Coronavirus summary Africa: cases, deaths and news - 10 May
Coronavirus live Africa updates: cases, deaths and news - 11 May
South Africa cases pass 10,000 mark
South Africa’s health minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has confirmed that the country’s total number of coronavirus cases has surpassed the 10,000 mark. In total, 10,015 people have been infected by the virus in South Africa - sub-Saharan Africa’s worst-hit nation - leading to 194 deaths.
Zambian sex workers praised
The BBC has reported on how sex workers in Zambia are helping to trace people who have contracted coronavirus after a surge in new infections at the border town of Nakonde.
Health minister Chitalu Chilufya said 76 of 85 reported new cases in the northern town were either sex workers or lorry drivers.
"Sex workers have been very co-operative and they are giving us all the leads we want," Mr Chilufya said.
Covid-19 could drive Egyptian austerity
Egypt has said it might turn to “austerity measures” if the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic extends into the new fiscal year, which begins in July.
This could include revising or removing items of expenditure in the new budget, in order to ensure the ability of the government to fulfil its obligations. Read the full story.
Partey hard
"It was different," Ghana international Thomas Partey said after the training session. "We suffered a bit at first because we're not used to training and keeping a distance [between each other], but we'll get used to it."
Hunger amid lockdown
A Zimbabwean woman looks on as she chats outside a building in the Kwa Mai Mai area in Johannesburg, on 10 May 2020.
Over 50 people, residents of the same building and mostly foreign nationals are currently unemployed because of the lockdown imposed by the South African authorities to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, Covid-19. Dozens of the foreign nationals are unable to feed themselves, as the only charity providing them with food has not brought any in several days. (Photo by Marco Longari / AFP)
MAD herbal mix 'cure' demand
Madagascar is putting its self-proclaimed, plant-based “cure” for COVID-19 on sale and several countries in Africa have already put in orders for purchase, despite warnings from the World Health Organisation that its efficacy is unproven.
Rwanda announces tax cuts to ease financial burden on workers
Rwanda's Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has announced a series of tax cutting exercises in a bid to help different parts of the economy recover from the effects of Covid-19 pandemic.
Pay As You Earn (PAYE) will be waived for six months from April to September for teachers in private schools earning up to 150,000 Rwandan francs while VAT will be exempt from all surgical masks made in Rwanda during the crisis.
Akwuegbu: "I regret playing for Nigeria"
Benedict Akwuegbu, who was capped 30 times at full international level says he regrets playing for the Super Eagles and looking back, wishes he had taken up an offer to play for Austria instead.
The Lagos-born, 45-year-old told Complete Sports he doesn't feel appreciated back home, "It’s so sad that after serving my fatherland, the football authority doesn’t seem to appreciate nor recognise my efforts".
Silvia Romano returns home safely to Italy after kidnap ordeal in Kenya
"I am bursting with joy at this moment"
Silvia Romano, the aid worker kidnapped 18 months ago in East Africa arrived home safely this afternoon.
Full story:
Two new deaths confirmed in Kenya
Dr. Rashid Aman confirmed from today's briefing at Afya House that two more people had died of Covid-19-related illnesses in Mombasa, bringing the total death toll to 31.
Aman added that the results of 1,056 tests had returned from analysis, out of which 23 were positive - 22 of them Kenyan patients and one Burundi national. Out of the 23 positive cases - 13 male and 10 female, 12 were from Mombasa, six from Mandera, four from Nairobi and one from Kajiado.
The ages of those who have tested positive in Kenya ranges from one year and nine month to 80 years.
The total number of confirmed, positive cases in Kenya now stands at 672.
Demand grows for Madagascar's herbal coronavirus remedy
Madagascar's plant-based “cure” for Covid-19 is to be made commercially available although there are some doubts about how effective it is in soothing symptoms of coronavirus, Reuters report.
Silvia Romano en route home to Italy after Kenya ordeal
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte reacted to the news that Silvia Romano, a 25-year-old volunteer charity worker, has been released after being kidnapped and held hostage in Kenya 18 months ago.
"Silvia, we look forward to seeing you in Italy!" Conte wrote on Twitter.
Romano was working at an orphanage in Chakama village near Kenya's southeast coast when she was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on 20 November 20 2018. She is currently being flow back home and due to arrive in Rome this afternoon.
Lesotho, the only African country with zero Covid-19 cases
The five most affected African countries during the Coronavirus pandemic are South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Nigeria.
Ethiopia admits shooting down plane carrying Covid-19 supplies
Ethiopia has claimed responsibility for shooting down of a privately-owned Kenyan plane in Somalia earlier this week, resulting in the deaths of all six people on board. The plane, which had been carrying humanitarian and medical supplies to help the country fight the spread of coronavirus, was shot down on Monday by Ethiopian troops protecting a camp in the town of Bardale, southwestern Somalia, the Ethiopian army said in a statement to the African Union (AU).
The Ethiopian soldiers mistakenly believed the plane was on a "potential suicide mission" because they had not been informed about the "unusual flight" and the aircraft was flying low, the statement said.
Kenya expressed shock over the incident earlier this week, saying the plane's mission had been to aid Somalia in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
Strict lockdown measures in Lagos if ease down rules are not followed
Lagos Government has threatened it may be forced to re-impose total lockdown in the state if residents continue to violate guidelines on the easing of some lockdown measures. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said that the level of compliance on measures such as interstate travel regulations and the call for all citizens to wear protective masks was unacceptable.
"The success of this gradual easing of the lockdown is dependent upon the compliance of each and every one of us. ”As a government, elected to uphold the security of Lagos State – and this includes health security, let me make it clear that we will not hesitate to review the terms of this easing if we continue to see evidence that Lagosians are determined to flout the rules," Sanwo-Olu said.
Bauchi community suffers over 110 unusual deaths in 14 days
At least 110 people have died in unexplained circumstances in Azare town, Bauchi State during the past fortnight, Punch reports. Former member of the House of Representatives Ibrahim Mohammed Baba alerted president Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the unusual surge in deaths in a letter. Baba went on to add that around 286 people were allegedly buried at the Azare cemetery over the past two weeks, when the normal death rate is one-two people per day.
In his letter, Baba stated his belief that the deaths were most likely Covid-19-related and called for urgent action from the government.
Orlando Pirates' Motshwari's positive test
Kaizer Chiefs legend Rudolph Seale says that Motshwari's positive Covid-19 test affects every team and highlights the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic. “I felt sorry for this boy, Ben, to get this virus. That brings some delay in the PSL, they now have to consider if it’s safe to resume the games now or later,” Seale told Goal.
Coronavirus Africa live updates: welcome
Hello and welcome our Africa-focused live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, which has now registered almost 4 million cases worldwide.
We'll bring you the latest developments and statistics as they emerge throughout the course of today all across the continent and beyond.