Congo, several lessons learned from dealing with the devastating Ebola virus disease outbreaks have been invaluable and are guiding the ongoing COVID-19 public health response. All COVID-19 testing by RT-PCR is done at the National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa. Bilateral and multilateral partnerships provided donations of medical equipment to hospitals, and clinical staff are being trained on COVID-19 case management.
