Coronavirus summary: Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana...25 August

A tourist feeds a giraffe during a tour at the La Ponderosa Adventure Park in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, on August 22, 2020, amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. - The 100-hectare park, with more than 300 animals of thirteen different species, mainly of African origin, is attracting local and international visitors now that sanitary measures against the spread of COVID-19 are easing. (Photo by Ezequiel BECERRA / AFP)

Kenya reports 246 new cases

Kenya has reported 246 new cases of coronavirus to take its total tally to 32,803. The death toll now stands at 559, after six more deaths were registered in the last 24 hours.

South Africa: Latest figures

Coronavirus tracker: Africa

Africa's total caseload is approaching 1.2 million, with the death toll currently standing at 28,021. African accounts for around 5% of the world's total cases. 

WHO African Region certified as wild polio-free

Some good news  on the virus front from the WHO: Today, the WHO African Region, which is made of 47 countries, has been certified as wild polio-free after four years without a single case. 

“Ending wild polio virus in Africa is one of the greatest public health achievements of our time and provides powerful inspiration for all of us to finish the job of eradicating polio globally,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“I thank and congratulate the governments, health workers, community volunteers, traditional and religious leaders and parents across the region who have worked together to kick wild polio out of Africa.”

French new coronavirus infections below last week's highs

The French health ministry said it had recorded 3,304 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, well below daily highs seen last week and taking the cumulative total to 248,158.

The number of new infections was above the 1,995 reported on Monday - which traditionally shows a dip - but remained well below Sunday's new post-lockdown record of 4,897 and below levels above 3,600 reported in the second half of last week.

The ministry also said the death toll rose by 16 to 30,544, while the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 fell to a new post-lockdown low of 4,600. The number of people in intensive care rose by 11 to 410 and is now back up to levels last seen end July.

Members of The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) hold placards during a picket outside the National Health Laboratory Services, amid a nationwide coronavirus disease lockdown in Edenvale, east of Johannesburg, South Africa, August 25, 2020. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

AstraZeneca's antibody-based cocktail could be used to prevent and treat Covid-19

(Reuters) British drugmaker AstraZeneca (AZN.L) has begun testing an antibody-based cocktail for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19, adding to recent signs of progress on possible medical solutions to the disease caused by coronavirus.

The London-listed firm, already among the leading players in the global race to develop a successful vaccine, said the study would evaluate if AZD7442, a combination of two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), was safe and tolerable in up to 48 healthy participants between the ages of 18 and 55 years.

If the UK-based early-stage trial, which has dosed its participants, shows AZD7442 is safe, AstraZeneca said it would proceed to test it as both a preventative treatment for Covid-19 and a medicine for patients who have it, in larger, mid-to-late-stage studies.

Elephant dung does not cure Covid-19 - Namibian government

Namibian authorities have warned people not to use elephant dung as a cure for Covid-19 after it was touted on social media.

Spokesperson for the department of environment, forestry and tourism in Namibia, Romeo Muyunda, told The Namibian newspaper that the government was aware of the increased demand for elephant dung which is now being sold on social media. 

“We have seen on social media people selling elephant dung for exorbitant prices. There is a whole hype around it. Before, it wasn't even sold. It was used domestically by people for certain illnesses as one of those traditional medicines. If it was sold, it was rare,” he said.

South Africa issues Covid-19 antibody test guidelines

South Africa's Covid-19 Resource Portal has published information and a set of guidelines on Covid-19 antibody testing.

Find out all you need to know about PCR and Serology testing for Covid-19 here:  

South Africa Covid-19 cases rise by 1,677

In Monday's press briefing, South Africa Health Minister Doctor Zweli Mkhize announced that the country had recorded 1,677 new coronavirus cases during the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases in South Africa to 611,450. It is the first time in 82 days that the number of fresh Covid-19 cases has dipped under 2,000. On 3 June, the country recorded 1,713 cases.

Of the confirmed infections to date, 206,525 are in Gauteng, 110,102 in KwaZulu-Natal, 104,667 in the Western Cape and 85,240 in the Eastern Cape.

Good morning

Hello and welcome to AS' live coverage of the coronavirus in Africa. We'll be bringing you breaking news, reaction and the latest figures from the continent throughout the day, as well as the biggest coronavirus news from across the globe.