Coronavirus Africa news summary: cases and deaths - 23 May

SA concern over Eid

"Eid can potentially become a super-spreading event, which results in many more people dying, especially if people disobey lockdown regulations and start visiting family (as) it will lose its effect if people start visiting each other at home."

Covid-19's 'different pathway'

Coronavirus appears to be taking a "different pathway" in Africa compared with the rest of the world, the World Health Organisation has said.

This could be the result of "demography and other possible factors", early analysis suggests.

"Africa is the youngest continent demographically with more than 60% of the population under the age of 25. Older adults have a significantly increased risk of developing a severe illness. In Europe nearly 95% of deaths occurred in those older than 60 years"

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South Africa president Ramaphosa to address the nation

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 19:00 hours local time tomorrow, Sunday 24 May 2020, to give an update on developments in South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of Covid-19.

The president, whose address will be broadcast live on television and social media, will also deal with proposals to move the nationwide lockdown from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level  3.

245 Ghanaians deported from Kuwait arrive in Accra

The 245 Ghanaians who had been living illegally in Kuwait have been deported back to Ghana and arrived at Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport on a Kuwaiti aircraft, GH ONE TV reports.

“The deportees will be placed into quarantine and tested for Covid-19 immediately upon arrival into Ghana. Deportees who test negative will remain in quarantine for a second test at the end of the 14-day quarantine period,” local authorities said.

Nigerian evacuees from UK stage protest

Akinlade makes plea for Ogun doctors not to strike

Politician Adekunle Akinlade has appealed to resident doctors at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu to reconsider their decision to go on strike, the Daily Post reports. Doctors have called strike action and are refusing to work weekends but will continue their duties on weekdays only.

More patients discharged in Lagos

Isolation centres in Lagos continue with clear with 45 patients going home today from various facilities in the city, Channels TV reports. All of the patients who were discharged have fully recovered and tested negative in two consecutive tests for Covid-19.

Nigerian UK returnees test negative for Covid-19

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced that over 200 Nigerians evacuated from the United Kingdom tested negative for Covid-19. The evacuees, who were tested before and after their return, had been waiting for the results - the failure to give the returnees those results led to a protest at one of the isolated centres in Abuja on Saturday, The Nation reports.

Africa coronavirus update

According to the latest statistics, the north and east of the continent have been the hardest hit by the Covid-19 crisis. 

South Africa cases pass 20,000

The total number of coronavirus cases in South Africa has now passed 20,000 according to the country's Health Ministry. 

South Africa facing economic crisis

S&P Global Ratings has estimated that South Africa's economy will shrink by 4.5 percent in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Young children wear face masks as they wait to receive food donations without their parents during a food handout in Johannesburg, South Africa, 20 May 2020

Africa reaches 100,000 cases -WHO

(Reuters) "The Covid-19 pandemic today reached a milestone in Africa, with more than 100,000 confirmed cases. The virus has now spread to every country in the continent since the first case was confirmed in the region 14 weeks ago," the WHO said in a statement, noting there were 3,100 confirmed deaths on the vast continent.

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, who is from Botswana, said: “For now COVID-19 has made a soft landfall in Africa, and the continent has been spared the high numbers of deaths which have devastated other regions of the world."

Even so, she said, "We must not be lulled into complacency as our health systems are fragile and are less able to cope with a sudden increase in cases.”

SA cases rise to 20,000

The number of confirmed cases in South Africa has now passed the 20,000-mark. 

Total cases in Africa now top 100,000. Experts warn that could explode in the coming weeks.

'Let's party, coronavirus has ended'

A senior political figure from Tanzania has sparked outrage by saying the coronavirus pandemic is over. Paul Makonda, regional commissioner of country's biggest city, said there would be sales in shops so people could celebrate in the streets with new clothes on.

Coronavirus live Africa updates: welcome

Hello and welcome to our live, Africa-focused coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has now registered over five million cases worldwide.

Join us for the latest news and numbers as they emerge throughout the day.