COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on lives throughout these Islands. More than 15,000 confirmed cases and more than 150 deaths have occurred due to COVID-19. Paradoxically, Cabo Verde had witnessed a rapid development of its healthcare system after 1975. With six hospitals and 80% of its population within 30 minutes of a healthcare facility, most richer African countries are lagging behind Cabo Verde in service delivery.

Strict containment measures were adopted in March 2020, and a state of emergency was declared for the first time in the country to reinforce the COVID-19 containment measures. Cabo Verde was one of the hardest hit countries in the region in terms of the economic downturn. The economy was projected to contract by 11 percent in 2020, and the pandemic was expected to have negative short-, medium- and long-term impacts on people's lives, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable.

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The Government and the World Bank are currently preparing a Development Policy Financing Operation in Cabo Verde that includes the continued use of the safety net to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic further strengthening the shock-responsiveness of the safety net system in the medium-term. In addition, it will support the strengthening of the usability of the social registry, ensuring its broader usage.