Coronavirus Africa: news summary Sunday 26 July
Coronavirus live Africa: latest news - 26 July
Africa Covid-19 update: 2:00 WAT on Monday 27 July (03:00 CEST)
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 16,196,314 cases have been detected worldwide, with 647,846 deaths and 9,347,721 people recovered.
South Africa: 445,433 cases / 6,796 deaths
Egypt: 92,062 cases / 4,606
Nigeria: 40,532 cases / 858 deaths
Conclusions on, and lessons from, Covid-19 pandemic in SA
The BBC’s Andrew Harding has put together this list of seven conclusions to be drawn and lessons to be learned from South Africa’s experience of the coronavirus pandemic so far, including why the country’s seemingly low death rate is not all it seems.
Morocco shuts down major cities after spike in cases
Morocco will stop people entering and leaving some of its biggest cities from midnight to contain a surge in Covid-19 cases, the interior and health Ministries said on Sunday.
The cities to be locked down include the economic powerhouse of Casablanca as well as Tangier, Marrakech, Fez and Meknes.
The country eased a nationwide lockdown a month ago, though international flights are still suspended except special flights by national airlines carrying Moroccans or foreign residents.
On Sunday, the health ministry said 633 new Covid-19 cases had been recorded, one of the biggest daily rises so far, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 20,278, with 313 deaths and 16,438 recoveries. (Reuters)
Algerian economy contracts
The Algerian government says its economy shrank by 3.9% in the first quarter of 2020, partly as a result of lockdown restrictions brought in to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. In the same period in 2019, the North African country’s economy grew by 1.3%.
Places of worship reopen in Kenya
A worshipper of the African Divine Church attends a prayer at their church in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, on Sunday, after President Uhuru Kenyatta allowed places of worship to reopen under strict guidelines to curb the spread of the ccoronavirus.
(Photo: Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP)
Former Tanzanian president did not die of Covid-19, says family
The family of the former Tanzanian president, Benjamin Mkapa, has sought to quash rumours that he died of Covid-19 by revealing that he was killed by a heart attack while suffering from malaria.
Mkapa, 81, who was president of Tanzania between 1995 and 2005, died on Friday.
"Mkapa was found with malaria and he was admitted for treatment since Wednesday," family member William Erio said during a funeral mass broadcast on state television TBC1, per AFP.
"He was feeling better on Thursday and I was with him until 8pm that day," Erio added. "After watching the evening news bulletin, he died of cardiac arrest.”
S. Africa latest Covid numbers
The latest coronavirus statistics relating to the past 24 hours have been issued with over 12,000 new cases identified in one of Africa's hardest hit nations from the pandemic.
Investigation launched into corruption in South Africa
President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a wide-ranging investigation over claims the $26 billion economic relief package for Covid-19 is being looted by officials and private companies.
Africa Re to disburse US$ 3.3 million for the fight against Covid-19
This assistance will be managed by the Africa Re Foundation, an independent institution, set up to handle the corporate social responsibility projects of the Africa Re Group.
This support will be channeled to various government and private institutions at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic for awareness campaigns, preventive measures, acquisition of medical equipment and personal protective equipment.
Read more about the disbursement is broken down below
Beds are seen at a temporary field hospital set up in a sports complex by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) as part of the effort to deal with the coronavirus outbreak in Khayelitsha township near Cape Town, South Africa.
Photo: Reuters/Mike Hutchings
Wave of promising study results raise hopes for coronavirus vaccines
Early data from trials of three potential Covid-19 vaccines released on Monday, including a closely-watched candidate from Oxford University, increased confidence that a vaccine can train the immune system to recognize and fight the novel coronavirus without serious side effects.
Whether any of these efforts will result in a vaccine capable of protecting billions of people and ending the global pandemic that has claimed more than 600,000 lives is still far from clear. All will require much larger studies to prove they can safely prevent infection or serious disease.
Release minors from prisons now, HPWI tasks Buhari, Governors
The Hospital and Prison Welfare Initiative (HPWI), which made the call yesterday, through a statement, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the release of minors under the age of 18 years from all federal prisons in the country.
They also called on governors to follow suit by releasing all vulnerable people who have not committed any capital offence and are merely awaiting trial.
Latest EMEA coronavirus report from S&P
As countries strive to establish the criteria upon which they will reopen their economies and lift lockdown restrictions, the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact economies, markets, & public health around the world with uncertainty & volatility. S&P take a look...
Africa's coronavirus cases surpass 800,000
Africa’s total number of confirmed coronavirus cases has surpassed 800,000. That’s according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
South Africa has well over half the reported cases on the 54-nation continent, but infections are now climbing rapidly in other countries including Kenya, East Africa’s economic hub, with more than 16,000.
Covid-19 catch-up
Here is a selection of some of the coronavirus-related stories that have been making the headlines over the last 24 hours:
- Evidence suggests SA death toll much higher than reported
- South African Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel becomes the country's fourth minister to contract the virus
- Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy is expected to contract by 3.1% in 2020, as a result of the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic
- 12 teachers die of Covid-19 in Gauteng, South Africa
- In Zambia, 15 lawmakers test positive for coronavirus
- Pregnant women said to be at risk of death in Kenya’s Covid-19 curfew
Africa Covid-19 update: 06:30 WAT on Sunday 26 July (07:30 CEST)
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 16,046,986 cases have been detected worldwide, with 644,528 deaths and 9,262,520 people recovered.
South Africa: 434,200 cases / 6,655 deaths
Egypt: 91,583 cases / 4,558
Nigeria: 39,977 cases / 856 deaths
Coronavirus live Africa updates: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live, Africa-focused coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, which has now registered just over 16 million cases and more than 644,000 deaths worldwide, according to figures by Johns Hopkins University.