Coronavirus Africa news summary: cases and deaths - 28 May
Coronavirus live Africa: latest Covid-19 news - 28 May
Africa Covid-19 update: 07:00 WAT on Friday 29 May (08:00 CEST)
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 5,813,997 cases have been detected worldwide, with 360,397 deaths and 2,418,865 people now recovered.
Nigeria: 8,915 cases / 259 deaths
South Africa: 27,403 cases / 577 deaths
Ghana: 7,303 cases / 34 deaths
Mozambique got 134,000 surgical masks, 11,000 face shields, 30,000 coveralls, 192 non-contact thermometers and 600 protective goggles yesterday.
"We are beginning to see sustained community transmission within Ethiopia and many other countries across Africa. That means we need to increase our public health measures like distancing, wearing of masks, washing of hands," John Nkengasong told journalists.
Nigerian case worries
The head of Nigeria’s Medical Association, Francis Faduyile has disputed the released number of people infected with coronavirus in the country.
One, two, three...thousand!
Africa's total number of cases officially reported has reached 123,000. Of this, more than 3,600 lives have been lost to the virus.
South Africa, Algeria and Nigeria have the highest reported cases in the continent.
UAE-donated huge cargo plane delivers Ghana field hospital parts
“This piece of equipment, this C-17, is a result of the kindness of the UAE,” David Beasley, director of the UN’s World Food Programme said.
The WFP could begin its life-saving work in the region “because of the generosity of our donors”, he said.
Football returning
The Bundesliga has already returned, LaLiga, Serie A and the English Premier League have dates set, and the PSL is on track too.
Community concerns
"We are beginning to see sustained community transmission within Ethiopia and many other countries across Africa.
"That means we need to increase our public health measures like distancing, wearing of masks, washing of hands," John Nkengasong told journalists.
Easing in Namibia
Namibia, which has so far recorded no coronavirus deaths, said on Thursday it would within days further ease restrictions on social and economic activities.
Most of the desert nation in southwest Africa, which has received international praise after recording only 22 confirmed Covid-19 infections with 14 recoveries, will ease restrictions to level three of its four-level lockdown system from 2 June. However, the harbour town of Walvis Bay will revert to level one, the most restrictive, for seven days after two residents tested positive.
The government has stepped up tracing of people who came into contact with those two. President Hage Geingob urged public vigilance despite the easing of restrictions which will allow schools to resume face-to-face classes and restaurants to receive sit-down customers. (Reuters)
Ghanaian fumigation
“Given the way Parliament operates, if any of the two MPs found their way into the chamber, there is the possibility, they may have come into contact with some of their colleagues in the House,” the MP who went into self-abstention from the House when the disease broke down said.
Pilots and cabin crew must wear PPE, says Nigerian government
Nigeria' Federal government stated today that pilots and cabin crew on all international flights in and out of the country must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and observe safety and hygiene measure for the duration of the flight.
Under the new protocol, flight crew members would not be quarantined but would undergo mandatory testing for Covid-19 every 14 days at a cost to the air operator upon return to Nigeria.
147 new cases reported in Kenya
Kenya records 147 new coronavirus cases as three more die as a result of contracting the Covid-19 virus.
Africa hit by sustained community spread of coronavirus -disease centre
Cases of community transmission of the new coronavirus are growing in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, and a new strategy for testing is needed to prevent this, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.
Community transmission refers to cases where patients had no travel history or known contact with infected people - worrying for health workers because it means the virus is moving undetected through the population.
"We are beginning to see sustained community transmission within Ethiopia and many other countries across Africa. That means we need to increase our public health measures like distancing, wearing of masks, washing of hands," John Nkengasong told journalists.
WHO issue daily figures
The African area of the World Health Organisation issued the daily figures relating to the Covid-19 pandemic for Thursday with South Africa and Egypt still the nation's where the virus is posing major challenges.
Some medics say they are muzzled in Egypt’s coronavirus response
At dusk on April 10, police entered an apartment in Qalyubia province, north of Cairo, and arrested ophthalmologist Hany Bakr.
The reason, his lawyer Aisha Nabil said, was an April 4 Facebook post in which he criticised Egypt for sending medical masks to China and Italy when he could not source them for his own practice.
Bakr, 36, who is still detained, is one of at least three doctors arrested during the new coronavirus outbreak on accusations of spreading false news, misusing social media, and joining a "terrorist organization" - a charge that refers to the banned Muslim Brotherhood and is often used in political cases - according to their lawyers.
All were arrested after speaking out over a lack of protective equipment or calling for better infection control measures, the lawyers said.
Ghana war veteran, 95, walks 23km to raise funds to support front-line workers
WWII veteran Joseph Hammond walks 14 miles in a week as part of a fundraiser to support Africa's front-line workers
Egypt reports highest daily number of cases
The North African nation is has been badly hit by the virus with 910 positive Covid-19 cases being diagnosed in the past 24 hours which is a daily high confirmed the nation's Minister for Health Jaled Megahed.
Amid lockdown, Kenyan medical startup brings a clinic to your home
Nathalie Maikere sat at her dining table, her two children playing video games a few feet away, as a doctor in a lab coat unpacked her medical bag and took her temperature, pulse, and blood pressure.
Maikere is one of over 600 Nairobians getting medical care at home through TIBU Health, a Kenyan startup.
It is a small player in a global movement towards home-based medical care, and its March launch coincided with the coronavirus pandemic that has forced much of the world's population to stay at home.
"People think that health equals clinic or hospital whenever I'm sick," said CEO and co-founder Jason Carmichael. "They don't realize that ... often you don't even need to go to a clinic. Or that it can come to you."
SA church re-opening debates rumble on
Pastor and singer Khaya Mthethwa has joined several other famous faces, including actress Rami Chuene and songstress Simphiwe Dana, in weighing in on the president's announcement on reopening places of worship during level three of the national lockdown, come June 1.
I’m a church boy but this is irresponsible," Khaya said.
Zimbabwe's coronavirus cases double in a day to 132- government
The number of coronavirus cases in Zimbabwe has more than doubled to 132 over the past 24 hours, a government spokesman said late on Wednesday.
Most were Zimbabweans who had returned from abroad, mainly from South Africa and Botswana, and only one case was a local transmission, Nick Mangwana wrote on Twitter.
More than 4,000 Zimbabweans have returned to the country in the past month, the government has said.
Namibia coronavirus management earns praise
There have been just 21 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Namibia - with none recorded between 7 April and 21 May - leading to praise for the African country's response to the pandemic.
First case in Kogi State
The NDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) has confirmed the first positive Covid-19 in the central Kogi State.
The Citizen (South Africa) from cover 28 May
The front cover of the South African daily advising worshippers to remain at home and practice their faith from the confines of their place of residence.
Coronavirus live Africa updates: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live, Africa-focused coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has now caused over 355,000 deaths worldwide.
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