Coronavirus Africa news summary: cases and deaths - 7 June

Recycling plastics to make face masks in Tanzania

A recycling plant in Tanzania’s port city of Dar es Salaam has traded paper for plastic bottles and started making anti-coronavirus face shields that are being snatched up by hospitals and health centres nationwide.

Zaidi Recyclers switched to the production of face shields, a vital piece of personal protective equipment for health workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Cook Off premiere

It's nice to have something positive and non-coronavirus-related - Zimbabwean film Cook Off, a romance about a struggling single mother who finds love during a cooking competition, premiered on Netflix on Monday, a debut that its makers hope will propel the country’s small film sector to global audiences.

Nine frontline health workers infected with Covid-19 in Uganda

The Ministry of Health on Saturday reported 36 new Covid-19 infections as Uganda’s total number of confirmed cases rose to 593.

The new cases were part of 1,310 samples that were tested on Friday, according to Dr Charles Olaro, the director general health services. All the new cases are Ugandans who were either reported as alerts or contacts of people who previously tested positive for coronavirus. They include nine frontline health workers from Kampala, 15 residents of Kyotera and eight residents of Yumbe District. The rest were picked from the areas of Mayuge, Pader and Buvuma.

International flights to restart in Liberia on 21 June

Liberia will open its international airport and hotels on 21 June the government confirmed on Sunday.

A state of emergency which had been declared back in April is due to expire on 21 Juneand will not be extended, President George Weah said. Restrictions such as a night-time curfew will remain in place, but starting at a later time.

More Covid-19 patients discharged in Lagos

A total of 31 Covid-19 patients have been discharged from the state isolation centres in Lagos. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said that the number of patients successfully managed and discharged was 1025.

In all, 25 males and six females were discharged from the Onikan, Gbagada, Agidingbi, Lekki and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) isolation facilities to be reincorporated into society. 

Kenya rolls out home care for asymptomatic Covid-19 patients

Kenya's Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said hospitals will be discharging asymptomatic Covid-19 patients who will be able to complete their recovery at home. The measure is designed to free up hospitals and clinics which have been overwhelmed by the crisis.

"If this is implemented, it would free our health facilities from congestion. We're looking into developing home-based and community care, provided that it's in accordance with World Health Organisation protocols, which we're currently reviewing and domesticating in line with our situation," Mr Kagwe said.

Private hospitals agree deal on Covid-19 patients in South Africa

The South African government has agreed how much it will pay private hospitals and medical practitioners to treat severely ill Covid19 patients if public hospitals run out of space, a senior health official told Reuters.

An agreement has been reached on a daily fee of up to R16,000 for Covid-19 patients that get treated in critical care beds in private hospitals, said Anban Pillay, the health ministry's deputy director-general for national health insurance.

Lockdown loosening

Congregants of the Inhlanhla Yokuphila Apostolic Church In Zion sing and dance as they attend a church service at an open field as South Africa loosens a nationwide lockdown aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus disease.

'A family was set to be reunited after nearly four years apart. Then coronavirus struck.'

"More than three years ago, Deman Aman Abshir, a Somali national, faced an impossible choice: leave behind her newborn daughter to come to the United States or watch as her husband's health worsened."

There will be so many families that talk about the effects of the pandemic many generations hence.

Uganda registers 23 new cases

The total number of cases in Uganda has now surpassed 600, according to government statistics. 

Congregants of the Inhlanhla Yokuphila Apostolic Church In Zion practice social distancing as they attend a church service at an open field, as South Africa loosens a nationwide lockdown aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus disease in Soweto, South Africa, June 7, 2020. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Africa statistics defy expectations

Interesting look at the statistics in Africa from Bloomberg. The worst was feared for the continent when the coronavirus pandemic reached its shores, but the numbers show Africa has dealt better with the outbreak than Europe, Asia and the Americas. 

S.Africa government, private hospitals agree deal on Covid-19 patients

(Reuters) The South African government has agreed how much it will pay private hospitals and medical practitioners to treat severely ill Covid-19 patients if public hospitals run out of space, a senior health official told Reuters.

The government has been in talks for months with private firms and medical associations ahead of a probable scenario where public hospitals run out of critical care beds.

Agreement has been reached on a daily fee of up to 16,000 rand ($950) for Covid-19 patients that get treated in critical care beds in private hospitals, said Anban Pillay, the health ministry's deputy director-general for national health insurance.

Ghana cases near 10,000

Coronavirus cases in Ghana have increased to almost 10,000 according to the latest statistics. 

South Africa cases pass 45,000

The number of coronavirus cases in South Africa has passed 45,000 according to the latest data, with almost 1,000 deaths and over 20,000 active cases. 

Members of The Grace Bible church wearing protective masks wait for congregants, mostly bishops, overseers and pastors ahead of a church service, as South Africa loosens a nationwide lockdown aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus disease in Soweto, South Africa, June 7, 2020. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Coronavirus misinformation being spread online

The BBC has taken a look at some of the fake coronavirus news that is being shared online, including false rumours that Tanzania’s health minister tested positive, and claims that the World Health Organization is paying Madagascar’s president to poison a supposed Covid-19 cure created in the country.

Covid-19

Coronavirus: the complete guide to the Covid-19 pandemic

Coronavirus: the complete guide to the Covid-19 pandemic

All the information you need to understand the coronavirus and ways to stay safe during the Covid-19 pandemic:

Coronavirus Africa live updates: welcome

Hello and welcome to our live, Africa-focused coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, which as of 08:00 WAT on Sunday morning had registered 6.9 million cases and nearly 400,000 deaths worldwide, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Join us for the latest news and numbers as they emerge throughout the course of the day.