Coronavirus summary Africa: cases, deaths and news - 7 May
Coronavirus live Africa updates: - cases, deaths and news, Thursday 7 May
Africa Covid-19 update: 02:00 WAT Friday 8 May (03:00 CEST)
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 3,836,215 cases have been detected worldwide, with 268,999 deaths and 1,278,449 people now recovered.
Nigeria: 3,145 cases / 103 deaths
South Africa: 8,232 cases / 161 deaths
Ghana: 3,091 cases / 18 deaths
Kenya: 607 cases / 29 deaths
AS English will be taking a break from our live coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa but the morning team will be back shortly to keep you up to date with all developments and news as it breaks on Friday 8 May.
Slovenian European Emergency Response Coordinator Commissioner Janez Lenarcic (C) wearing protective mask looks on, as staff members uploading a flight from Lyon to Bangui, Central African Republic, in the framework of the EU Humanitarian Air Bridge to aim at curbing the spread of Covid-19 on May 7, 2020 at the Saint-Exupery airport near Lyon. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)
Latest Africa coronavirus cases update
The latest Covid-19 updates country by country across the continent.
Latest Africa coronavirus cases update
The latest Covid-19 updates country by country across the continent.
Latest Africa coronavirus cases update
The latest Covid-19 updates country by country across the continent.
Khartoum lockdown to be extended
(Reuters) Sudan's emergency committee on coronavirus has recommended that a lockdown of the state of Khartoum be extended by 10 days from Sunday to help slow the spread of the deadly COVID-19 disease, sources told Reuters on Thursday.
The country has so far registered 930 cases of the respiratory disease, including 52 deaths.
Sudan's security council is expected to take a final decision on the lockdown on Friday.
South African Police Service (SAPS) officers checks the papers of a man in Sunnyside, Pretoria, on May 7, 2020, during a joint patrol of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) to enforce level 4 lockdown regulations to help curb the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. (Photo by Christiaan Kotze / AFP)
WHO issues Africa warning
The World Health Organization has said that Africa could see up to 190,000 deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The WHO believes between 29 million and 44 million people could become infected over the next 12 months if containment measures fail.
Kenya cases fall
According to local media, confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Kenya have fallen by half over the past two days.
World Health Organisation report 47% cases increase
There has been a 47% increase in the number of confirmed cases of #COVID19 in the African Region in the past week with South Africa, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire & Senegal accounting for 76% of cases on the continent.
'Tests not faulty'
The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday rejected an assertion by Tanzania’s president that coronavirus tests it supplied are faulty.
Younger people sadder and lonelier
People under 35 have been made sadder and lonelier than older adults as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, a European survey found, concluding that the strain of being separated from friends and family was taking a tougher toll on the young.
The report, from an online survey of 85,000 people across the continent by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, found a sharp deterioration in reported quality of life among all ages. With most Europeans confined to their homes by the coronavirus outbreak, 16% said they were lonely 'all or most of the time' over the past two weeks, up from just 6% who described themselves as lonely in surveys before the crisis.
There were differences across countries, which may reflect how long they have been in lockdown or how severe the crisis has been. Greeks and Bulgarians reported the lowest level of life satisfaction. Loneliness was most common among the French. Optimism was below average in countries hardest-hit by the virus, including France, Italy, Belgium and Spain.
Global food price drop
“The pandemic is hitting both the demand and supply sides for meat, as restaurant closures and reduced household incomes lead to lower consumption and labour shortages on the processing side are impacting just-in-time production systems.”
Unemployment report in US: 7 May - millions more claim
US unemployment watch
Around the world people have been keeping an eye on how the US economy is dealing with the current crisis. The latest job claims are an improvement, but still show a staggering situation.
Tea leaves little space
Africa’s second-biggest tea grower is constrained by storage for its leaf as the coronavirus pandemic curtails global demand. Full story
Inequalities exposed
As with other parts of the world, the spread of the virus has uncovered a number of inequalities across the society.
Continued lockdown
"It would have been better for a complete relaxation of the lockdown measures, if we had an effective vaccine or if the infection rate is declining by the day."
Gov Babagana Zulum explains the decision.
Cape Town school food queue
Children queue for food at a school feeding scheme during a nationwide lockdown aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus disease in Blue Downs township near Cape Town, South Africa on 4 May. Picture taken May 4, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Mike Hutchings)
Loan for Uganda
Uganda will receive an emergency loan worth $491.5 million from the International Monetary Fund to help cushion its economy from the impact of the new coronavirus.
A very different Ramadan
North Africans say they are missing the taste of Ramadan, as coronavirus restrictions deprive them of traditional mealtime gatherings, evening outings and beloved sweets during the Muslim holy month.
"It's not the usual Ramadan," said one woman shopping in Ariana, near the capital Tunis, looking desperately for the cakes and sweets that normally fill the stalls during the fasting month.
More than two-thirds of people surveyed in 20 African countries said they would run out of food and water if they had to stay at home for 14 days, according to the BBC. Half of those asked said they would run out of money.
IMF approves $739 mln in emergency pandemic relief funds for Kenya
(Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday said its executive board has approved $739 million in emergency financing to help Kenya respond to the economic shock caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The IMF said it was in close contact with Kenyan authorities and stood ready to provide policy advice and further support, as needed.
Kenya has 581 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus and 26 deaths.
The virus has badly hurt major sectors such as tourism, horticulture and manufacturing.
"The impact of COVID-19 on the Kenyan economy will be severe. It will act through both global and domestic channels, and downside risks remain large," the IMF said in a statement.
"While the authorities have taken decisive action to respond to the pandemic’s health and economic impacts, the sudden shock has left Kenya with significant fiscal and external financing needs."
"Based on the advice of experts," Boss Mustapha, the secretary to the government of the country said, Nigeria's ban on travel has been extended as the country tries to get to grips with the virus.
Coronavirus Africa live updates: welcome
Hello and welcome our Africa-focused live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, which has now registered over 3.7 million cases worldwide. We'll bring you the latest developments and statistics as they emerge throughout the course of today.