Coronavirus Africa news summary: Friday 5 June

Patients flee hospital in Cameroon

Hundreds of patients have fled hospitals after a jump in Covid-19 numbers in Cameroon, authorities said.

The patients are terrified of catching the coronavirus, but officials warn that not receiving treatment for their health issues can be far more dangerous. 

Positivity 

Interesting and uplifting message from Isaac Sebakijje.

Known cases of coronavirus surging

With some richer countries coming out of lockdown the feeling you might get from some media in those countries is that the worst of the pandemic is over, but alas that is very far from the truth. Globally, confirmed cases of the virus are growing faster than ever, and the surge is “concentrated in densely populated, low- and middle-income countries across the Middle East, Latin America, Africa and South Asia.”

Social safety nets to aid coronavirus impact

Covid-19 shock response cash transfers can “piggy-back” on already existing beneficiary registries and payment systems, where possible, but should be designed and communicated as separate from regular safety nets, time-bound with a clear exit strategy. 

Nigeria proposes steep basic healthcare budget cuts despite coronavirus

Nigeria is proposing slashing its basic healthcare funding by almost half as government finances in Africa's biggest economy take a hit from the novel coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices, according to the latest budget proposal documents.

The planned healthcare cuts come as Nigeria's coronavirus outbreak steadily worsens, and are part of a 2020 budget revision carried out because of the pandemic. The government in Africa's top oil exporter is dependent on crude sales for much of its funding.

The government proposes cutting its basic healthcare funding by 43% from its original 2020 budget to 25.6 billion naira ($71 million), according to the budget proposal, now with parliament before final presidential approval.

S. Africa's COVID-19 cases rise and president worries about Cape Town region

Even as South Africa eases its coronavirus lockdown, infection numbers have started to rise quickly and President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday he was particularly concerned about the province around Cape Town.

Western Cape, whose Table Mountain and wine tours make it a leading tourist destination, has become the country's  main coronavirus hotspot, with around two-thirds of the country's total 40,792 cases. It has also recorded 651 out of the the country's total of 848 deaths.

South Africa recorded its largest daily jump of cases on Thursday, with 3,267 new cases.

Ramaphosa visited Cape Town on Friday to be briefed on efforts to tackle the virus, including the opening of a new temporary field hospital for mild to moderately sick patients.

"The Western Cape is the epicentre for COVID-19 infections and this concerns us deeply," he said.

It's not over': COVID-19 cases rise in some nations easing lockdowns - WHO

Some countries have seen "upticks" in COVID-19 cases as lockdowns ease, and populations must protect themselves from the coronavirus while authorities continue testing, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

The epicentre of the pandemic is currently in countries of Central, South and North America, particularly the United States, WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said.

"On upticks (in cases), yes we have seen in countries around the world - I'm not talking specifically about Europe - when the lockdowns ease, when the social distancing measures ease, people sometimes interpret this as 'OK, it's over'," Harris told a U.N. briefing in Geneva.

"It's not over. It's not over until there is no virus anywhere in the world," she said.

Congo faces triple threat of coronavirus, Ebola and measles

As the world races to stem the coronavirus, Democratic Republic of Congo is racing to also stop the spread of measles and a new outbreak of Ebola, leaving women delaying reproductive health needs, aid groups warned.

Congo is also facing armed conflict, bringing with it sexual violence against women who, as caregivers, are often on the frontlines of caring for the sick and at higher risk of falling ill and also often blamed for spreading these viruses.

"One of these challenges by itself is very crippling," said Robert Ghosn, head of emergency operations for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in DRC.

Over 168,000 cases on African continent

South Africa still remains the African nation suffering most from the pandemic with over 40,000 confirmed cases of the virus.

South Africa voted top

South Africa was voted the No.1 post coronavirus tourist destination according to a survey via booking company Tourlane. 

Government requests that Ghanians use official channels 

The Ghanaian Ministry of Health requests that citizens secure information relating to the pandemic via official outlets.

Nigeria cases via Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)

This was the breakdown of Covid-19 cases (state by state) as issued Thursday by the NCDC

Algeria to ease coronavirus restrictions on Sunday

Algeria will resume some economic activities and allow a number of businesses to reopen from Sunday as part of a plan to end the coronavirus lockdown, the prime minister's office said on Thursday.

It said the government would allow the construction and public works sector to resume activity to help ease the impact of the coronavirus-linked restrictions imposed in March.

The government will also permit the reopening of businesses such as home appliances, vegetable and fruit markets, pastries and men's barbershops.

The number of coronavirus cases in SA rose to 2,26,770 on Friday morning after 9,851 more people tested positive for the infection in 24 hours.

South Africa dehorns dozens of rhinos to prevent lockdown poaching surge

South Africa has dehorned dozens of rhinos in three popular game parks, aiming to prevent armed poachers taking advantage of the post-COVID-19 crash in tourism to kill them for their horns.

The exercise in Pilanesburg National Park and the Mafikeng and Botsalano game reserves -- all northwest of Johannesburg -- leaves the rhinos with horn rumps too small for poachers to bother with, Nico Jacobs, helicopter pilot and founding member of non-profit Rhino 911 told Reuters.

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention are trying to 'move ahead of the curve' with increased testing across the continent.

A look at the countries with the most amount of cases and deaths in Africa according to Worldometers.

Coronavirus live Africa updates: welcome

Hello and welcome to our live, Africa-focused coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has now seen well over 6.5 million cases worldwide.

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