Coronavirus Africa: news summary for Saturday 27 June
This live Covid-19 feed is now closed. For the latest news and statistics relating to the pandemic in Africa, please follow the new Sunday 28 June blog here.
Ghana cases rise to 16,431
The country has seen 103 deaths and 12,257 recoveries. There are 4,071 patients still fighting the disease.
Unemployment in South Africa
Construction worker Mathew Bhodho waits for work in the informal sector along with around 200 other job seekers at a road junction in Cape Town. According to a report released this week by Statistics South Africa the unemployment rate has reached a record high level of 30.1 percent up from 29.1 percent in the final quarter of last year.
Africa's biggest economy was in recession before the coronavirus pandemic but lockdowns have further negatively impacted businesses and employment opportunities. The informal sector provides employment to approximately 30 percent of South African workers according to the World Bank.
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Bissau braces for rise in coronavirus cases
Guinea Bissau was warned on Saturday to prepare for a possible increase in coronavirus cases by the head of its response commission, as a team of Cuban health workers arrived to help the nation tackle the pandemic.
The West African nation of over 1.8 million people has seen its infection rate rise in recent weeks to 1,614 confirmed cases, with 22 deaths. Almost all cases (94%) have been recorded in the capital Bissau.
Former health minister Magda Nely Robalo, who was appointed to take charge of the response, urged people to continue preventive measures as she welcomed the 23 Cuban doctors and health workers who came at the request of the Bissau government.
On Friday, Guinea Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo extended a state of emergency for the sixth time since the outbreak. Embalo said in a statement that the extension, to 25 July , was due to the continued increase in infections and the number of deaths.
Jabir wants December return for Ghana Premier League
Former Asante Kotoko head coach Abdul Malik Jabir believes calls for the prompt return of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) amid the coronavirus conditions are misplaced.
The top-flight, FA Cup and all other domestic football competitions have been on hold since a national ban on public gatherings, including sporting and religious events, came into effect as part of measures to curb the spread of the disease on March 15.
Which is the best hand sanitiser?
To keep your home safe, you may have to install hand sanitiser dispenser at the entrance of your home.
As inconsequential as a doorknob may seem, if touched by a Covid-19 infected person, everyone else that touches same doorknob could be infected with the virus.
Never settle for substandard hand sanitisers that are everywhere in town now. Ensure to use an alcohol-based sanitiser that contains at least 70 per cent alcohol, as the higher alcohol percentage translates into higher efficacy. So, purchase sanitiser product with a 5-log minimum kill rate (99.999 per cent), which are 100 times more effective than 3-log (99.9 per cent) sanitisers.
Fire at Lagos market causes severe damage
A blaze at Gowon Estate in Lagos State during the early hours of Saturday morning razed 11 shops on 401 Road. The cause of the fire has yet to be established, according to Sahara Reporters.
Fishing festival cancelled
Rivers State Government has cancelled an annual fishing festival scheduled for 5 July, 2020, in Onyeada community, Andoni Local Government Area over insecurity. Rivers state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim warned members of the public not to visit Onyeada for the purpose of the festival, as anyone caught violating the government’s directive would face severe punishment.
Mohamed Salah becomes the first Egyptian to win the Premier League
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and Naby Keita made history with Liverpool this week
The Liverpool forward is the first Egyptian to win the Premier League – while Sadio Mané and Naby Keita, the first Senegalese and Guinean players to win it.
Britain sends aid to Ghana
Britain’s Royal Air Force said the first in a series of flights taking coronavirus aid to Africa has departed for Ghana with materials for a field hospital with capacity for nearly 100 people.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement that the United Kingdom is the first NATO ally to come forward with an aid flight after NATO agreed to support the United Nations’ appeal for airlift assistance. The United Kingdom said up to five flights are needed to deliver the field hospital to Accra. Ghana has more than 15,000 confirmed virus cases.
Ghana government to inspect Covid-19 protocol in the workplace
Ghana's government is set to stage a random inspection of offices, shops and factories as coronavirus infections keep rising in the workplace.
The exercise to be carried out by the Ministry of Ministry of Employment and Labour from 1 July is to ensure strict compliance with and enforcement of all covid-19 protocols and guidelines by government and WHO.
431 Covid-19 patients discharged in Nigeria
The total number of successfully treated Covid-19 cases in Nigeria has jumped to 8,253 following 431 new discharged patients. The death toll slowed to 554 with 5 fatalities recorded in the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has confirmed that 684 new Covid-19 infections have been recorded in Nigeria across 19 states bringing total number of confirmed cases to 23,298.
More Nigerians to be repatriated from United States
The third evacuation flight to repatriate Nigerians stranded in the United States will depart from Newark at 21:15 hours on 17 July, and arrive in Abuja the following day. Ticket prices range from 1,250 to 2,800 dollars.
Former Oyo Governor Ajimobi to be buried on Sunday
Former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, will be laid to rest on Sunday, 28 June at his Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi Central Mosque, Oke Ado. Details of a larger funeral gathering will be announced where more of his well wishers will have the opportunity to pay him their respect, the family said.
Kenya's herders hit by coronavirus curbs
Peter Olankai, who keeps cattle, sheep and goats, has struggled to buy and sell his animals in Kenya's Kajiado County as the coronavirus pandemic closed markets and ushered in movement restrictions and curfews that have eaten away at his income. "Our livelihood is reliant on livestock - we sell these animals to get money to buy food and other family needs, but now we can't," he said earlier this month.
Olankai, 46, lives in Kisamis village in remote Maasai territory where there is no road network and connecting with buyers is a challenge. Now at home with his four teenage children, the family's daily spending on food has gone up significantly. In 2018 and 2019, their community was hit hard by drought but this year, they have had a lot of rain and the livestock are healthy and in good condition.
Olankai replenished his herd and hoped to fetch a decent price for his animals - but his plan has been ruined by market shutdowns aimed at stemming the spread of the novel coronavirus. 'Sometimes when I need money, I call one of the livestock buyers but it’s hard for them to come because of movement restrictions,' he said. "We are the most disadvantaged as a community."
As Covid-19 cases in Kenya continued to rise, and community transmission became more common, the government tightened control measures, including further restrictions on movement in and out of Nairobi, for another 30 days until early July.
The Covid-19 response has disrupted the livestock marketing system in the area, with many of the brokers who drive animals from the bush to the markets halting their activities for now. Traders like Mburu have had no choice but to go into Maasai country to collect livestock from individual keepers.
Coronavirus: the complete guide to the Covid-19 pandemic
Coronavirus: the complete guide to the Covid-19 pandemic
Catch up...
We freshen up each day with a new blog so if you want to have a look back at what has been happening over the previous 24 hours then check out yesterday's feed.
Online coverage of coronavirus pandemic in Africa
It's Saturday 27 June and we will bring you all the latest news as Africa continues to battle with the coronavirus. It has already taken 9,104 lives on the continent. Egypt and South Africa have been the hardest hit with over 2,500 deaths in each country.