Coronavirus Africa: news summary for Saturday 29 August

More treatment news with use of remdesivir

Gilead Inc said on Friday the US Food and Drug Administration has authorized expanded emergency use for its experimental antiviral Covid-19 treatment, remdesivir.

The drug can now be used to treat all hospitalized patients with Covid-19, in addition to patients with a severe form of the illness.

Education, tourism worst-hit sectors

“Covid-19 has triggered an unprecedented crisis for the tourism sector. The situation is similar, albeit less extreme, for education services: universities and other higher education institutions have traditionally relied on the physical presence of international students to export their services, though online courses have been growing,” said the report.

Globally, tourism accounts for one in four of the net jobs created over the past five years and an estimated 10 percent of economic output.

In the education sector, tuition fees account for the largest share of most universities’ revenue, with the current number of over 5m international students typically paying higher fees than their domestic counterparts, according to the WTO.

Sinovac's coronavirus vaccine candidate approved for emergency use in China-source

Sinovac Biotech Ltd's ]coronavirus vaccine candidate CoronaVac was approved for emergency use as part of a programme in China to vaccinate high-risk groups such as medical staff, a person familiar with the matter said.

China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a unit of state-owned pharmaceutical giant China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm), also said it had obtained emergency use approval for a coronavirus vaccine candidate in social media platform WeChat last Sunday.

CNBG, which has two vaccine candidates in phase 3 clinical trials, did not say which of its vaccines had been cleared for emergency use.

Togo in world first

Togo has become the first country ever to eliminate sleeping sickness as a public health problem according to the WHO in Africa. 

A group of migrants wait in their boat before being checked by medical staff in Lampedusa, Italy. Lampedusa, which is at the forefront of the EU's struggle to deal with migrants crossing the Mediterranean from the coasts of Africa, has reportedly run out of room to quarantine migrants, as is required as part of Italy's anti-coronavirus measures. The reception facilities on the island have been overcrowded for weeks, with over 1,000 migrants and refugees currently estimated to be on the Italian island. Hundreds more are being housed aboard the quarantine ferry, the GNV Azzurra, which was sent by the Italian government with the aim to alleviate the situation. Attempts to transfer more migrants off Lampedusa have faced difficulties finding available spots in other migrant reception facilities across the country, with regional governors calling for the transfer to be stopped due to problems being faced managing the migrants amid the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by Lorenzo Palizzolo/Getty Images)

SA Covid-19 statistics

The latest numbers for South Africa show an increase of 1,846 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the total to over 620,000 cases. 

Members of the ICG cycling club race through the dusty roads of the Free State as they ride together marking the start of the 2020 Tour de France. The club organized the ride to celebrate the start of the 2020 Tour de France after South African cyclists could not ride out doors due to lockdown as a result of Covid-19 coronavirus. Like millions of amateur cyclists around the world the Tour de France is seen as the highlight of their cycling year. Stage 1 of the 2020 Tour de France starts in Nice, France, 29 August. EFE/EPA/KIM LUDBROOK

Africa daily case updates

According to the latest available figures for the continent, there have been over 1.2 million cases and more than 28,800 deaths in Africa since the pandemic first arrived. 

Egypt to impose flight restrictions

Egypt will require all passengers arriving at the country’s airports to present negative PCR test for coronavirus as of 1 September, local media reports. 

Former South African President Jacob Zuma sings for his supporters after appearing in the High Court where he faced charges that include fraud, corruption and racketeering, in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, October 15, 2019. REUTERS/Rogan Ward/File Photo

Influential Libyan interior minister suspended amid protests

(Reuters) The head of Libya's internationally recognised government suspended his powerful interior minister from his duties on Friday, saying his handling of street protests and a violent crackdown against them would be investigated.

The move coincides with reports of growing friction between Fayez al-Sarraj, Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), and Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha, an influential figure from the port city and military power base of Misrata.

Zuma accused of graft, hits out at successor

(Reuters) South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma, facing trial for graft, lashed out at his successor Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday, accusing him of betraying the ruling African National Congress (ANC) with his stance against corruption.

In an unprecedented attack, Zuma, whose decade in power was marked by multiple corruption scandals that are still being investigated, accused Ramaphosa of bringing the party into disrepute - a sign of growing divisions within the ANC ahead of its national executive committee conference this weekend. 

Zuma himself faces multiple investigations for corruption, including a trial relating to a $2 billion arms deal before he took office in 2009, but he retains considerable support from a powerful faction within the ANC. He denies all charges.

Ramaphosa has ordered investigations into reports of corruption in the government's Covid-19 response, including the diversion of funds meant for protective equipment for Covid-19 medics, as well as food handouts. Many scandals have involved junior ANC members conspiring with family-owned businesses to defraud Covid-19 funds.

This week Ramaphosa wrote a letter to ANC members saying its 'leaders stand accused of corruption' and that the ANC 'does stand as accused number one.'

Cairo concerned about second Covid-19 wave

Two days after an official warning from the Egyptian prime minister of a second wave, cases of coronavirus have risen significantly in number in Egypt.

The Egyptian Ministry of Health said late on Thursday that it had recorded 237 new cases of coronavirus, and 25 deaths, compared to 206 cases and 19 deaths the previous day.

Good morning

Hello and welcome to AS English's 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.