No virus-free country in Africa, as Lesotho confirms the index case

05/14/2020 Business, Ethiopia, Health, World



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The coronavirus pandemic has been confirmed in more than 180 countries worldwide since it was first discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December 2019.

World Health Organization, whoIt has since been declared a pandemic due to its spread. All African countries except Lesotho have recorded cases since governments implemented measures to combat the spread.

In this article, we will share the latest developments as authorities implement measures to contain the spread of the virus, especially on the African continent.

Main African statistics: May 13 at 2:00 p.m. GMT

  • Confirmed cases = 69,707
  • Number of deaths = 2,399
  • Recoveries = 24,141
  • Infected countries = 54
  • Virus free countries = 0

HE SUGGESTED READING: continued coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Africa II

  • Lesotho confirms index case
  • Comoros records the first case
  • United States support for Kenya, South Africa; The equipment crisis in Africa
  • Rise in cases in Africa worries experts
  • Virus free Mauritania
  • Tanzania MP infected
  • Zimbabwe quarantines UK returnees
  • Madagascar announces COVID-19-19 treatment
  • Africa will suffer the consequences of Trump who move
  • Burundi voters blocked
  • Tanzania’s three days of prayer
  • Malawi imposes blockade as President’s court hearing begins
  • The speaker from Uganda presents COVID-19-19 combat spray
  • United States Joins Africa in Fighting Chinese Racism
  • UA appoints four-member international liaison team
  • Two prominent deaths
  • UA protests Chinese mistreatment of Africans

HE SUGGESTED READING: Continuous coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Africa I

May 13: Lesotho confirms the index case

Lesotho confirmed its index case COVID-19-19 in a press release issued on May 13. The country becomes the last on the continent to register a case.

The statement signed by the Director General of Health Services said in part: “The Ministry of Health informs the Basotho nation and the entire community living in Lesotho that the country now has the first confirmed case of COVID-19-19.

“On May 9, 2020, the Ministry carried out 81 (eighty-one) tests to COVID-19-19 travelers from South Africa and Saudi Arabia. “

He said the results that came back from South Africa on May 12, 2020 indicated that “Eighty people took the test NEGATIVE for COVID-19-19 times ONE tried POSITIVE for COVID-19-19 “.

To date, the country has obtained 597 samples that have been analyzed by the South African National Institute of Communicable Diseases, NICD; 295 are negative and 301 are still pending results.

First case of coronavirus in the Comoros – confirms the president

Comoros announced its index case of the new coronavirus this Thursday, April 30, 2020. The President of the Republic, Azali Assoumani, explained that the patient is a 50-year-old Franco-Comorian who has since been admitted to a hospital.

The borders are closed in Comoros, while the curfew is between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. is in force. During this Ramadan period, mosques are also closed but there is no complete closure.

Azali Assoumani explained that contact tracing is underway. With this development, it leaves Lesotho as the only African country without a confirmed case.

April 24: Trump speaks to Ramaphosa and Kenyatta

United States President Donald Trump has spoken to two African leaders pledging his country’s support for their respective response to the COVID-19-19 pandemic.

Trump spoke to Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, expressing U.S. support for the two countries and pledging additional support.

The South African president is also the current president of the African Union, UA; It leads the most affected country in Africa and the continent’s effort to obtain international support to combat the pandemic.

South African coronavirus statistics as of April 24 at 7:00 AM GMT They were as follows: 3,953 confirmed cases, 1,473 recoveries and 75 deaths. Kenya, on the other hand, had 320 cases, 89 recoveries, and 14 deaths.

Africa lags dangerously behind in global virus race

As Africa prepares for a surge in coronavirus cases, its countries are perilously behind in the global race for a shortage of medical equipment. Ten nations have no fans at all.

Outclassed by wealthier countries, and without receiving medical equipment from America’s top aid donors, African officials are rushing to find solutions as virus cases exceed 25,000. Even at best, the United Nations says it will need 74 million test kits and 30,000 fans this year for the 1.3 billion people on the continent. Very few are on hand.

“We are competing with the developed world,” said John Nkengasong, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Africa. “The future of the continent will depend on how this matter is handled.”

Politicians instinctively try to protect their own people and “we know that sometimes the worst of human behavior comes out,” said Simon Missiri, Africa director of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, urging a equitable approach to help developing nations.

The crisis has led African nations to create a purchasing platform grouped under the African Union to improve bargaining power. Within days of its formation, the UA obtained more than 100,000 test kits from a German source. The World Health Organization is stepping in and reaching out to manufacturers for supplies.

AP

April 23: Africa’s 43% increase in virus cases in 1 week worries experts

Africa recorded a 43% jump in reports COVID-19-19 cases in the last week, highlighting a warning from the World Health Organization that the 1.3 billion continent could become the next epicenter of the global outbreak.

Africa also has “very, very limited” and “very, very tense” testing capacity, said John Nkengasong, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Africa, in his weekly report on Thursday.

The increase in infections on the continent is almost certainly underestimated and even greater in reality, medical experts say.

The recent WHO report painted a bleak picture for Africa, one of the last continents affected by the pandemic. who He warned that the virus could kill more than 300,000 people and plunge 30 million into desperate poverty.

Africa still has time to avoid such a disaster, Nkengasong said, but testing people and tracking virus cases is critical.

“It all depends on what we are discussing here, which is, are you testing? Are you finding the cases? Are you isolating and tracking contacts? Nkengasong said, adding that the who report “is not a prediction that means it should happen”. By Nkengasong’s criteria, Africa is fighting on the evidence front.

In the two months since the continent began mobilizing to fight the outbreak, fewer than 500,000 tests have been conducted on the population of more than a billion. That’s just 325 people evaluated by 1 million people, Nkengasong said. In comparison, that is much lower than Italy, one of the most affected countries in the world, he said.

“If you don’t test, you can’t find. And if you don’t test, you’re blinded. If you don’t test, you’re not ahead of the curve,” Nkengasong said.

African governments reported a total of nearly 26,000 cases as of Thursday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Africa, compared to just over 16,000 a week ago. Around 1,200 people have died. Although those numbers are still relatively small on the global picture, the sharp rise in cases is cause for concern, Nkengasong said. The week before saw an increase of 29%.

The Centers for Disease Control in Africa is targeting 1 million more tests in Africa over the next four weeks and 10 million tests in the next four months. The overall effort is severely hampered, Nkengasong said, by a major obstacle: the existing fragility of health services in many African countries.

“I would like to make sure I make this very clear,” he said. “It is an uphill battle to build health systems while you need them. … That is what we are doing now. We are playing to catch up and that is a very, very difficult thing to do. “

This is not exclusively bad news for Africa. South Africa has the highest number of reported cases at around 3,300, but Africa’s most developed economy is being praised for an aggressive testing program. South Africa, with the help of existing infrastructure, has carried out more than 130,000 tests, according to its health minister.

And “they are beginning to see a curvature of their curve.” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa. But South Africa’s first tentative signs of success, helped, perhaps, by a tight blockade, are being triggered by “troubling increases” in virus cases in some countries in West Africa and East Africa, Moeti said.

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa with 200 million people and a high population density, is a clear example of the deficiencies in tests and the health system that prevail throughout the continent.

The country has reported 873 cases of COVID-19-19 and 28 deaths, but they had performed only 7,153 tests as of Wednesday, according to the Nigerian Center for Disease Control. About 5,000 of those tests were only done in the last week.

“The truth is that we have to work with what we have. We definitely didn’t start at the baseline where South Africa started, “said Chikwe Ihekweazu, CEO of the Nigerian center.

“Many lessons will be learned here and around the world. But in the midst of a crisis, this is not the time when you can suddenly build an infrastructure base that you need 20 or 30 years to build. “

AP

April 21: Mauritania defeats the virus, infected with Tanzanian MP

Mauritanian authorities say the country does not have any active cases of coronavirus as today after all six patients tested negative in all seven confirmed cases. The other patient succumbed to the disease.

Mauritania is one of the few African countries that has so far registered a single-digit infection along with Burundi, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Sudan, with five, four and four cases, respectively, as of April 21.

Mauritania said it has continued testing since March 13, when the index case was recorded. Currently, the country is applying a night curfew as part of the containment efforts.

In Tanzania, a legislator tested positive for the virus, prompting calls for the parliamentary session to be suspended. The unidentified MP was believed to have contracted the virus during a trip to the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.

“There will be no two sets of laws: for parliamentarians and for the people. All PM must be isolated, tested, and tracked by contact. From the beginning, we informed that the sessions of the parliament should not be held. It’s dangerous. “Said Zitto Kabwe, an opposition deputy

The Speaker of Parliament has endorsed the President’s position that life should continue despite the need to take precautions amid the pandemic. Although schools have been closed, there is no closure or curfew as is the case in most countries in the region.

President Magufuli also rejected border closings, noting that most neighboring countries depended on the Tanzania corridor to obtain the necessary supplies. Tanzania’s case count is 254 with 11 recoveries and 10 deaths as of April 21.

April 20: Zimbabwe quarantines UK returnees, Madagascar announces COVID-19-19 treatment

On Monday, the Zimbabwean government confirmed that 65 citizens had returned from the United Kingdom and were currently in quarantine.

But there was a protest from returnees about where the government had moved to quarantine them. Information Secretary Nick Mangwana lamented why the returnees had agreed to return but rejected a state quarantine facility.

Demanding hotels are denied this accommodation. The government cannot pay. Why come from a covid19 access point during a shutdown and demand fancy facilities at high public cost? His views have sparked a mixed reaction on Twitter.

Madagascar has announced the launch of a traditional remedy for COVID-19-19 disease. President Andry Rajoelina said the medicine called CVO or Covid-Organics> was an improved traditional remedy made up of medicinal plants from Artemisia and Malagasy.

He said it was produced after scientific studies by IMRA (Malagasy Institute for Applied Research). He currently has 121 cases of COVID-19-19 with 39 recoveries and no death.

Africa will be hit by Trump who funds cut, Tanzania prays

Next week, over 1 million coronavirus tests will be implemented in Africa to address the “big gap” in evaluating the true number of cases on the continent.

This is according to the head of the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he said Thursday, while a projection estimates more than 10 million severe cases of the virus in the next six months.

“Perhaps 15 million tests will be required” in Africa over the next three months, said John Nkengasong.

The new initiative to dramatically accelerate testing comes as the 1.3 billion-strong continent prepares for its turn in the pandemic that has spread from China to Europe and the United States and now beyond. Experts have said Africa is weeks away from Europe and the United States, but the increase in cases has looked alarmingly similar.

Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The chief expressed concern over the United States’ decision to cut funds for who, saying that “it will absolutely affect the ability of member states (of the African Union) to receive support” from the UN agency. The United States is the main donor of whoBut President Donald Trump has complained of alleged mismanagement, to widespread objections.

WHO Regional Chief for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said that for the current biennium, or two years, the region has received almost $ 50 million from the United States.

Of the United States’ decision, he said the impact will be significant in the fight against diseases beyond the coronavirus, including malaria and HIV and “we very much hope that it will be rethought.” Overall, the 47-country sub-Saharan Africa region will need about $ 300 million over the next six months to support what countries are doing to combat the virus, he said.

Any reduction in support for African nations will be painful as the continent has some of the weakest health systems in the world.

Tanzania prays

President John Magufuli has asked citizens to spend the weekend praying against the coronavirus outbreak.

Tanzania is one of the few African countries that has refused to close its borders despite the virus. Furthermore, there is currently no closure in the East African country and religious gatherings have not been prohibited.

“My fellow Tanzanians, due to the coronavirus, I ask that we use three days, from April 17 to 19, 2020 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), to pray to Almighty God to deliver us from this pandemic. Let each of us pray in their own faith, He will listen to us, ”he posted on Twitter.

Neighboring Rwanda is in full closure, as is Uganda, while Kenya is using a curfew from dawn to dusk to control the spread.

All academic activities have been suspended. The country also announced the suspension of Unity Day celebrations earlier this week. It was the second national event to be canceled after Uhuru’s torch race was suspended earlier this month.

Starting April 17, Tanzania COVID-19-19 were 94 confirmed cases with four deaths and 11 recoveries.

April 15: Ugandan speaker reveals virus-killing spray and Malawi shutdown

Ugandan Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga revealed what she calls her “coronavirus treatment,” which local media reports now calls an aerosol. The Observer newspaper reported that Kadaga blamed the Ugandans for overreacting.

He is quoted saying, “I did not call it a vaccine but an aerosol, which kills the virus.” He was criticized a month ago for suggesting that some American scientists who had visited her were near a COVID-19-19 vaccinates in collaboration with some Ugandans.

“There is a ray of hope, a professor who manufactured a treatment for coronavirus in the United States was here last week and donated the patent to Uganda. Within a fortnight, the treatment will be right here … there is hope and the treatment will start here in Uganda, “he said in mid-March.

The East African country currently has 55 confirmed cases of the disease with eight recoveries and no deaths until April 15. The count is relatively lower in a region where Kenya has 216 cases and Rwanda with 134 cases. Djibouti leads in the East Africa / Horn region with 363 cases that knock Mauritius down, now ranks second with 324.

Malawi announces 21-day closure

Malawians are the last on the continent to feel like a national blockade after Health Minister Jappie Mhango declared a 21-day blockade as part of efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

The lock goes into effect at midnight on April 18 and runs until midnight on May 9. The southern African country as of April 15 had registered 19 cases of coronavirus, including two deaths without recovery.

As is often the case, law enforcement officials and essential service providers are the only people who are allowed to move during the period. All other people seeking to move must request permission to do so.

District commissioners and local executive directors will identify providers of essential goods and services and grant them special permits. While all central markets will be closed, local markets may open between 05:00 and 18:00 local time, a BBC reporter said.

In a speech to the nation Tuesday night, President Peter Arthur Mutharika stressed that the blockade could be extended if necessary. He said the borders will have tightened security during the period and security will be high across the country.

“Fighting the coronavirus is a challenging war for everyone, everywhere. It is also a very expensive war. As a nation, we require around MK150 billion for the implementation of the National COVID-19-19 Preparation and response plan. We need to unite.

“Let me once again appeal to all political leaders that we need to join hands to combat this coronavirus pandemic. No one should take advantage of people’s suffering and politicize the coronavirus. This is not a time for politics. This is a time to save lives.

“The coronavirus is a real threat. As your president, I will do my best so that we can save lives. Let’s unite to save lives. This blockade may be extended beyond May 9 as circumstances warrant. The Minister has done so using powers conferred on him under the Public Health Law. I would like to urge you to fully comply with the measures because they are for the good of our country, “he added.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today began hearing a challenge from Mutharika in the annulled presidential elections in May 2019. His opposition was successfully challenged by the opposition with a new date set for a repeat in July of this year.

April 14: United States in the corner of Africa against Chinese racism

The United States has condemned reports of racist attacks on African citizens in the Chinese city of Guangzhou, calling the videos and stories “appalling.”

Over the weekend, the United States condemned the actions, it said, also targeted African Americans. In a tweet on Monday; A senior State Department official for Africa, Tibor Nagy, said Beijing needed to do more to stop the attacks.

“The #Guangzhou videos and stories are appalling. Abuse and xenophobia have no place in our fight against this global pandemic. The Chinese authorities must do more to stop these attacks against Africans living and working in China, ”he posted on Twitter.

On Monday morning, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a statement admitting diplomatic protests from African governments but emphasizing that “all foreigners are treated equally.” We reject differential treatment and we have zero tolerance for discrimination. ” They reiterated the relations between Beijing and Africa and said that an investigation will be opened to determine the real facts and remedy them.

The ministry spokesman’s statement said in part: “During our fight against the coronavirus, the Chinese government has attached great importance to the life and health of foreigners in China. All foreigners are treated equally. We reject differential treatment and have zero tolerance for discrimination.

“Since the outbreak, the Guangdong authorities attach great importance to the treatment of foreign patients, including Africans.

“Specific plans and appropriate arrangements are made to protect their lives and health to the best of our ability, thanks to which we were able to save the lives of some African patients in severe or critical conditions.

The final parties say: “The Foreign Ministry will remain in close communication with the Guangdong authorities and will continue to respond to reasonable concerns and legitimate appeals from the African side.

“The virus knows no borders. The pandemic, a challenge to all humanity, can only be defeated through concerted international efforts. With mutual understanding, mutual support and cooperation, we are ready to continue working with African friends to achieve the final victory. ”

April 13: Africa summary of the weekend

Coronavirus developments continue to unfold across the continent as governments continue efforts to stem the spread of the pandemic through national and continental efforts.

The weekend produced some major developments in Africa, apart from the increasing number of cases, deaths and recoveries. South Africa remains the worst affected country even though the increase in cases has slowed and an excellent recovery was also recorded.

Across the ocean, the mistreatment of Africans in China also led to a series of protests by different governments with the African Union that finally invited the Chinese envoy to Addis Ababa to demand concrete action by Beijing.

In Nigeria, the foreign minister and speaker of the lower house of parliament had reason to call on the Chinese ambassador to register his discontent. The Ghanaian Foreign Minister also followed suit as the Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Sierra Leone issued strongly worded statements.

READ PLUS: African nations scold China for COVID-19-19 related racism

Still with the African Union, South African President and President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed a team of four on Sunday to help coordinate Africa’s international efforts to combat the pandemic.

The newly appointed envoys are tasked with mobilizing international support for Africa’s efforts to address the economic challenges that African countries will face as a result of the COVID-19-19 pandemic.

Special Envoys will be tasked with requesting prompt and concrete support as promised by the G20, the European Union and other international financial institutions, the statement said.

  • Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is an internationally respected economist and development expert and served two terms as Minister of Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She has also served as Managing Director of the World Bank.
  • Dr. Kaberuka is an economist and former chairman and chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB). He is the former Minister of Finance of Rwanda and in 2016 he was appointed Special Envoy of the African Union for the sustainable financing of the AU and the financing of Peace in Africa.
  • Manuel was the longest serving Minister of Finance in the Republic of South Africa and previously headed the country’s National Planning Commission. In 2018, he was appointed Investment Envoy by President Ramaphosa to involve national and international investors as part of the country’s national investment drive.
  • Thiam is a banker and businessman. He is the former Chief Executive Officer of Credit Suisse and also served as Chief Financial Officer and CEO of prudential. He also has experience in management consulting and worked for McKinsey and Company.

Two prominent deaths were also recorded across the continent in relation to COVID-19-19. Ghana confirmed on Saturday the death of a renowned doctor, Professor Jacob Plange-Rhule.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday (April 10) in the capital Accra specifically at the University of Ghana Medical Center, where he had been on a brief admission. An official close to the report said he had underlying health complications before contracting the virus.

In Somalia, the death was confirmed on Sunday by a regional official. Khalif Mumin’s death was the second in the Horn of Africa nation. He died in a hospital in the capital, Mogadishu, the Maritini Hospital is the only coronavirus treatment center in Somalia.

READ PLUS: The highlight of Africa COVID-19-19 deaths

April 11: Africa protests Chinese abuse with Nigeria at the helm

Reports of mistreatment of Africans in the Chinese city of Guangzhou have sparked the anger of several people on social media. The Nigerian government summoned the Chinese ambassador to express its protest.

After the meeting between the foreign minister and the ambassador, the speaker of the lower house of parliament also accumulated more pressure when he rebuked the ambassador in a separate meeting on Thursday.

The spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry insisted that relations between the country and Africa remained strong despite the latest round of friction.

“FM spokesman Zhao Lijian said:‘ China and African countries are more united than ever, demonstrating brotherhood in times of adversity. We treat all foreigners equally in China. We reject differential treatment and have zero tolerance for discrimination, “the embassy tweeted.

On Saturday, the chairman of the African Union Commission also tweeted that his office had summoned the Chinese envoy to the AU over recent reports.

“My Office invited the Chinese Ambassador to the AU, Mr. Liu Yuxi, to express our extreme concern about the allegations of mistreatment of Africans in Guangzhou, and called for immediate corrective measures in line with our excellent relations. The African group in Beijing is also engaging with the government. ” AUC President Moussa Faki Mahamat posted on Twitter.

Algunos desarrollos importantes para leer a continuación

  • Kenia gazettes regulaciones de coronavirus
  • Los casos de Sudáfrica pasan 2000
  • Los chinos expulsan a los africanos en Guangzhou
  • Los casos africanos podrían aumentar
  • Francia anuncia ayuda a África
  • Sudáfrica suspende al ministro de “almuerzo de encierro”
  • Somalia prueba impulso, calendario académico suspendido
  • Malawi registra primera muerte
  • Madres en aislamiento entregan en Camerún, Uganda
  • Ghana registra un pico de casos
  • Los casos africanos pasan la marca de 10,000
  • Caso índice de registros de Santo Tomé y Príncipe
  • Caso índice de registros de Sudán del Sur
  • Más donaciones de Jack Ma anunciadas
  • La policía de Zimbabwe revierte la prohibición de la cerveza y los líderes de la UA se reúnen
  • DRC bloquea la zona de expatriados, casos índice de Malawi

10 de abril: los casos de Sudáfrica pasan 2000

Confirmed COVID-19-19 casos en Sudáfrica han pasado la marca 2000. Las cifras publicadas el 10 de abril sitúan la cifra en 2003 de 73.028 casos. La cifra de muertos también alcanzó 24 de 18 con 95 recuperaciones al 9 de abril.

El país es el más afectado de África y las grandes cifras se atribuyen a la tasa de pruebas. Comparativamente, la mayoría de los otros países africanos solo pueden presumir de tener menos de 10,000 pruebas en comparación con las más de 73,000 pruebas de Sudáfrica.

El presidente Cyril Ramaphosa anunció una extensión del bloqueo de 21 días anunciado el mes pasado. La extensión de dos semanas que dice será crítica en los esfuerzos de contención. El presidente y su gabinete acordaron una reducción salarial para apoyar el fondo de solidaridad del gobierno.

El gobierno ha publicado fuertes sanciones para los kenianos, incluida una multa de 20.000 shi o seis meses de prisión, o ambas, si se encuentra que rompen las directivas emitidas en línea con la Ley de Salud Pública, informó un portal superior, Standard Digital.

Un Suplemento de la Gaceta de Kenia No. 41 firmado por el Secretario del Gabinete de Salud Mutahi Kagwe indicó que no usar una máscara mientras se usa el transporte público o privado y no mantener la distancia social son algunos de los delitos que atraerán las sanciones.

“Los usuarios del transporte público o privado y los operadores de transporte público deberán usar una máscara adecuada que debe cubrir la boca y la nariz de la persona y también mantener una distancia física de no menos de un metro”.

De acuerdo con las nuevas reglas, las organizaciones, entidades comerciales, comerciantes, ya sea en un mercado o locales cerrados, deben proporcionar en su ubicación comercial o entrada a sus locales, una estación de lavado de manos con agua y jabón o un desinfectante a base de alcohol que esté aprobado para uso por la Oficina de Normas de Kenia.

Informe de Kenia cortesía del portal Standard Digital

10 de abril: los casos de Sudáfrica llegan al 2000, África necesita más pruebas

Funcionarios africanos se opusieron el jueves a la lucha global para obtener equipo médico para combatir el coronavirus, advirtiendo que si COVID-19-19 se ha extendido por el continente, el mundo seguirá en peligro.

“No podemos ser descuidados en este esfuerzo”, dijo a la prensa el jefe de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades de África, John Nkengasong. “El mundo será terriblemente inseguro, y será completamente ingenuo, si los países piensan que pueden controlar COVID-19-19 en sus países pero no en África “.

Sudáfrica reconoció los desafíos, ya que extendió su bloqueo en dos semanas, y el presidente Cyril Ramaphosa dijo: “Esto es una cuestión de supervivencia, y no nos atrevemos a fallar”.

El equipo en África es escaso. The World Health Organization says fewer than 5,000 intensive care unit beds are available across 43 of the continent’s 54 countries: “This is about 5 beds per 1 million people in the reported countries compared to 4,000 beds per 1 million people in Europe.” Functional ventilators in public health services across 41 countries number less than 2,000, a severe shortage for patients in respiratory distress.

While Africa’s 1.3 billion people had a head start in preparing for the pandemic as the virus spread in China, Europe and the United States, Nkengasong warned that “the very future of the continent will depend on how this matter is handled” as cases, now over 11,000, quickly rise.

“The worst is still to come,” he said, and pointed to the global Spanish flu pandemic of a century ago when cases came in waves.

Africa is also competing with the developing world for testing kits that will help give a clear number of cases, as well as protective equipment that front-line health workers desperately require. Already, anxious workers have gone on strike or gone to court in places like Zimbabwe over the lack of gear.

“We may not actually know how big is the size of the problem” without scaling up testing, Nkengasong said.

While 48 of Africa’s 54 countries now have testing capability, that often is limited to countries’ capitals or other major cities, who officials told reporters in a separate briefing.

There is an “urgent need” to expand testing, the who Africa chief, Matshidiso Moeti, said, noting that clusters of community transmission have emerged in at least 16 countries. That means the virus has begun spreading beyond the initial cases imported from abroad.

“Some countries might face a huge peak very soon” in cases, said the WHO’s emergency program manager, Michel Yao.

Even if testing kits and other equipment are found, another challenge is delivering them amid the thicket of travel restrictions. Cargo space is rare because many airlines have stopped flights to African destinations, Yao said.

Close to 20 African countries have closed their borders, and several are now under lockdown to try to prevent the virus’ spread. Now millions of people are bracing for lockdown extensions after regional leader South Africa’s announcement Thursday night.

If the country’s lockdown ends too soon or too abruptly, “we risk a massive and uncontrollable resurgence of the disease,” Ramaphosa said.

In the two weeks before the lockdown began two weeks ago, the average daily increase in South Africa’s new cases was around 42%, but since the start of the lockdown the average daily increase has been around 4%, he said.

South Africa has the most confirmed cases in Africa with more than 1,900. “We are only at the beginning of a monumental struggle,” Ramaphosa says. “We cannot relax and we cannot be complacent.”

The economic toll, however, has been harsh. The World Bank in a new report said sub-Saharan Africa is expected to fall into recession for the first time in a quarter-century. Growth should fall this year from 2.4% to minus 2.1%, with countries that depend heavily on oil exports and mining hit especially hard.

Africa has had some of the world’s fastest-growing economies. The World Bank said African nations will require a “debt service standstill” and other financial assistance as millions of people, many who survive day-to-day, can’t go out to work.

“I am aware that some of you have been saying, ’We would rather die from COVID-19-19 than from hunger,” Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu told the nation Thursday. “But I advise you to choose life. Please choose life.”

And, joining a growing number of African nations, he encouraged all Zambians to wear face masks at all times.

In Uganda, 75-year-old President Yoweri Museveni tried to boost morale after outdoor exercise was banned, releasing a homemade video of him running laps barefoot in his office and doing 30 push-ups — proof, he said, that one can stay fit indoors.

April 9: Cases expected to spike in Africa, China bans Africans

Some African countries could experience a spike in coronavirus cases in the coming weeks, a top official of the World Health Organization, who, Africa region has noted.

According to Michel Yao, the who Africa programme manager for emergency response, countries should thus boost their testing and medical response capacities.

“During the last four days we can see that the numbers have already doubled,” he told a media teleconference on Thursday.

“If the trend continues, and also learning from what happened in China and in Europe, some countries may face a huge peak very soon,” he said, he however did not specify which countries could be on the radar.

Compared to continental tallies, Africa’s coronavirus figures as of April 9 are relatively lower even though the who has stressed that it could be as a result of undetected or underreported cases. Africa is inching towards the 12,000 confirmed cases mark with 578 deaths and 1,428 recoveries according to the John Hopkins university tracking system (valid as at 16:00 GMT)

The WHO’s Africa head, Matshidiso Moeti, reiterated that there is an “urgent need” to expand testing capacity beyond capital cities in Africa, as the virus spreads through countries.

“Without help and action now, poor countries and vulnerable communities could suffer massive devastation,” who Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told diplomats in Geneva. “The infection numbers in Africa are relatively small now, but they are growing fast,” he said.

Meanwhile over in the Chinese business city of Guangzhou, have been left stranded for a second night after they were ejected by owners of hotels and apartment blocks.

the BBC reporter in Hong Kong, Danny Vincent reported the mass evictions on Tuesday confirming that two days on, the situation had yet to be resolved.

Online rumours that the coronavirus was spreading among the thousands of Africans in the city led to door-to-door testing, evictions and accusations of forced quarantine. “We have no house, no food, no hotel,” one student from Nigeria told the BBC.

“There are up to 100 people still on the streets. People want to go back to our countries. I don’t know what the problem is with China. Everywhere that Africans live they are pushing us away.”

Guangzhou is home to one of China’s largest African communities and has become a hub for African traders buying and selling goods to the continent.

In an open letter penned by the All African Association of Guangzhou, community leaders called on the authorities to end the “the inhuman treatment, hatred, and outright discrimination of Africans that is currently going on in Guangzhou”.

“About 10 African community leaders in Guangzhou are technically under house arrest using the term quarantine. These actions are difficult to comprehend when you consider the fact that these are people whose official test results came back negative just one or two days ago.”

With additional files from BBC Africa LIVE page

April 9: France announced aid to Africa, Seychelles lockdown kicks in

The French government has announced a financial package to support Africa in the fight against the COVID-19-19 pandemic, state-run Radio France International, RFI reported late Wednesday.

The announcement was made by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian who disclosed that Paris will grant aid of “nearly 1.2 billion” euros to combat the spread of COVID-19-19 in Africa.

Meanwhiles, the island nation of Seychelles started a 21-day lockdown from midnight on Wednesday. The move which forms part of COVID-19-19 containment has shut down non-essential services and restrict the movement.

Government instituted the measure a 26-year-old citizen who works at the airport as a grounds staff tested positive for coronavirus on Monday. The country has 11 confirmed cases with no death with two recoveries so far.

President Danny Faure who made the announcement said the airport will remain closed until the end of April while new maritime surveillance will be applied in the island nation.

The first Seychellois patient who tested positive for Covid-19 on 14 March, and a Dutch woman who tested positive the following day, have both recovered from the disease, the president said.

April 8: SA Minister suspended over lockdown lunch, Somalia testing boost

South African Minister suspended over lockdown lunch

A South African minister has been suspended by the president for breaking lockdown rules after she attended lunch at a former minister’s residence.

A statement from the president read: “President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for two months – one month of which will be unpaid.

“As to allegations that the Minister violated the lockdown regulations, the law should take its course. This follows the revelation on social media that the Minister had recently visited the home of a friend who hosted a lunch, contrary to the lockdown regulations.

“The President summoned the Minister yesterday, Tuesday 07 April 2020. The President expressed his disapproval of the Minister’s actions, which undermine the requirement that all citizens stay at home and save South Africa from the spread of the coronavirus.”

FULL STATEMENT – President censures Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams for lockdown lunch

In Somalia, the health ministry yesterday (April 7) that the country is now able to test for coronavirus in the capital, Mogadishu. Previously samples were taken to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, for testing.

The ministry’s National Public Health Research Laboratory (NPHRL) has now been equipped to carry out the tests. Somalia has eight cases, one of the lowest in the Horn of Africa region. Government also announced that the academic calender has been suspended for the year due to the virus.

In next door Ethiopia, PM Abiy declared a state of emergency after a cabinet meeting today. The declaration is to be tabled before lawmakers for ratification.

Already, the northern Tigray Region had declared a state of emergency at a time they had recorded no cases. The region is also the first to get testing capacity outside of the national facilities in Addis Ababa.

April 7: Malawi records death, Infected mothers deliver in Cameroon, Uganda

Malawi’s coronavirus tally has reached eight with the Ministry of Health confirming the first casualty in the southern African nation.

The patient was a 51-year-old Malawian woman of Indian origin who had recently returned to the country from the UK. The ministry said she had an underlying heath condition.

Of the three new cases announced today, two of the patients are in the city of Blantyre and the other in Chikwawa town. Malawi was one of the African countries that recorded a case very late. So far only Comoros and Lesotho have yet to be infected.

Infected women deliver in Cameroon, Uganda

the BBC reports that a patient undergoing treatment for coronavirus in the Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé, gave birth to a baby girl over the weekend, quoting a doctor at the hospital’s isolation ward.

The mother, 19-year-old Marie, gave birth normally but has since been separated from her newborn baby. The patient was connected to an oxygen supply when her contractions started, the report added.

“We just arranged the room and she delivered on her bed while on oxygen,” Dr Yaneu Ngaha Bondja Junie, a gynaecologist at the hospital, told the BBC.

The baby was born prematurely weighing 2.1kg (4.6lb) and is in the neonatal unit. It is not clear if the baby is infected as her tests are still being processed, but she is being fed with breast milk from her mother.

It is the second known birth of a child by a COVID-19-19 patient. Over the weekend, portals in Uganda confirmed the birth through Caesarean section of a healthy baby.

The Daily Monitor report gave the following details. The 22-year-old Ugandan mother gave birth to a healthy baby girl at Entebbe Grade B Hospital. She was reportedly infected by her husband who returned from Dubai recently.

“The patient gave birth very well this afternoon through a Caesarean Section and the mother and baby are in good health,” Dr Moses Muwonge, the director of the hospital is quoted to have said.

April 6 – 7: Ghana case spike, Sao Tome index case, cases pass 10,000

Cases in Ghana reached 287 as at Tuesday April 7, the health surveillance outfit reported in an update posted on its website. “Following measures for enhanced contact tracing and testing, Ghana has detected an increased number of confirmed COVID-19-19 cases.

“As at 6th April 2020, 23:30 hr, a total of 287 cases of COVID-19-19 with five (5) deaths have been recorded. The regional distribution of the cases are as follows: Greater Accra Region has most cases (258) followed by the Ashanti Region (18), Northern Region (10), Upper West Region (1), Eastern Region (1) and Upper East Region (1),” the update stated.

Ghana is West Africa’s third most impacted country by the development. The country is ranked behind Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast with 364 and 323 cases respectively.

Meanwhile, the continental tally has passed the 10,000 mark with close to 500 deaths and 1,000 deaths. South Africa is the continent’s most impacted with over 1,600 cases. Only two African countries are without cases – Lesotho and Comoros.

Meanwhile Sao Tome on Monday became the 52nd African country to record first cases of COVID-19-19. The Prime Minister confirmed that four persons had tested positive.

April 6: Sao Tome index case, Rwanda cabinet donates salary

Sao Tome and Principe became the 52nd African country to record cases of the COVID-19-19. The island nation confirmed its first four cases on Monday, April 6.

Prime Minister Jorge Bom Jesus disclosed that the confirmation came after test results returned from Gabon. The development leaves Lesotho and Comoros as Africa’s virus free countries as of April 6.

The continent’s confirmed COVID-19-19 cases is heading towards 10,000, with over 400 deaths. Another 900+ patients have recovered.

READ MORE: Sao Tome becomes 52nd infected African country

Rwandan ministers and top officials have joined the growing trend of public officials donating their salaries to the fight against COVID-19-19. Cabinet ministers and others have agreed ti donate their April salaries to aid the countries fight against the pandemic

A statement from the prime minister’s office confirmed that other officials who agreed to forgo their salaries are leaders of national institutions and top government officials. The country has 105 confirmed cases with four recoveries. It is East Africa’s third most impacted behind Mauritius and Kenya.

A strictly enforced lockdown remains in place having been extended last week by the cabinet. The government has since last week been distributing food to citizens who had been relying on receiving pay every day.

Lawmakers in Nigeria weeks back agreed to forgo their salaries as contributions towards the COVID-19-19 fight. Kenya’s president and top government officials also took salary cuts for the same reason.

Over in Malawi, President Peter Mutharika also announced taking a 10% salary cut along with his ministers. “The coronavirus attack has a huge negative impact on the economy and businesses everywhere.

“There are many business people and industry players who are uncertain about the situation as it is unfolding. I know that everyone is worried,” he said.

“Therefore, government will take measures to protect jobs and incomes, protect businesses and ensure continuity of the supply chain and the survival of the economy.”

Amongst other measures, the president directed the Reserve Bank of Malawi to allow banks to offer a three-month moratorium on interest payments on loans to small- and medium-sized businesses.

He also ordered the country’s Competition and Fair Trading Commission to put in place strict monitoring of price controls and punish anyone found increasing prices at the expense of Malawians.

April 5: South Sudan index case

South Sudan has announced its first case of COVID-19-19, making it the 51st of Africa’s 54 countries to report the disease.

A U.N. worker who arrived in the country from Netherlands on Feb. 28 is ill with the disease, confirmed First Vice President Riek Machar and the U.N. mission in South Sudan. The patient, a 29-year-old woman, first showed signs of the disease on April 2 and is recovering, said officials.

South Sudan, with 11 million people, currently has four ventilators and wants to increase that number, said Machar, who emphasized that people should stay three to six feet apart from others. “The only vaccine is social distancing,” said Machar.

The patient is under quarantine at U.N. premises and health workers are tracing the people who had been in contact with her, said David Shearer, head of the U.N. operations in South Sudan. He said he hoped the measures would contain the case.

To prevent the spread of the virus in South Sudan, President Salva Kiir last week imposed a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for six weeks and closed borders, airports, schools, churches and mosques.

AP report

Meanwhile, Chinese e-commerce mogul Jack Ma has announced a new round of donation to Africa. Ma and his foundation is partnering with Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed on this round too.

“Our second donation to 54 countries in Africa is on the way. That includes 500 ventilators, 200K suits & face shields, 2K thermometers, 1M swabs & extraction kits and 500K gloves,” Ma posted on Twitter on Monday.

Other partners include include Ethiopian Airlines which has been doing the continent-wide deliveries and the African Union’s Africa Center for Disease Control (Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) which is also headquartered in Addis Ababa.

Meanwhile as of Monday April 6, Africa’s reported cases was nearing the 10,000 mark according to data from Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the John Hopkins University.

Major stats as at April 6

Confirmed cases = 9,393
Number of deaths = 445
Recoveries = 906
Infected countries = 51
Virus-free countries = 3 (Sao Tome and Principe, Lesotho, Comoros)

READ MORE: Coronavirus statistics in Africa: Cases, deaths, recoveries

April 4: Zimbabwe beer ban, AU leaders meet

Reports surfaced on Friday that Zimbabwe police had issued a ban on sale of beer under lockdown rules to help contain the coronavirus pandemic. The move attracted lots of social media criticism.

But late Fiday, state-run Heral newspaper reported that police had reversed the earlier statement banning alcohol sales saying supermarkets and registered bottle stores can now continue selling beer on condition it is consumed off the premises.

In a statement, national police national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi warned drinkers against gathering outside their homes.

Cameroon’s tally ‘boomed’ on Friday when Health Minister Manaouda Malachie confirmed that 203 new cases had been recorded taking the national tally to 503 as of March 3.

READ MORE: Cameroon records 203 new cases as COVID-19-19 tally hits 509

Meanwhile, African leaders have been holding virtual meetings to put together a continental response to the pandemic which has seen its statistics – cases, deaths, recoveries – growing in the last two weeks.

Rwandan president Paul Kagame called it a “productive conference call chaired by AU Chair President Cyril Ramaphosa,” according to him, the discussions centered on the need to speak with a common voice and seek Africa’s best interest.

“We discussed the need for Africa to stand together,speak with one voice and work through our institutions to mobilize resources and harmonize the support from international partners. Thank you to initiatives by African institutions such as African Development Bank and Africa Exim Bank for their support

“The meeting stressed the urgency & need to materialize all commitments swiftly and flexibly. Through coordinated action, we can succeed in mitigating the health and economic impact of COVID-19-19 on our population.

“The loss of and damage to life and economy globally and particularly in Africa is colossal….and so must be the amounts of energy and financial package(s) to bring things back to normal and beyond,” Kagame wrote on Twitter.

Some African leaders who participated included Senegal’s Macky Sall, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, DRC’s Felix Tshisekedi, Mali’s Ibrahim Boubakar Keita, Egypt’s Abdel Fatteh Al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat and who boss, Tedros Ghebereyesus were also part of the meeting. “We were joined later by President Emmanuel Macron, a good partner for Africa,” Kagame added.

The Namibian president on Friday disclosed that he had held talks with his Chinese counterpart as part of efforts to strengthen Africa’s response to COVID-19-19. “I also expressed gratitude to President XI for China’s support and care of over 500 Namibian students in Wuhan and China during this pandemic,” Hage Geingob added.

Meanwhile South Africa’s Health Minister says the country is formally going to seek assistance from Cuba and China on managing the pandemic. Nigeria also confirms that it is awaiting a medical team from China to support its response to the virus.



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