Coronavirus Africa summary: cases, deaths and news - 30 Aug

WHO issues latest Nigeria figures

138 new positive cases have been confirmed for the period relating to the past 24 hours.

Kenya Airways post substantial losses

Kenya Airways has posted a pre-tax loss of $133m (£100m) for the first six months of the year, as its performance stalled during the coronavirus pandemic.

The national carrier was already struggling to cope with losses and tough competition from rivals before the Covid-19 outbreak forced governments to ground airlines.

The company has revealed that it lost revenues of $100m between January and June, as passenger numbers fell 56%, compared to last year.

Muslims maintain social distance as they pray inside the Al-Azhar mosque during the first Friday prayers after reopening it as the government eased restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease in the old Islamic area of Cairo, Egypt.

(photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany)

Ghana to reopen international air borders from Sept. 1

Ghana will reopen air borders to international travel as of Sept. 1 after closing them in March to limit the spread of the coronavirus, President Nana Akufo-Addo said in a speech to the nation on Sunday. Land and sea borders will remain closed, he said.

Do's and dont's of wearing a mask

The United Nations offer an outline of the correct manner in wearing a face mask as a deterrent against the Covid-19 virus.

Africa now polio free amid Covid battle

As the world battles a pandemic, Africa has become polio free. Lessons learned can help its fight against Covid-19.

Full article here

Latest figures from Africa

The WHO (World Health Organisation) has published the latest coronavirus numbers affecting the continent. Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa remain the most affected nations.

S.African president Ramaphosa to appear before ruling party's integrity commission

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa will appear before the governing African National Congress party’s integrity commission over controversial campaign donations, the deputy secretary of the ruling party said on Sunday.

Ramaphosa has staked his reputation on cleaning up South African politics since he replaced former president Jacob Zuma 2-1/2 years ago, but he has been constrained by factional battles in the ANC, where a section of the party remains loyal to Zuma.

"He has made contact with the integrity committee and he will be presenting himself there for a discussion on the CR17 funds," said ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte during an interview on eNCA television.

Schools to reopen in Nigeria's Lagos as Covid-19 cases decline

Schools will reopen in Nigeria's commercial hub of Lagos next month as part of plans to revive the economy as Covid-19 cases decline, the state governor said.

Lagos, the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria, plans to reopen colleges on Sept. 14, and primary and secondary school schools on Sept. 21, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said.

"The gradual easing doesn't mean the pandemic is over," he said in a tweet. "It is not an invitation to carelessness or nonchalance."

Fans in Tanzania pack stadium

Supporters packed the Benjamin Mkapa stadium in Dar es Salaam today as Young Africans SC presented their new season kits ahead of a friendly game.

Global coronavirus cases surpass 25 million - Reuters tally

(Reuters) Global coronavirus cases surged past 25 million on Sunday, according to a Reuters tally, as India marked a worldwide record for daily new cases in the Covid-19 pandemic.

The data showed steady global growth as the disease's epicentre shifts again, with India taking centre stage from the United States and Latin America.

India's single-day tally of 78,761 new coronavirus infections on Sunday exceeded the one-day increase of 77,299 reported by the United States in mid-July. The south Asian country's surge took the global caseload to 25,074,751. 

The official number of global coronavirus cases is now at least five times the number of severe influenza illnesses recorded annually, according to World Health Organization data.

Drag artist Lou Lou Blu performs her solo drag show at Beefcakes, for one of the first shows after months of lockdown due to Covid-19 restrictions in Johannesburg. August 29 is day 155 of the national lockdown due to Covid-19 and the country has recently been lowered to level 2 lockdown allowing restaurants, clubs and bars to open again. (Abierto, Sudáfrica, Johannesburgo) EFE/EPA/KIM LUDBROOK

Old age homes in Namibia’s capital Windhoek are implementing a range of stringent measures to protect their residents from contracting coronavirus following a surge in cases.

South Africa's middle class could shrink due to Covid-19

According to a report by The New Humanitarian, more than a third of South Africa’s middle class is expected to dip below the poverty line as a result of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Africa latest updates

According to the latest available figures, Africa's case load is nearing the 1.25 million mark while the number of Covid-19 related fatalities is approaching 30,000. Recovery rates remain encouraging, with almost one million of all confirmed cases resulting in patient recovery. 

Malawi to lift Covid-19 air travel, school restrictions from September

(Reuters) Malawi will allow airlines and schools to resume operations from 1 September, as it seeks to limit the economic and social damage from its coronavirus lockdown, authorities said.

Schools and airports have been closed since March, when the government imposed a lockdown to try to contain the epidemic. Malawi has recorded 5,474 cases and 173 deaths from the virus so far, although the real figure may be higher as fewer than 50,000 tests have been conducted.

The main international airport in the administrative capital Lilongwe will now open to limited flights next week.

"The government has carefully considered adverse effects of the suspension of air travel on all sectors of the economy and has therefore decided to lift the suspension with effect from 1 September 2020," James Chakwera, Acting Director of the Department of Civil Aviation, said in a statement.

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 a World Trade Organization 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.

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.

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.