Coronavirus in Africa

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Africa has defied the covid-19 nightmare scenarios. We shouldn’t be surprised.

After the novel coronavirus first appeared in Africa in late February, Ghana’s government decided it would take no chances. Ghanaian citizens were soon put under lockdown, and travel between major cities was banned. Then President Nana Akufo-Addo announced the closure of the country’s land and sea borders.

At the time, my dad was in Ghana visiting family, and he faced the prospect of being stuck until commercial flights resumed. As experts predicted how the pandemic would be a unique and devastating disaster in Africa, my siblings and I scrambled to get my father a spot on a State Department repatriation flight for U.S. citizens. We rushed to get him out because we thought he would be better off in the United States.

But after he got back to Texas, the number of cases there started to rise, and I joked with him that he would have been safer in Ghana. “Ghana is doing much better with this than America,” he had said after I picked him up from the airport, amused that I sprayed down the entire car with disinfectant before making him sit in the back seat, away from me.

News reports and opinion articles have posited that corruption and a lack of health-care infrastructure meant that Africa was a “time bomb” waiting to explode. Rampant poverty and a lack of effective governance would cause the dark continent to fall apart under the weight of a public health emergency. The world, the experts said, should prepare to offer aid, loans and debt forgiveness to African governments — in other words, they should prepare to save Africa.

No need.

While so much about the virus and how it operates remains unclear, sub-Saharan Africa so far has dodged a deadly wave of coronavirus cases. Many factors have contributed to this. A number of West African nations already had a pandemic response infrastructure in place from the Ebola outbreak of late 2013 to 2016. Just six years ago, Liberia lost nearly 5,000 people to Ebola. At the beginning of this year, Liberia began screening for covid-19 at airports. Travelers coming in from countries with more than 200 cases were quarantined. To date, Liberia, a country of some 5 million, has 1,335 cases and around 82 deaths.

After the Ebola pandemic, Senegal set up an emergency operations center to manage public health crises. Some covid-19 test results come back in 24 hours, and the country employs aggressive contact tracing. Every coronavirus patient is given a bed in hospital or other health-care facility. Senegal has a population of 16 million, but has only 302 registered deaths. Several countries have come up with innovations. Rwanda, a country of 12 million, also responded early and aggressively to the virus, using equipment and infrastructure that was in place to deal with HIV/AIDS. Testing and treatment for the virus are free. Rwanda has recorded only 26 deaths.

As the United States approaches 200,000 deaths, the West seems largely blind to Africa’s successes. In recent weeks, headline writers seem to be doing their hardest to try to reconcile Western stereotypes about Africa with the reality of the low death rates on the continent. The BBC came under fire for a since-changed headline and a tweet that read “Coronavirus in Africa: Could poverty explain mystery of low death rate?” The New York Post published an article with the headline, “Scientists can’t explain puzzling lack of coronavirus outbreaks in Africa.”

It’s almost as if they are disappointed that Africans aren’t dying en masse and countries are not collapsing. While Black Americans have been disproportionately contracting covid-19 and dying, Africa’s performance shows, as I quoted a Kenyan anthropologist saying in May, “being a black person in this world doesn’t kill you, but being a black person in America clearly can.”

This pandemic has coincided with a global movement challenging anti-Black racism and white supremacy. This should have been a moment for media outlets to challenge corrosive narratives about Africa and the idea that Africans are not capable of effective policy-making. We could be learning from the experiences that Africans and their governments have had with pandemics and viral diseases, including Ebola and AIDS.

Instead, the media has largely ignored the policy successes out of Africa. In doing so, Western media is reinforcing colonial narratives of Black inferiority and the inability of Black nations to govern themselves at all, much less govern better than resource-rich White nations.

We are interested in hearing about how the struggle to reopen amid the pandemic is affecting people's lives. Please tell us yours.

None of this is to say there have not been missteps and challenges on the continent. In countries such as Kenya, police officers have used coronavirus restrictions as a cover to escalate police brutality against citizens — police killed 15 people while enforcing curfew restrictions. Misinformation has spread online, making things harder for health-care professionals.

But overall, African countries have made great efforts to contain the coronavirus, and citizens so far have escaped the nightmare predictions. African lives have been saved thanks to the hard work of many dedicated health-care workers and the collective responsibility of communities.

In this global pandemic, Africa’s success stories matter more than ever.

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...nightmare-scenarios-we-shouldnt-be-surprised/.

 

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Health chief hails Africa's fight against Covid-19

The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control has praised African states for managing to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Africa has seen about 1.4 million cases, and 34,000 deaths since March.

These figures are far lower than those in Europe, Asia or the Americas, with reported cases continuing to decline.

Early interventions played a crucial role in curbing the virus' spread, John Nkengasong told the BBC's Newsday programme.

He described as "false" suggestions that cases and deaths in Africa were significantly under-reported.

"We may not have been picking up all the cases, just like in other parts of the world... but we are not seeing people around the continent falling dead on the streets or mass burials going on," Dr Nkengasong said.

All African states introduced a series of measures to tackle the virus as soon as the first cases were reported in March. Many, including South Africa, introduced nationwide lockdowns, but others such as Ethiopia opted for less strict measures.

Dr Nkengasong, however, attributed the low number to a "joint continental effort", which focused on "scaling up testing and following up contact tracing and very importantly masking", or the wearing of face masks.

"In many countries, including Ethiopia where I live, if you go to the streets of Addis Ababa you will see there is almost 100% masking," he added.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54248507

 

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Coronavirus - Africa: COVID-19 leads to massive labour income losses worldwide

A new ILO analysis of the labour market impact of COVID-19 reveals a “massive” drop in labour income and a fiscal stimulus gap that threatens to increase inequality between richer and poorer countries

The devastating losses in working hours caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have brought a “massive” drop in labour income for workers around the world, says the International Labour Organization (ILO) in its latest assessment of the effects of the pandemic on the world of work.

Global labour income is estimated to have declined by 10.7 per cent, or US$ 3.5 trillion, in the first three quarters of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019. This figure excludes income support provided through government measures.

The biggest drop was in lower-middle income countries, where the labour income losses reached 15.1 per cent, with the Americas the hardest hit region at 12.1 per cent.

The ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the world of work. Sixth edition , says that the global working hour losses in the first nine months of 2020 have been “considerably larger” than estimated in the previous edition of the Monitor (issued on 30 June).

For example, the revised estimate of global working time lost in the second quarter (Q2) of this year (when compared to Q4 2019) is for 17.3 per cent, equivalent to 495 million full time equivalent (FTE) jobs (based on a 48-hour working week), whereas the earlier estimate was for 14 per cent, or 400 million FTE jobs. In Q3 of 2020, global working hour losses of 12.1 per cent (345 million FTE jobs) are expected.

The outlook for Q4 has worsened significantly since the last ILO Monitor was issued. Under the ILO’s baseline scenario, global working-hour losses are now projected to amount to 8.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 (compared to Q4 2019), which corresponds to 245 million FTE jobs. This is an increase from the ILO’s previous estimate of 4.9 per cent or 140 million FTE jobs.

One reason for the estimated increases in working-hour losses is that workers in developing and emerging economies, especially those in informal employment, have been much more affected than by past crises, the Monitor says.

It also notes that the drop in employment is more attributable to inactivity than to unemployment, with important policy implications.

While many stringent workplace closures have been relaxed, there are significant variations between regions. 94 per cent of workers are still in countries with some sort of workplace restrictions, and 32 per cent are in countries with closures for all but essential workplaces.

The “fiscal stimulus gap”

The 6th edition of the Monitor also looks at the effectiveness of fiscal stimulus in alleviating labour market impacts.

In countries where sufficient data is available for Q2 2020, a clear correlation exists, showing that the larger the fiscal stimulus (as a percentage of GDP), the lower the working-hour losses. In that period, globally an additional fiscal stimulus of 1 per cent of annual GDP would have reduced working hour losses by a further 0.8 per cent.

However, while fiscal stimulus packages have played a significant role in supporting economic activity and reducing the fall in working hours, they have been concentrated in high-income countries, as emerging and developing economies have limited capacity to finance such measures.

“Just as we need to redouble our efforts to beat the virus, so we need to act urgently and at scale to overcome its economic, social and employment impacts. That includes sustaining support for jobs, businesses and incomes.” – Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General

In order for developing countries to reach the same ratio of stimulus to working hours lost as in high-income countries, they would need to inject a further US$982 billion (US$45 billion in low-income countries and US$937 billion in lower-middle income countries). The stimulus gap for low income countries amounts to less than 1 per cent of the total value of the fiscal stimulus packages announced by high-income countries.

This huge “fiscal stimulus gap” is even more worrying in the light of the social protection deficits in many developing countries. Moreover, some of these countries have also had to redirect public spending from other objectives in order to mitigate the labour market impact of the crisis.

“Just as we need to redouble our efforts to beat the virus, so we need to act urgently and at scale to overcome its economic, social and employment impacts. That includes sustaining support for jobs, businesses and incomes,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.

“As the United Nations General Assembly gathers in New York, there is pressing need for the international community to set out a global strategy for recovery through dialogue, cooperation and solidarity. No group, country or region can beat this crisis alone,” he concluded.

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2020/09/...ds-to-massive-labour-income-losses-worldwide/.

 

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Coronavirus - Africa: Education for all - pandemic threatens to increase inequalities

Presentation in Germany of UNESCO’s 2020 Global Education Monitoring Report: Inclusion and Education

Joint press release of the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the German Commission for UNESCO

On 22 September 2020, the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the German Commission for UNESCO held a digital event to present the 2020 UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report: Inclusion and Education - All means all. Senior politicians and international experts discussed the report’s implications for education in Germany and German development cooperation at this virtual gathering.

Although the international community set itself the goal of achieving inclusive and equitable education for all by 2030 in the Global Education 2030 Agenda, more than a quarter of a billion children and young people have no access to education. Millions of others are marginalised within the education system because of their background, their identity or a disability. The COVID‑19 pandemic threatens to exacerbate these inequalities yet further. By way of example, 40% of low and lower-middle income countries have not supported disadvantaged learners during the COVID‑19 crisis. That is the conclusion reached in the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report: Inclusion and education – All means all, which was presented in Germany today. UNESCO warns that, as a result of the COVID‑19 pandemic, the annual financial shortfall for education in low and lower-middle income countries will increase by up to one third from 148 billion US dollars to almost 200 billion US dollars.

Poverty is the main obstacle to success in education

Michelle Müntefering, Federal Foreign Office Minister of State for International Cultural Policy, emphasised that:

Education is the key to social participation. Everybody should receive the best possible support to achieve their full potential. It’s a matter of fairness. It is also a commitment that we, the global community, have made in international agreements. We are endeavouring to fulfil this joint responsibility as part of our cultural relations and education policy.

Global partnerships for education

Maria Flachsbarth, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, noted that:

In a crisis context such as the current COVID‑19 pandemic, existing inequalities are reinforced around the world. Over a billion children have been unable to go to school because of the pandemic this year. Everyone needs equal access to high-quality education. Global partnerships for education have to be strengthened now. We need global solidarity if we are to combat the disastrous impact of this pandemic on education.

In a quarter of all countries around the world, separate education for children with and without disabilities is required by law. In Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, there is legislation to that effect in more than 40% of countries. Minorities and refugees, too, are still not adequately guaranteed access to high-quality education in many countries around the world. In several Central and Eastern European countries, children from the Roma minority are taught separately from the majority society. In the OECD states, more than two-thirds of all students from immigrant backgrounds attend schools where they make up at least half of the student population.

Global steps towards inclusion

Thomas Rachel, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research stated that:

Our aim is to make education inclusive at all levels. We in Germany and the rest of the world must do more to gradually move closer to this goal. Everyone has a right to a good education, regardless of their gender, background, social status, religious or sexual orientation or a disability. With this goal in mind, we at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research are working to ensure strong, inclusive education in Germany.

Today’s event looked at the international perspective and global developments, but the focus was on the implications of the Global Education Monitoring Report for the German education system. Participants were briefed on the state of affairs and future perspectives of equitable education in Germany, largely with reference to the report by Dr Stefanie Hubig, President of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder.

Even if the international community still has a long way to go, there are many examples which show how inclusion can succeed. Earlier this year, before the publication of the Global Education Monitoring Report, UNESCO presented outstanding examples of inclusive education, including the Marie Kahle comprehensive school in Bonn under its head teacher Sabine Kreutzer. The school, established in 2009, uses the Dalton method which enables pupils to learn independently at their own pace. The Bonn school received the Jakob Muth Award for inclusive schools in 2019.

In many other countries too, UNESCO has found innovative approaches aimed at increasing participation in the field of education. For example, in Cuba, Malawi and Ukraine, there are resource centres which assist standard schools in teaching children with special needs. In the Gambia, New Zealand and Samoa, mobile teachers are deployed to reach disadvantaged groups. The Indian state of Odisha uses 21 tribal languages in its classrooms, while Kenya has adapted its curriculum to the calendar of the nomads living in the country.

Inclusion needs well-trained teaching staff

Walter Hirche, former Minister and member of the Board of the German Commission for UNESCO, commented as follows:

Many education systems are based on the assumption that everyone has the same learning needs. But just as people differ generally, they also differ in their approaches to learning. It is not the students who have to adapt to the existing school system, it is the education system that has to be adapted to them. We have already achieved much in Germany in the last few years. However, the majority of children and young people with special educational needs still learn separately and do not attend lessons in standard schools. We have to assist teachers during their teacher-training and provide them with tailored further training on catering to the needs of all pupils in equal measure.

Teachers have a crucial role to play when it comes to ensuring participation in the education sector. They are the key to more inclusion in everyday school life. However, they need the necessary tools. For example, a quarter of all teachers in 48 countries examined said that they would like to have more training on teaching pupils with special needs.

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2020/09/...-pandemic-threatens-to-increase-inequalities/.

 

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Coronavirus corruption in Kenya: Officials and businesspeople targeted

Kenyan investigators are to recommend the prosecution of at least 15 top government officials and businesspeople over the alleged misuse of millions of dollars meant for buying Covid-19 medical supplies, the BBC has learned.

The probe uncovered evidence of tenders being allegedly given to politically connected individuals and businesses.

The government ordered an investigation following a public outcry.

It received about $2bn (£1.6bn) in aid and grants to fight Covid-19.

But health workers have complained about a shortage of public protective equipment (PPE), saying their lives are at risk.

The state body responsible for purchases, the Kenya Medical Supply Authority (Kemsa), has denied that any money was stolen.

What are the allegations?

The first phase of investigations has centred around the alleged misuse of $7.8m meant to purchase emergency PPE for healthcare workers and hospitals across the country.

Investigators from Kenya's Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) say preliminary findings have shown that several laws on public procurement were flouted during the awarding of the tenders.

In a report to a joint Senate Committee on Health and Covid-19 on Wednesday, the EACC said: "Investigations had established criminal culpability on the part of public officials in the purchase and supply of Covid-19 emergency commodities at Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) that led to irregular expenditure of public funds."

The EACC has recommended the prosecution of all officials at Kemsa and the Ministry of Health who it believes were behind the scandal.

The second phase of investigations will target companies that are alleged to have benefitted from the tenders, although there is no suggestion any of the companies misappropriated Covid-19 funds.

Documents submitted to the Senate committee, and which the BBC has seen, show the nature of contracts handed out by Kemsa.

In some cases, tenders were given to companies that had been formed just weeks earlier.

A good example is Shop and Buy limited, which, the documents allege, got tenders worth $10m despite being formed in February, just weeks before the first case of Covid-19 was reported in the country.

The company has denied any wrongdoing.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54278417

 

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Coronavirus - Africa: New report from International Organization for Migration (IOM) - Migration in West and North Africa and across the Mediterranean

Public debates surrounding migration in West and North Africa—indeed, across the Mediterranean Sea basin—often are riven by misconception and partial representations of a truly complex reality.

A new volume by IOM’s Global Migration Data and Analysis Centre (GMDAC) titled Migration in West and North Africa and across the Mediterranean provides a more nuanced view. This comprehensive, fact-based and balanced account of migration from and within West and North Africa and on routes towardsthe Mediterranean sifts through important new data from the past two years.

Besides offering analysis on migration flows within and from North and West Africa, this report also offers new evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on migrants and migration.

Contrary to common assumptions about migration from and in West and North Africa, overall levels of international migration in these regions are relatively low, especially compared to norms elsewhere.

In mid-2019, countries in West and North Africa hosted 10.4 million immigrants, based on UN estimates, representing only 1.6 per cent of these regions’ total population. That’s well below the world average of 3.5%. Outbound emigrants comprise 3.4% of the total population of these countries, on average.

A common misconception also endures concerning the direction of outbound migration—that it mainly takes migrants out of the region. “Intraregional migration is by far the predominant migration pattern in West Africa,” Frank Laczko, Director at IOM’s GMDAC, explained. “Most migrants from countries in West Africa migrate to other countries in the region and these are often short-term movements.”

Evidence presented in the volume shows that migration contributes to economic and human development and to the resilience to economic and environmental hazards within communities across West and North Africa. For example, migrants acquire new skills, knowledge, social norms and values in destination countries which help them to contribute to development back in their home communities in a variety of ways.

For most countries in West Africa, remittance inflows in 2019 represented upwards of 5% oftheir entire GDP, with Nigeria being the top recipient country in the region. Remittances to that country increased by almost 47 per cent-from19.7 billion USD in 2010 to 23.8 billion USD in 2019. Similarly, Senegal’s remittances received saw a record increase of 67 per cent from 1.5 billion USD in 2010 to 2.5 billion USD in 2019, based on World Bank data.

Regionwide, total remittances, have increased 43% between 2010 and 2019, from 23.6 billion USD to 33.7 billion.Migrants interviewed in countries in West and North Africa report to be moving mainly to seek better livelihood opportunities, join their family members or study. This contrasts sharply with reasons given by migrants interviewed in Italy after crossing the Mediterranean, which often include fleeing conflict and political insecurity and searching international protection.

“This may be an indication that migrants seeking international protection often have no choice but to embark on dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean and that the original reasons for migrating may change during the journey due to violence and abuses faced in countries of transit or first destination,” noted Marzia Rango, one of the lead editors of the report.

“Europe’s tightening of external border controls and the increasing tendency to criminalize irregular migration in countries in West and North Africa may have exacerbated risks faced by migrants,” she added.

Mobility restrictions have resulted in many migrants becoming stranded at international borders and in quarantine and transit centres across these regions – an estimated 50,000 by the end of June 2020, according to data from IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM).

Despite COVID-19, migration along the Central Mediterranean Route more than doubled during 2020. Arrivals to Italy during the first half of 2020 increased by 150 per cent compared to the same period in 2019, from 2,779 in 2019 to 6,950, though overall levels are quite low compared to previous years. Arrivals to Malta increased by 33 per cent from 1,276 in the first half of 2019 to 1,699 during the same period in 2020.

Lack of job opportunities due to the pandemic has likely contributed to such an increase, among other factors.

“Migration in West and North Africa and across the Mediterranean: trends, risks, development and governance” comprises 38 chapters contributed by nearly 50 experts across international organizations, civil society and migrant associations on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea. The workwas supported financially by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2020/09/...nd-north-africa-and-across-the-mediterranean/.

 

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At UN, Africa urges fiscal help against virus 'apocalypse'

JOHANNESBURG -- African nations came out swinging on the third day of the United Nations annual gathering of world leaders Thursday, calling for dramatic fiscal measures to help economies survive the coronavirus pandemic -- which one leader called the "fifth horseman of the apocalypse."

African countries estimate they need US$100 billion in support annually for the next three years, pointing out it's a fraction of the trillions of dollars some richer countries are using to revive their economies.

Debt cancellation is needed to free up more resources to tackle the virus and its effects, including the fight against other deadly diseases like malaria and HIV, heads of state said. Meanwhile, Africa has tilted into its first recession in a quarter-century.

"We need to purely and simply cancel this debt," said Niger's president, Issoufou Mahamadou.

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The president of Ivory Coast, one of the world's fastest-growing economies before the pandemic, called for the extension of a debt moratorium and the issue of special drawing rights at the International Monetary Fund.

"I call on all Africa's partners to take bolder measures," Alassane Ouattara said, noting that the fight against COVID-19 and its economic effects has represented 5% of the country's GDP.

In fact, reforms of Bretton Woods institutions like the IMF and World Bank might be needed to "usher in a fairer international order," Gabon's President Ali Bongo Ondimba said.

The pandemic has exposed the poor funding of health systems across Africa. In a separate briefing Thursday, a World Health Organization official said just 51% of health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa have basic water services.

In their speeches to fellow world leaders, delivered virtually by video messages because of the pandemic, some African heads of state pointed out what Ouattara called an "extraordinary resilience" in the face of the virus. But they made it clear massive help is needed, and some acknowledged they must do more, too.

The Ivory Coast leader, for one, pledged that his country will invest $3 billion in its health system from 2021-2025.

Health experts say Africa has fared far better than the dire predictions made early in the pandemic. There have been over 1.4 million confirmed cases on the continent of 1.3 billion people, and the WHO says the rate of new cases in sub-Saharan Africa has steadily declined for the past two months.

Researchers say possible factors include Africa's relative youth, the later arrival of the virus on the continent and swift lockdown measures that have taken a harsh economic toll. The relatively low number of international air links has protected the continent but hurt the delivery of some life-saving goods like childhood vaccines.

"The pandemic has reversed our gains" on many fronts, including the strengthening of democracy, Gambia's President Adama Barrow said.

Spurred by this year's turmoil over racial injustice and inequality, African nations again demanded a permanent seat on the UN's most powerful body, the Security Council -- or even two. The council reflects a world order of 75 years ago that few people in Africa recognize, some said.

"Certainly, Africa's voice on the council will build confidence and reinforce the legitimacy of its decisions," Barrow said.

As some world powers prefer to go their own way, the African countries that make up more than a quarter of the UN membership are leaning hard into multilateralism as global crises pile up almost beyond belief.

Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore recalled the UN chief's speech early this year warning against the "four horsemen of the apocalypse," including geopolitical tensions and climate change.

"Unfortunately," he said, "less than two months later, a fifth horseman of the apocalypse, very destructive, the coronavirus, has appeared."

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/at-un-africa-urges-fiscal-help-against-virus-apocalypse-1.5118624.

 

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Coronavirus: Age and climate seen as behind Africa's low cases

Younger, less dense populations and hot, humid climates are being cited as key reasons why Africa has been spared a surge in coronavirus cases.
As Europe and the Americas battle high case numbers, infections have been declining in many African countries.
On top of social and environmental factors in the continent's favour, the World Health Organization praised the "decisive" action by African nations.
Some countries, however, are still seeing rises in cases.

According to the WHO, in the past four weeks in Africa, 77,147 cases were recorded, down from 131,647 in the previous four weeks.
"Africa has not witnessed an exponential spread of Covid-19 as many initially feared," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO's Regional Director for Africa.
"The downward trend that we have seen in Africa over the past two months is undoubtedly a positive development and speaks to the robust and decisive public health measures taken by governments across the region," she said.
In a statement, the WHO said "a mix of socio-ecological factors such as low population density and mobility, hot and humid climate, lower age group, interacting to accentuate their individual effects" were most likely to be behind the decline.
Latest tallies show that nearly 1.5 million people in Africa have been confirmed as contracting coronavirus, with around 35,000 deaths.
The US - the world's worst affected country - has had nearly seven million cases and over 200,000 deaths.
Low levels of testing remains a concern in Africa, with a handful of countries responsible for the bulk of those carried out.
The WHO is urging African countries to maintain public health measures and warns against complacency, with Ivory Coast and Cameroon bucking the trend by seeing a slight increase in cases.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54300855.

 

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Over 1.1M coronavirus patients recover across Africa
Social, environmental factors seen behind low virus cases in Africa, says WHO Africa region

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia / ANKARA

The number of people in Africa who have recovered from the coronavirus topped 1.18 million, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday.

The death toll from the virus reached 35,007, it said, adding more than 1.43 million people have so far contracted the virus, with the Southern Africa region being the most affected with 727,500 cases.

North Africa recorded 314,100 cases, West Africa 173,900, East Africa 164,200 and Central Africa 57,400.

At least 640,500 patients have recovered in Southern Africa, 246,900 in North Africa, 154,500 in West Africa, 92,700 in East Africa and 50,000 in Central Africa.

Downward trend

COVID-19 transmission in Africa has been marked by relatively fewer infections, which have been on the decline over the past two months, owing to a variety of socio-ecological factors as well as early and strong public health measures taken by governments across the region, the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa office said on Thursday.

“Africa has not witnessed an exponential spread of COVID-19 as many initially feared,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO director for Africa.

“But the slower spread of infection in the region means we expect the pandemic to continue to smoulder for some time, with occasional flare-ups.”

“The downward trend that we have seen in Africa over the past two months is undoubtedly a positive development and speaks to the robust and decisive public health measures taken by governments across the region.

“But we must not become complacent. Other regions of the world have experienced similar trends only to find that as social and public health measures are relaxed, cases start ramping up again,” she added.

The pandemic has largely been in a younger age group and has been more pronounced in a few countries, suggesting country-specific aspects are driving the pattern of disease and death.

About 91% of COVID-19 infection in sub-Saharan Africa are among people below 60 years, and over 80% of cases are asymptomatic, according to WHO.

It said, a mix of socio-ecological factors such as low population density and mobility, hot and humid climate, lower age group, interacting to accentuate their individual effects, are likely contributing to the pattern seen in Africa.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/over-11m-coronavirus-patients-recover-across-africa/1985370.

 

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Progress against virus brings complacency in parts of Africa

HARARE, ZIMBABWE -- With Zimbabwe's coronavirus infections on the decline, schools are reopening, along with churches, bars, restaurants, airports and tourist attractions. Strict lockdowns designed to curb the disease are being replaced by a return to relatively normal life.

The threat has eased so much that many people see no need to be cautious. With his face mask stuffed into his pocket, Omega Chibanda said he's not worried about COVID-19.

"We used to fear coronavirus, not anymore," the 16-year-old said in the crowded Chitungwiza town on the outskirts of the capital, Harare. "That's why I'm not even wearing a mask."

As the global death toll from COVID-19 approaches 1 million, Zimbabwe and several other African countries have not experienced the widespread surges and many deaths that were predicted. That has invited complacency.

"It's all relaxed now," Chibanda said.

Earlier this month, Zimbabwe went a week without recording any deaths from coronavirus, and new infections and deaths have declined, as in South Africa and Kenya.

Africa's surge has been levelling off, with its 1.4 million confirmed cases increasing relatively slowly. Antibody testing is expected to show many more infections, but most cases are asymptomatic. Just over 35,000 deaths have been confirmed on the continent of 1.3 billion people.

But the improving figures and the start of the searing heat of the Southern Hemisphere's summer could undermine efforts to beat back the virus even further, said community health worker Rosemary Rambire.

She leaves home early in the morning and returns in the evening after going door to door calling "the gospel is here" and gathering families for quick awareness sessions.

"Our job is now harder to do because people are no longer afraid," Rambire said. "Some even tell us that it has not killed anyone they know. Most of them say the sun kills COVID-19 so they have no reason to worry."

Some think they are immune once they eat garlic, ginger and onions, she said.

In her 14 years on the job and through multiple disease outbreaks, COVID-19 has been the most difficult to get people to take preventive measures, she said.

"It's different from before, when we did campaigns on cholera (and) HIV. We could tell that people were afraid. They tried to follow preventive measures," she said. "With COVID-19, they are not afraid."

Many people look at the infection and death figures in Zimbabwe, compare them with other countries "and conclude that it only affects other countries and not Zimbabwe," Rambire added.

In Chitungwiza, a sprawling working-class centre on the southern edge of Harare, people no longer wear masks at markets, funerals or other public events. Masks are now the exception in many of Harare's poor residential areas.

"We have lost both the initial COVID-19 fear factor and the motivation to comply with national guidelines," said Aaron Sundsmo, of the charitable organization Mercy Corps. The group has now enlisted local soccer, music and film celebrities to renew awareness.

The government will "not hesitate to do something really strict" to curb any creeping complacency, said Dr. Agnes Mahomva, the chief COVID-19 response co-ordinator in Zimbabwe.

"The dire projections that `Africa, you are going to be toast,' perhaps actually helped us. We tightened up," she said.

Continued vigilance should accompany Africa's apparent success story, said Mervyn Joullie, deputy regional director for Africa at Mercy Corps, which operates in 16 of Africa's 54 countries.

Limited testing in many African countries makes it difficult to assess "the reality of COVID-19 situation," Joullie said.

In West Africa's Sahel region, for example, positive cases of COVID-19 have declined over the past several weeks amid low testing capacity, which could suggest "a significant presence of undetected cases," Joullie said.

Health experts point to Africa's youthful population as a factor in why COVID-19 has not taken a larger toll, along with swift lockdowns and the later arrival of the virus.

Many African countries have eased the lockdowns and curfews in recent weeks to boost economies battered by the virus outbreak and, in some cases, ease local political pressure.

Balancing concerns about unemployment, security and access to food, as well as the complacency and the need to keep infections low could be Africa's next big challenge, experts said.

"We are at a crossroads as we relax some of the restrictions," said Dr. Mahomva, Zimbabwe's COVID-19 response co-ordinator. "It's not over until it's over."

But for Chibanda, the teenager in Chitungwiza, there is no such dilemma.

"Coronavirus is not an issue anymore here," he said, pointing to people walking on the street without masks. "Just look around."

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/progress-against-virus-brings-complacency-in-parts-of-africa-1.5121419.

 

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Virus death toll nears 35,500 in Africa
Over 1.2M of nearly 1.46M people infected have recovered, says Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

A total of 35,440 people have died of the novel coronavirus across Africa, said the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday.

It said nearly 1.46 people have so far been confirmed infected, of whom more than 1,2 million have recovered.

Southern Africa continues to be the worst-hit region both in terms of number of cases and death toll, with 732,600 infections and 17,600 fatalities. But the region also has by far the largest number of recoveries that now stands at 649,400.

North Africa has recorded 326,900 cases and 10,800 deaths; West Africa 175,400 cases and 2,600 deaths; East Africa 167,200 cases and 3,300 deaths; and Central Africa registered 57,600 cases and 1,100 deaths.

More than 255,100 people recovered in North Africa, 156,300 in West Africa, 94,500 in East Africa and 50,400 in Central Africa.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/virus-death-toll-nears-35-500-in-africa/1988050.

 

[sweep_shot]

COVID-19 Less Deadly in Africa

Thus far, COVID-19 has been far less devastating in Africa than observers had feared, including this blogger. It is true that there has been much less testing for the disease in Africa than elsewhere (perhaps one percent of the population, while the United States has conducted over one hundred million tests), and African statistics tend to be weak. But there have been only a few reports of mass deaths anywhere on the continent, such as were seen in Ebola outbreaks. Africa has a population of 1.2 billion people. There have been 1.4 million cases of COVID-19, with less than 35,000 deaths. The United States has a population of an estimated 331 million. There have been 7.1 million cases of COVID-19 and about 205,000 deaths. Despite its obvious shortcomings, the public health and medical infrastructure in the United States is far superior to that of Africa. How to account for the apparent lesser severity of COVID-19 in Africa than in the United States?

Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, advances a credible explanation. Summarizing, its most important elements are:

Africa's population is youthful; only 3 percent is over sixty-five years of age, while in the United States it is 15.2 percent, almost 50 million. In Africa, 90 percent of cases have been among people under sixty years of age; in the United States, in August, it was about 80 percent.
Even though the continent is urbanizing fast, its population density is lower, and even in urban areas people live and work outdoors to a greater extent than in the developed world. It seems clear that COVID-19 spreads more rapidly in enclosed spaces.
Poorly developed infrastructure, especially roads and airports, results in fewer people traveling, reducing the spread of the disease.
Some African states, notably South Africa (then ground zero for the disease), locked down early. There are estimates that the South Africa lockdown will save some 16,000 lives by the new year.

The bottom line: Africa would appear to confirm that COVID-19 is most dangerous among elderly people living closely together.

Source: https://www.cfr.org/blog/covid-19-less-deadly-africa.

 

[sweep_shot]

Africa is fascinating experts for having avoided the worst of COVID-19 so far

The world reached a terrible milestone on Monday night, with the latest coronavirus update from sources that track the official data around the globe revealing that we’ve now surpassed 1 million deaths worldwide from the COVID-19 virus.

That’s according to data from Johns Hopkins University, which shows that more than half of those deaths have come from just four countries, including the US (more than 204,000), Brazil (more than 141,000), India (95,000+), and Mexico (76,000+). What’s more, these are just the official, confirmed deaths that have been reported — most authoritative sources assume the true global death toll from the virus is higher than this. Here’s the thing, though — there are certainly no winners here. No country has “won” or deserves to celebrate for its handling of the virus compared to another country, because people are dying everywhere. Lives are still being lost, even in countries that have been the most aggressive in responding to the pandemic. Even so, one part of the world has done better enough compared to others, that health experts say it deserves closer scrutiny — to see if lessons can be learned that can be applied elsewhere. That place is Africa.

“The initial disease prediction models painted a very bleak picture of severe devastation of lives and economies in Africa,” Dr. Sam Agatre Okuonzi, who works at Arua Regional Referral Hospital in northern Uganda, said during a World Health Organization news briefing in recent days, as reported by NBC News. “In Uganda, it was predicted that by September, there would be 600,000 cases of Covid-19 and 30,000 deaths. But the reality is starkly different.”

In actuality, Johns Hopkins data shows that Uganda has recorded just 7,064 coronavirus cases and 70 deaths. South Africa, by contrast, has born the brunt of the pandemic on the African continent, with more than 665,000 cases and 16,206 deaths — which works out to about 28 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to more than 61 deaths per 100,000 in the US.

And while you can point to other African countries like Ethiopia and Nigeria that have seen sizeable outbreaks of the virus, most all of the countries on the continent have kept the worst of the pandemic at bay thus far.

Demographics might partly explain what’s going on. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s regional director for Africa, pointed out during a recent briefing that only a very small portion of the population in most African countries is over the age of 65. As is widely known by now, advanced age puts a person at much greater risk for contracting the virus — and for contracting a case of the virus that becomes severe.

Another factor that may explain why the continent has not been hit by the virus to the degree that European nations and the US have: Much of the continent’s population is rural and spends a good deal of time outdoors, which is thought to be not conducive to good spread of the virus. And Shaun Truelove, an assistant scientist and modeling expert at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told NBC News another possibility is that there’s some degree of “cross-reactive” immunity within populations in Africa that have been exposed to other coronaviruses.

He’s among a number of scientists who are looking at the COVID-19 situation in Africa more closely to try and glean some useful insights from it. “It’s going to be an interesting discovery process,” he said.

Source: https://bgr.com/2020/09/29/coronavirus-update-africa-covid-19-cases-statistics/.

 

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COVID-19 and African rheumatology: progress in adversity

The pandemic of COVID-19, the disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), hit Africa later than much of Asia, Europe, and North America. It has led to immense disruption of health-care services, economic hardship, and loss of life in Africa. By Sept 17, 2020, more than 1 million cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 33 000 deaths from COVID-19 had been confirmed across Africa.1 However, the cataclysm of COVID-19 has taught us major lessons and incited the potential for rapid growth in African rheumatology after the pandemic subsides.
In response to the pandemic, an unprecedented number of research collaborations began in African rheumatology, mainly facilitated through the networks of the African League Against Rheumatism (AFLAR). The first collaborative effort was the pan-African survey2 of the experience of rheumatologists across all five regions of the continent, done between April 21 and May 7, 2020, which provided a far-reaching understanding of the structure of rheumatology services and the degree of service disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the survey, no data were available on the number and distribution of rheumatologists across the continent. Findings showed that there are far more rheumatologists in northern Africa than in other regions, with the lowest number in central Africa; that women represent 72% of rheumatologists; and that 44% of rheumatologists treat both adults and children.2
With ongoing lockdown in several countries, appreciation for the usefulness of virtual conferencing and telemedicine has increased. Until now, telemedicine has not had substantial political support in many African countries, although the prospect of its use to supplement service deficiencies in health care has been a lingering promise.3 Videoconferencing has fostered and accelerated collaborations among rheumatologists across the continent. AFLAR also commissioned a task force to draft recommendations for management of rheumatic diseases in Africa in the face of COVID-19. Members of the task force assessed Africa-specific challenges, in addition to the global crises of the pandemic, in the management of patients with rheumatic diseases. This process, which led to increased recognition of the diversity in the structures and resources of rheumatology services available in countries within the AFLAR network, culminated in the formation of 22 statements of recommendations for the management of rheumatic diseases in Africa in the context of COVID-19.4 The task force also recognised the problem of limited resource availability, such as biological drugs, specialist doctors, and ventilators.
The widespread suggestion of a role for various disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 triggered an increase in demand that resulted in a shortage of hydroxychloroquine in many rheumatology services. More than 60% of African rheumatologists reported shortages of this drug in their practice, leading some rheumatologists to reduce doses of the drug for their patients to prolong supply.2 Hoarding of hydroxychloroquine, and hikes in prices of available supplies, have been seen across Africa, while self-use by patients and toxic effects were reported after indiscriminate promotion of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment, mostly via social media.5, 6 Unfortunately, scant decisive governmental action has been taken to stem these ongoing shortages.
Other drugs commonly used in rheumatology have also gained prominence for treatment of patients with COVID-19. Corticosteroids were initially shown to slow SARS-CoV-2 clearance in a small observational study,7 but preliminary results from the large RECOVERY trial8 later showed survival benefits with use of low-dose dexamethasone in patients with severe disease. Early in the pandemic, some patients with severe COVID-19 were recognised to have cytokine storm. This finding led researchers and clinicians to consider use of interleukin-6 inhibitors such as tocilizumab for the management of these patients.9 Timing of administration, dosing, and efficacy of tocilizumab have not yet been determined; trials are ongoing across many countries, including centres in Kenya and South Africa, in which tocilizumab is being given at an average dose of 4–8 mg/kg bodyweight as a single infusion.10 However, there is yet insufficient evidence to recommend the wide use of tocilizumab for treating COVID-19 outside of trials. Due to its high cost, tocilizumab is available for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in very few African countries, and it is uncertain whether this situation would change if tocilizumab proves to be effective for treating severe COVID-19.
Amid the upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, AFLAR found renewed strength and brought together members from 20 African countries by organising and launching virtual learning events, including national and regional sessions on the practice of rheumatology in the era of COVID-19, workshops on neuromuscular ultrasound, vasculitis, and connective tissue diseases, and monthly paediatric continuing medical education programmes. Experts from different areas of rheumatology came together to a degree not previously experienced by the AFLAR membership, raising hope for a bright future with regards to educational and research growth for African rheumatology. For years, trainees have had to travel between African countries for rheumatology fellowship programmes. The new normal of increased virtual collaboration and real-time delivery of educational sessions offers AFLAR members a horizon of possibilities and the chance to learn from the models of the more vibrant rheumatology services, such as those in northern Africa and South Africa.
The rise and sustenance of virtual academic offerings, service improvement, and research meetings will hopefully foster the growth of rheumatology services and promote effective continuing medical education in rheumatology across Africa. Following this trend, AFLAR is likely to grow in both its capacity and reach, as it uses the services of international volunteers and research collaborators to foster inclusiveness and develop Afrocentric clinical guidelines for the management of the various rheumatic diseases in Africa. Optimistically, as rheumatology develops further on the African continent, patient advocacy will also increase, leading to greater attention by policy makers towards better funding of training, procurement of biologics and equipment, as well as investments into research.

Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(20)30347-7/fulltext.

 

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COVID-19: Global alliance comes to Africa's rescue in vaccine rush
In the race for a coronavirus vaccine, many African countries feel disadvantaged. An international vaccine coalition has pledged millions of doses for developing nations. But experts warn that Africa must do more.

The entire world is anxiously waiting for the day when an effective and market-ready COVID-19 vaccine could return life to normalcy.

The World Health Organization lists 191 coronavirus vaccine projects underway. Forty of these are in clinical evaluation. which means that they are now being tested on humans.

But wealthy countries are seeking to secure many of these vaccines for themselves once they are licensed and approved. Countries including the US, Great Britain and Japan, as well as the European Union which signed a deal as a block, have already pre-ordered 2 billion doses of at least six vaccines in development, according to the science journal Nature.

Such a move is incomprehensible, says South African epidemiologist Salim Abdool Karim.

"It is disturbing that some countries have fallen victim to vaccine nationalism," Karim told DW. "They have the false assumption that security is possible for some countries while the virus continues to spread in poorer countries that cannot buy vaccines. It is simply wrong to think that you can be safe when others are not."

Karim's opinion is clear: "It is in the best interest of the whole world to distribute vaccines in a fair way to as many people as possible."

Read more: Germany's trade with Africa falls amid coronavirus pandemic

Vaccine alliance to assist developing nations

That is precisely the goal of an international progam called COVAX to ensure fair distribution of a vaccine set up by WHO, together with the Gavi, a vaccine alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

WHO also relies on something called the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) through which research results and intellectual property such as vaccine formulations are also shared.

The COVAX program wants to to prevent a repeat of the situation in 2009 and 2010 when African countries were supplied with a swine fever vaccine a year after the outbreak — a small group of wealthy countries had bought up the stocks.

"We will never have enough [coronavirus] vaccines if we assume that we need two doses for every person worldwide," says Aurelia Nguyen, Gavi Director of Vaccines and Sustainability.

But the virus knows no boundaries. Without fair access to vaccines for all countries, there can be no return to normality. Nguyen stressed in an interview with DW.

"We want to secure 2 billion doses of vaccine by the end of 2021. That would be enough to vaccinate the most vulnerable people such as the elderly, frail persons, nurses, and medical staff in every country."

More than 150 countries on board

The project requires not only money but also solidarity. However, Nguyen is confident this can be achieved "because, through our program, we can pool the purchasing power of a large group of countries and be stronger together," she said.

Higher-earning nations are self-financing. The vaccine alliance was overwhelmed by the swift commitment of more than 71 high-earning countries.

"In socially and economically difficult times, we have governments from every continent that are participating in our plan." She said this took Gavi even further in efforts to provide life-saving vaccines to low income countries. "We can now sign four more contracts with development partners and manufacturing companies," Nguyen said.

The 92 low and middle-income countries worldwide would be financially supported by voluntary commitments. $2 billion (€1.7 billion) is to be raised through donations from states and the private sector, while $700 million has already been donated. Together, this could already cover around 64% of the world's population.

"All countries should receive the same vaccines at the same time," Nguyen stressed.

More local manufacturers wanted

Nevertheless, South African expert Karim believes Africa needs to look more closely at locally producing a vaccine against the coronavirus. "South Africa has currently not found a vaccine, I am disappointed about that," says Karim.

Karim says four companies in Africa are capable of either manufacturing or packaging such a product that can be made available in quantities on the continent.

He noted that individual African countries are already working on identifying groups that should be prioritized when distributing the vaccines. This is important in preparation for taking the next step, he said.

Most countries in Africa have experience vaccinating children but not adults.

"The cost of implementing targeted vaccination campaigns for specific professional or age groups will be high," Karim said.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/covid-19-global-alliance-comes-to-africas-rescue-in-vaccine-rush/a-55091668.

 

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Coronavirus - Africa: 13% decrease in COVID-19 cases for African Region

There has been a 13% decrease in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the WHO African Region compared to the last reporting period. 84% of cases have recovered.

For more detailed analysis, read our most recent COVID-19 Situation Report: https://bit.ly/3n48upA.

10 countries account for 87% (1,175,271) of reported COVID-19 cases in the African Region: South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Algeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar & Senegal. South Africa accounts for 57% of cases.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/527...decrease-in-covid-19-cases-for-african-region.

 

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Nigerian scientists develop cheaper and faster Covid-19 test kits

(CNN)Scientists in Nigeria have developed a cheaper and faster Covid-19 test kit that will enable testing to be ramped up in a place that has faced kit shortages and chronic under-testing of a massive population, according to the country's health authorities.

The new test is cheaper than other PCR tests -- the most common type of test -- and can give results in less than 40 minutes, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) said.
The diagnostic test kit will cost less than $25 and samples can be analyzed using a mobile machine that can be operated by low-skilled personnel with minimal training, the agency said.

"We saw the need for more testing outfits, especially one that can give results in a short time because hospitals were refusing to treat patients without Covid-19 results," Babatunde Salako, the director of NIMR, told CNN.
"The machine we use is not the common PCR one. We bought the machine and adapted the kit that we developed to work with this machine. It is meant for diagnosis of other pathogens," Salako said.
Although Salako added that the detection rate of the NIMR test kit is "a bit lower than the PCR, but for the point of care, we believe it is good enough for now."
Testing challenges
Nigeria currently imports PCR test kits from China and has faced challenges in getting enough kits to test most of its population of 200 million.
"We thought this one was very important as it will diversify the way testing is done. With this one, all the people in villages and remote areas can be tested by moving the machine to those villages," Salako, who has headed the agency since 2016 said.
So far, Nigeria has recorded more than 59,000 cases of Covid-19 and more than 1,000 deaths as of October 2, according to figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
Health authorities also report a declining number of cases, with treatment centers, known as isolation centers, being closed in the country.
Nigeria has Africa's largest population and has tested only about 500,000 people, according to figures from local health authorities. The PCR test is the most widespread and accurate diagnostic test
for determining whether someone is currently infected with coronavirus.
However, the tests require specialized supplies, expensive instruments, and the expertise of trained lab technicians, which has led to shortages and a testing gap globally.

While testing in Nigeria is free in state-owned laboratories, there are few such facilities and they are only in major cities. And sometimes, health officials have had to transfer samples to other states to confirm results because of a shortage of kits.
"It has always been my concern and passion to see that Nigeria doesn't have to take samples outside to diagnose. We have scientists who are capable of this if they have the necessary support. That was what led to a visit to Senegal and China, We had collaboration to train our people in pathogen detection, even before Covid started, we went in August and September 2019 to train our scientists."
Salako said the test kits will be mass-produced once validated by the regulatory authorities -- the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria. "We do not expect the validation to take so long.
"The only limitation is that we have to produce more samples of these kits and acquire some new machines that are key to our work. Once that is done, we can mass produce with government support and serve markets in all of Africa."

In a separate announcement this week, the World Health Organization, working with several regional partners and donor agencies, said it had concluded plans to supply 120 million "affordable" and high-quality Covid-19 rapid tests to low- and middle-income countries, including in Africa.
The antigen rapid diagnostic tests, the agency said, would sell below $5.
Nigeria is not the first country to produce testing kits on the continent. In March, Senegal's scientists worked with a UK-based laboratory to create a diagnostic test for coronavirus that can produce test results within 10 minutes.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/03/africa/nigeria-cheaper-covid-19-test-kits-intl/index.html.

 

[sweep_shot]

Africa is still the least affected region so far, accounting for only about six per cent of global cases.

About 1,506,185 cases have been reported in the continent of over a billion people, according to the African Centre for Disease Control (ACDC).

Over 36,000 people have died of the contagion in Africa.

These include the former chief of staff to Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari; the former president of the Republic of the Congo, Jacques Joachim Yhombi-Opango; and Somalia’s former prime minister, Nur Hassan Hussein.

A third of all infected persons in Africa – 1,127,034 – have recovered and have been discharged after treatment.

The virus has spread to all 54 countries in Africa, stretching already fragile healthcare systems and crippling economies.

Concerns have also shifted from the daily rise of infections to the economic downturn, plummeting oil and commodity prices, and an imploding tourism sector occasioned by the restrictions put in place to contain the disease.

The pandemic has triggered the continent’s first recession in 25 years, according to the World Bank.

Thousands of workers have been rendered redundant, with several businesses closing up.

About 20 million jobs are at risk in Africa due to the impact of the contagion, according to an African Union study.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news...-million-africa-records-over-1-5-million.html.

 

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus cases surpass 1.5M in Africa
Death toll stands at over 36,700, while recoveries reach 1.2M, says Africa CDC

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

The number of coronavirus cases in Africa surpassed 1.5 million on Monday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said.

At least 36,787 people have died while 1.2 million patients recovered across the continent, it said in its latest update.

Southern Africa recorded 746,500 cases of which the share of South Africa alone stands at 681,300, making the Rainbow Nation the most affected country with 17,000 deaths.

North Africa recorded 354,800 virus cases, West Africa 178,600, East Africa 175,900 and Central Africa 58,100.

At least 11,400 people died in North Africa, 3,400 in East Africa, 2,600 in West Africa and 1,100 in Central Africa.

Some 664,400 patients recovered in Southern Africa, 273,600 in North Africa, 159,700 in West Africa, 101,100 in East Africa and 51,300 in Central Africa.

Meanwhile, schools reopened in Cameroon with strict coronavirus guidelines and orders to acquire ThermoFlash devices for temperature checks.

Officials in the Central African country say routine temperature checks will be carried out every morning before pupils access the school premises.

Some schools will operate in shifts for students, teachers, as well as administrative staff.

Students are obliged to wear masks and wash hands before entering the school premises.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/coronavirus-cases-surpass-15m-in-africa/1995893.

 

[sweep_shot]

15 COVID Vaccine Clinical Trials Underway in Africa

JOHANNESBURG — Fifteen clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines are underway across the African continent, according to a comment published in the journal Nature by Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Five trials are occurring in South Africa and four in Egypt, with a single trial each in Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

African nations have teamed up to combat the pandemic, with painful memories of millions of Africans dying in the decade it took for affordable HIV drugs to become available on the continent.

“Africa has ended up at the end of the queue every time” in the race for disease therapies, the Nature comment said. But COVID-19 has jolted the African Union into jointly pursuing vaccine trials and even vaccine manufacturing.

The Africa CDC estimates the continent will need 1.5 billion vaccine doses, enough to give 60% of the population the two doses likely required. Vaccines and delivery could cost up to $10 billion, and delivery across the vast continent will be a major challenge.

The Nature comment indicates that authorities are willing to partner with beverage companies, noting that “refrigerated bottles of Coca-Cola are available in even the remotest areas of Africa.”

Source: https://www.thenationalherald.com/c...ghing_mandatory_mask_wearing_outdoors-963795/.

 

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus in Africa: Five reasons why Covid-19 has been less deadly than elsewhere

Many African countries have been praised for waging an effective campaign to combat the spread of coronavirus despite their reputation for having fragile state heath systems.

The continent, which has a population of more than one billion, has had about 1.5 million cases, according to data compiled by the John Hopkins University.

Africa has recorded about 37,000 deaths, compared with roughly 580,000 in the Americas, 230,000 in Europe, and 205,000 in Asia.

These figures are far lower than those in Europe, Asia or the Americas, with reported cases continuing to decline.

"The case-fatality ratio (CFR) for Covid-19 in Africa is lower than the global CFR, suggesting the outcomes have been less severe among African populations," noted a recent continental study by Partnership for Evidence-based Response to Covid-19 (PERC), which brings together a number of private and public organisations.

Low testing rates continue to undermine the continental response however, there is no indication that a large number of Covid-19 deaths have been missed, said Dr John Nkengasong, the head of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

So what are some of the reasons for Africa's relatively low death rate?

1: Quick action

The first case on the continent was confirmed in Egypt on 14 February. There were fears that the new virus could quickly overwhelm largely fragile health systems on the continent.

So, right from the beginning, most African governments took drastic measures to try and slow the spread of the virus.

Public health measures - including avoiding handshakes, frequent hand-washing, social distancing and wearing of face masks - were swiftly introduced.

Some countries - like Lesotho - acted even before a single case was reported.

It declared an emergency and closed schools on 18 March, and went into a three-week lockdown about 10 days later in unison with many other southern Africa states.

But only days after the lockdown was lifted - in early May - did Lesotho find its first confirmed cases. In a population of more than 2 million, it has so far recorded about 1,700 cases and 40 deaths.

2: Public support
In a survey conducted in 18 countries in August by PERC, public support for safety measures was high - 85% of respondents said they wore masks in the previous week.

"With strict public health and social measures implemented, African Union member states were able to contain the virus between March and May," the report said.

It added that "minor loosening [of restrictions] in June and July coincided with an increase in the reported cases across the continent".

Since then, there has been a notable drop in the number of confirmed cases and deaths in about half of the continent, possibly linked to the end of the southern hemisphere winter.

The implementation of the restrictions came at a huge cost. Livelihoods were lost on a large scale. South Africa - which had one of the most stringent lockdowns in the world - lost 2.2 million jobs during the first half of the year.

More and more countries have been forced to re-open their economies even though the number of cases is much higher than when they ordered the shutdowns.

According to the PERC report, public opinion about re-opening the economy was mixed - six in 10 respondents said economies needed to re-open, and believed that the risk of getting Covid-19 was minimal if social distancing rules were followed.

However, seven in 10 said that thinking about resuming normal activities made them feel anxious.

"The data suggests that people across the AU see Covid-19 as a serious threat, but for many, the economic and social burdens outweigh their personal risk perception of catching the virus," concluded the report.

3: Young population - and few old-age homes
The age of the population in most African countries is also likely to have played a role in containing the spread of Covid-19.

Globally, most of those who have died have been aged over 80, whileAfrica is home to the world's youngest population with a median age of 19 years, according to UN data.

"The pandemic has largely been in younger age groups... about 91% of Covid-19 infection in sub-Saharan Africa are among people below 60 years and over 80% are asymptomatic," said the World Health Organization (WHO).

"We have [in Africa] about 3% of the population aged over 65 years," sad Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Africa head.

In comparison, Europe, North America and wealthier Asian countries have the oldest inhabitants.

"One of the big drivers in Western countries is that the elderly people were living in specialized homes and these became places where the transmission was very intense," Dr Moeti added.

These homes are rare in most African countries, where older people are more likely to be living in rural areas.

It is the norm in many African countries for people to return to their rural homes when they retire from employment in urban areas.

The population density in rural areas is lower and therefore maintaining social distance much easier.

Furthermore, an underdeveloped transport system within and between countries appears to have been a blessing in disguise. It means that Africans do not travel as much as people do in more developed economies, minimising contact.

4: Favourable climate
A study conducted by researchers in the University of Maryland in the US found a correlation between temperature, humidity and latitude, and the spread of Covid-19.

"We looked at the early spread [of the virus] in 50 cities around the world. The virus had an easier time spreading in lower temperatures and humidity," said Mohammad Sajadi, the lead researcher.

"Not that it doesn't spread in other conditions - it just spreads better when temperature and humidity drop."

African countries away from the tropics have been worse off.

The spread of the virus accelerated in South Africa as the southern hemisphere went into winter.

But as it became warmer, the number of cases dropped significantly, impacting the continental outlook, as South Africa accounts for almost half the total number of cases and deaths on the continent.

5: Good community health systems
The Covid-19 pandemic came at a time when the Democratic Republic of Congo was dealing with its biggest outbreak of Ebola yet. Neighbouring states were on high alert, and the health screening of travellers for Ebola was extended to include Covid-19.

Several West African states - which battled the world's worst ever outbreak of Ebola from 2013-16 - had also mastered the public health measures that have been used to prevent Covid-19, including isolating the infected, tracing their contacts and then getting them quarantined while they get tested.

Furthermore, in Africa's most populous state, Nigeria, teams that had been going into villages to vaccinate children against polio were quickly re-purposed to educate communities about the new pandemic.

This is a point that Dr Rosemary Onyibe, who had been working on the polio eradication programme, made in April:

"Once I heard the news, I instantly thought: duty is calling. My expertise is needed to serve my community.

"We immediately mobilized the existing polio personnel, tracking contacts and conducting follow-up visits."

So, while hospital infrastructure in much of Africa is less developed than in other parts of the world, the continent's strength lay in its tried and tested community health systems.

But all this doesn't mean that people in Africa can afford to relax.

"The slower spread of infection in the region means we expect the pandemic to continue to smoulder for some time, with occasional flare-ups," Dr Moeti said.

Source: https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-africa-five-reasons-why-232059451.html.

 

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In Tackling COVID-19, Africa Gives World Lesson

ADDIS ABABA - Africa's response to COVID-19 has gained global recognition for its fast and targeted action.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control has helped direct the continent's 54 countries into an alliance praised for responding better than some richer countries, including the United States. Africa has registered 37,000 deaths since the first case was announced, compared to more than 210,000 in the U.S.

In late February, after Egypt confirmed Africa's first COVID-19 cases, John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control, called a high-level meeting of health ministers.

More than 40 ministers from around the continent scrambled to Addis Ababa on February 22. Nigeria's health minister, Osagie Ehanire, even changed his schedule while on a trip to Europe to be present.

Within days, Africa CDC had produced the Africa Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19, a blueprint to coordinate government action to combat the coronavirus, Nkengasong told VOA in an interview. Zimbabwe, which had not yet confirmed its first case, pre-emptively implemented a full state emergency that restricted flights and large gatherings.

In South Africa, a lockdown was implemented on March 27, before even 1,000 COVID-19 cases had been recorded. Nkengasong said case numbers in places like South Africa could have been more than twice as high if such drastic action hadn't been taken.

"That momentum that we had developed in Addis Ababa became the galvanizing force for countries to do the work we had agreed on," he said. "This COVID-19 crisis has really exposed the divisions that exist in the world, and also exposed the unity on the continent. I think the continent has come together more than I've ever seen in my 30 years of public health service."

While Nkengasong said factors such as climate conditions, the average age of citizens, genetics and antibodies from pre-existing infections may have led to a lower number of deaths, the sense of urgency back in February also contributed.

In June, the Africa CDC launched a joint procurement platform so governments can get protective personal equipment and other medical supplies. A testing campaign has resulted in more than 15 million tests being conducted across the continent to date.

Nkengasong said that South Africa, which holds the rotating presidency of the African Union, convenes talks between heads of state and the Africa CDC once a month. And a campaign has recently been designed to coordinate how people in Africa travel through airports.

"We've put in more than 10,000 community health care workers and over 200 responders. There is epidemiologists, infection control people across multiple countries. I think for Africa we have done the best with the limited resources that we have," he said.

Emmanuel Agogo, country representative for Resolve to Save Lives, a team of global health experts aiding governments on their COVID-19 strategies, said in an interview that the reason for fewer deaths in Africa remained a mystery.

But, he said, a younger demographic, the fact many of the first cases were constrained to wealthier people entering the continent via plane, and the high number of people using anti-viral medicine could all have contributed.

Agogo said a World Health Organization initiative of Joint External Evaluations, which helps countries to prevent, detect and respond to public health risks, bolstered the ability of governments to act quickly.

"By doing that, they actually knew where the furniture was," he said. "They knew the gaps in their preparedness and they all developed national plans."

Agogo said that countries in Africa deserved kudos for implementing safety measures despite the economic fallout from doing so, and that the Africa CDC had learned much from coordinating responses with the likes of Ebola in Congo and Lassa fever in Nigeria.

Source: https://www.voanews.com/africa/tackling-covid-19-africa-gives-world-lesson.

 

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Coronavirus - Africa: COVID-19 halting crucial mental health services in Africa, WHO survey

Critical funding gaps are halting and disrupting crucial mental health services in Africa, as demand for these services rise amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a new World Health Organization (WHO) survey shows.

The survey of 28 African countries was undertaken as part of the first global examination of the devastating impact of COVID-19 on access to mental health services. It underscores the urgent need for increased funding. Of the countries responding in the African region, 37% reported that their COVID-19 mental health response plans are partially funded and a further 37% reported having no funds at all.

This comes as the COVID-19 pandemic increases demand for mental health services.

“Isolation, loss of income, the deaths of loved ones and a barrage of information on the dangers of this new virus can stir up stress levels and trigger mental health conditions or exacerbate existing ones,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown, more than ever, how mental health is integral to health and well-being and must be an essential part of health services during outbreaks and emergencies.”

African countries account for 15 of the top 30 countries globally for suicide per 100 000 people. While there is scant data on how COVID-19 is increasing mental health conditions on the African continent, one study in South Africa found that 10–20% of the 220 people surveyed reported potent experiences of anxiety and fear as a result of the pandemic. Another survey of 12 000 women in low-income communities in Uganda and Zambia found an increase in persistent stress, anxiety and depression.

The WHO assessment of mental health services took place in July and August 2020 and 27 of the 28 African nations which responded have included mental health in their COVID-19 response plans, underscoring the growing recognition of the importance of this once neglected area of health.

In Africa, substance use disorder services were the mental health services facing the biggest disruptions. The main causes for the disruptions were due to patients failing to turn up, travel restrictions hindering access to health facilities and a decrease in patient volume due to cancellations of elective care.

While at the global level, up to 70% of countries have responded to the challenges posed by COVID-19 with telemedicine, in Africa governments have set up counselling helplines and increased training for key health responders in basic psychosocial skills.

Even before the pandemic, the region had one of the lowest mental health public expenditure rates, at less than US$ 10 cents per capita.

With increasing pressure on health systems and rising demand, stretched and chronically underfunded mental health services are under increasing strain.

“COVID-19 is adding to a long-simmering mental health care crisis in Africa. Leaders must urgently invest in life-saving mental health care services,” said Dr Moeti.

“We also need more action to provide better mental health information and education, to boost and expand services, and to enhance social and financial protection for people with mental disorders, including laws to ensure human rights for everyone.”

The WHO Regional Office for Africa has released guidance on managing COVID-19 and mental health for health workers and the general public. WHO is assisting African governments in responding to the pandemic as fits their unique circumstances.

Dr Moeti spoke during a virtual press conference today organized by APO Group. She was joined by Hon Dr Manaouda Malachie, Minister of Public Health, Cameroon; and Dr Naeem Dalal, Psychiatrist Registrar, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka.

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2020/10/...-mental-health-services-in-africa-who-survey/.

 

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Egypt records 121 new COVID-19 cases

Egypt reported late on Thursday 121 new infections and seven deaths of COVID-19, bringing the total cases registered in the country to 104,156, including 6,017 deaths, said the Egyptian Health Ministry.

Meanwhile, 32 patients completely recovered from the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, increasing the total recoveries to 97,524, Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said in a statement.

Egypt announced its first confirmed COVID-19 case on Feb. 14 and the first death from the viral disease on March 8.

Around mid-June, Egypt saw a peak of COVID-19 daily infections and deaths, with a record 97 deaths on June 15 and 1,774 infections on June 19, before they started to gradually decline in the first week of July.

Egypt has been easing relevant restrictions over the past three months as part of a coexistence plan to maintain anti-coronavirus precautionary measures while resuming economic activities.

Egypt and China have been cooperating closely in fighting the pandemic through exchanging medical aid and expertise.

In early February, Egypt sent a batch of medical supplies to China to help with its fight against COVID-19 and China later sent three batches of medical aid to the North African country.

Source: https://africa.cgtn.com/2020/10/09/egypt-records-121-new-covid-19-cases/.

 

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Africa needs $1.2 tn of financing to beat Covid-19 hit: IMF

African countries will need $1.2 trillion through 2023 to repair the economic damage inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Friday.

About $345 billion in financing has not yet been pledged, Georgieva said in a speech, while commitments from official lenders and international institutions cover less than a quarter of the projected need.

"All of us -- countries and institutions -- must do more to support Africa to cope with the next phase, which is building a recovery from this crisis," Georgieva said.

The Washington-based crisis lender estimates Africa will see its GDP contract 2.5 percent in 2020, one of the worst downturns the continent has ever seen. And while recovery will begin next year, pre-crisis levels of growth won't be reached until 2022.

With private sector financing limited, the IMF projects a funding gap of $44 billion for this year alone, and 43 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty on the continent, wiping out five years of progress in poverty reduction.

The IMF has significantly increased its financial assistance to the continent, providing about $26 billion to more than 40 countries this year, while the World Bank has provided around $21.9 billion in loans.

African countries have more than a million cases of Covid-19 with 23,000 deaths, the IMF said.

Source: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/africa-needs-1-2-tn-194154846.html.

 

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Africa: Virus cases pass 1.55M, deaths near 38,000
More than 1.29M COVID-19 patients have recovered across continent, according to Africa CDC

ADDIS ABABA

Coronavirus cases in Africa are now over 1.55 million (1,556,262), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said in an update on Saturday.

At least 37,922 people have died across the continent, it said.

However, the figures also indicated that more than 1.29 million (1,292,306) patients have recovered.

Southern Africa has 755,943 confirmed cases, North Africa 379,125, West Africa 180,660, East Africa 181,937, and Central Africa 58,597.


New measures in DR Congo

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the government has adopted new measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The country has recorded 10,835 virus cases to date, including 276 deaths and 10,242 recoveries, according to the Africa CDC.

Among the measures approved by Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga are mandatory wearing of masks and respect for physical distancing rules in public places (transport, schools, workplaces), sanitization of places of worship and work, and increased handwashing facilities.

People entering or leaving the country must present a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within seven days from an institution approved by the Health Ministry.

The same requirement also applies for travel between provinces within the country.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-...us-cases-pass-155m-deaths-near-38-000/2002064.

 

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South Africa registers 1,575 new COVID-19 cases

South Africa recorded 1,575 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the number of infections to 692,471, Health Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Mkhize said 107 people died from the virus during the same period, bringing fatalities to 17,780.

The ministry also said the nation has conducted 4.4 million tests since the virus was first detected in the country six months ago, with 19,270 performed in the past 24 hours.

At least 623,765 patients have recovered which translates to a recovery rate of 90%, the ministry said.

South Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Africa.

Source: https://africa.cgtn.com/2020/10/12/south-africa-registers-1575-new-covid-19-cases/.

 

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Africa: Over 1.3M people recover from coronavirus
WHO head says Africa only region where COVID-19 cases not increasing

ADDIS ABABA

The number of patients who have recovered from the novel coronavirus in Africa has reached 1.31 million, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.

With the number of cases having stood at 1.58 million, active cases are 272,356, it said in its latest update.

At least 38,597 people have died of virus-related complications so far across the continent, which has 54 countries.

Southern Africa recorded 762,300 cases, North Africa 395,400, East Africa 186,000, West Africa 182,000 and Central Africa 58,800.

At least 19,200 people have died of the infection in Southern Africa, 12,100 in North Africa, 3,500 in East Africa, 2,700 in West Africa and 1,100 in Central Africa.

Southern Africa saw 679,000 people recovering from the virus, North Africa 301,400, West Africa 163,900, East Africa 115,400 and Central Africa 52,400.

- 'Africa virus cases not increasing'

The WHO chief has said that Africa has done better than expected in tackling the outbreak.

‘’One of the few encouraging trends is in Africa, which has been less affected than other regions and is now the only region where cases are not increasing,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the Financial Times Africa Summit on Monday. “The current downward trend is cause for optimism."

Tedros said Africa's long experience responding to infectious diseases means that a number of countries already have the expertise, laboratory infrastructure, and networks of community health workers that are critical for containing COVID-19.

He said African countries have increased virus testing "but still there are problems with access to testing kits.’’

‘’Just as with the rest of the world, Africa must remain vigilant with this virus,’’ he added.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/africa-over-13m-people-recover-from-coronavirus/2004575.

 

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Africa reports 1.59M COVID-19 cases, 38,868 deaths

Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative worth $100M set up to boost disease surveillance, emergency response

YAOUNDE, Cameroon

The number of COVID-19 pandemic cases in the African continent has now grown to 1.59 million, with 38,868 deaths, the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday.

Out of those infected, 1.31 million patients have recovered from the pandemic.

Southern Africa still leads the numbers with 763,958 confirmed cases. Other regions North Africa has reported 400,109, West Africa 182,544, East Africa 187,017, and Central Africa 58,921 cases.

South Africa remains the hardest-hit country in the continent with 694,537 coronavirus cases with 18,028 deaths and 625,574 recoveries.

Earlier this week, with the help of Africa CDC, a group of public, private and non-profit organizations, led by the African Union Commission launched the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI).

The initiative worth $100 million spread over four-years is aimed to expand access to next-generation genomic sequencing tools and expertise to strengthen public health surveillance and laboratory networks across Africa.

“Strengthening genomic surveillance systems is key for early notification and control of disease outbreaks,” John Nkengasong Africa CDC director said in a statement on Monday.

Next-gen pathogen genomic sequencing can help public health institutions quickly detect outbreaks - but not all countries have access to these tools, Africa CDC said in a series of tweets on Wednesday.

The Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative will help strengthen genomics capacity in more 20 public health institutions.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/latest-on-...rts-159m-covid-19-cases-38-868-deaths/2006204.

 

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Coronavirus Pandemic Worsens Hunger, Malnutrition in Parts of Africa

Hunger and malnutrition are worsening in parts of the African continent because of the coronavirus pandemic, especially in low-income communities or those already stricken by continued conflict, according to a survey of 2,400 people in 10 African countries by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The survey, conducted from June to August, shows the pandemic has caused job losses and curtailed people’s ability to farm or access markets.

“The risk is that as food prices rise and people's income plummets, we could see a rise in malnutrition because families can’t afford enough food, or that the foods they can afford are less nutrient-rich,” said ICRC’s economic security analyst for Africa, Pablo Lozano.

Since the start of the pandemic, 94% of respondents reported that prices for food and other essentials in their local markets had increased, while 82% said they had lost income or revenue. Only 7% said they had enough savings to cope with a prolonged crisis.

Lozano said the survey shows people are struggling financially “in the communities in which we work, especially true among those who relied on day labor to get by or small business owners, as well as communities that were already struggling with food insecurity due to conflict or violence.”

In Western Africa, in Nigeria’s conflict-stricken northeast, the number of children treated by the outpatient nutrition program grew by 20%, while the number of severe malnutrition cases grew by 10% compared with the same period last year.

The increase in patients was recorded even though ICRC’s community outreach program has been on hold due to COVID-19. The ICRC said it is worried about the increase and predicts even more patients once work resumes.

“We are very concerned by the trend, especially in Maiduguri,” said Thomas Ndambu, ICRC nutritionist, who is “certain that when Nigerian Red Cross volunteers resume their community outreach, the number of malnutrition cases will surge.”

In nearby Burkina Faso, unabated violence despite the pandemic has displaced about 2.8 million people. These forcibly displaced people are now estimated to face crisis levels of food insecurity or worse, representing an increase of more than 200% from the same period a year ago, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification System.

Mathew Kenyanjui, economic security coordinator of the ICRC in Burkina Faso, cautioned that the level of hunger is “rising dangerously due to violence, lack of access to arable land, fragile adaptation strategies, such as sales of household assets and livestock.” This situation has been compounded by the cyclical droughts and the flooding this year, he added.

UNICEF and the World Food Program reported that a survey conducted in August in 11 municipalities in Burkina Faso found 11% of children under the age of 5, and pregnant and breastfeeding women, to be suffering from moderate acute malnutrition, and 3% suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

The trend is no different in the easternmost part of the continent in Somalia. Seventeen-thousand malnourished children under the age of 5, and pregnant and breastfeeding women, were assisted in the first six months of 2020, compared with 11,900 in all of 2019. Here, too, the number is expected to climb by year-end because of a combination of violence, conflict, floods, locusts and COVID-19 complications.

In Chad, the situation has deteriorated dramatically in 2020 because of the highly volatile security situation in parts of the country that has forced people from their homes, often more than once. Exacerbating the situation is COVID-19 and climate shocks including droughts and floods. In the Lake Chad region, 65% of families in the country are estimated to live on just $2 a day.

Flooding also has compounded already staggering food insecurity and malnutrition levels in South Sudan, where more than half of the country’s 11 million people are estimated to face severe food insecurity. That is combined with protracted conflict and armed violence, which has affected livelihoods for decades and forced millions of people to flee their homes and abandon their crops. Additionally, markets often are destroyed in armed clashes, disrupting people’s access to food.

Additionally, the ICRC is concerned that if borders are closed due to COVID-19, South Sudan would face dramatic consequences and the level of food insecurity would rise significantly, given that much of the country’s food is imported.

The ICRC survey was also conducted in countries where the ICRC continues to work, including Mauritania, Niger, Cameroon, Libya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Source: https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pa...emic-worsens-hunger-malnutrition-parts-africa.

 

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Africa faces ‘crucial’ moment as Covid-19 infections surge again

The number of coronavirus infections and related deaths in Africa is on the rise again following an easing of restrictions, the World Health Organisation warns.

With the easing of travel restrictions, there is a fear that the rising number of infections in Europe might spill over to the African continent “at the very time when Africa is reopening its borders to business travellers and tourists,” WHO director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti stated.

“We know the very close connection between Africa and Europe, and we also know that the importation (of the virus) into virtually all African countries has come from Europe,” she said.

Over the past 30 days, weekly infections have increased by an average of 7% across the continent and deaths by 8%, according to the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), a specialized agency of the African Union (AU).

The 55 states of the AU have so far recorded about 1.6 million cases, or 4.2% of the global total, according to CDC Africa. The 39,000 deaths recorded in Africa represent 3.6% of the world total, while its inhabitants represent 17% of the world’s population.

Source: https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/...a-coronavirus-european-union-eu-pandemic-aid/.

 

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Africa: Coronavirus cases top 1.62M, deaths over 39,500
Over 1.3M COVID-19 patients have also recovered across continent, according to Africa CDC

YAOUNDE, Cameroon

Africa's coronavirus cases to date now total over 1.62 million, according to Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) figures released Saturday.

At least 39,584 people have died across the continent, according to the Africa CDC, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

However, the figures also showed that nearly 1.34 million people have recovered from the deadly virus.

By region, Southern Africa to date has had 771,345 confirmed cases, and North Africa 416,553 cases, East Africa 191,277, West Africa 184,068, and Central Africa 59,212.

South Africa is the hardest-hit country on the continent, with a total of 700,203 cases to date and 18,370 deaths.

''We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers that treated the deceased patients,'' South Africa’s Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said in an update late Friday.

''Our recoveries now stand at 629 260 which translates to a recovery rate of 90%,'' he added.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/africa-coronavirus-cases-top-162m-deaths-over-39-500/2009495.

 

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W.H.O. urges caution in Africa over potential increase in COVID-19 cases

The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) called on African countries to exercise caution regarding the coronavirus pandemic despite registering a downward trend in its curve during the past 90 days.

Africa continues to see contrasting statistics in different parts as some countries report declining tallies while others see a resurgence in the numbers of cases. Only three countries in the continent have reported more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases.

W.H.O. Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti warned that the decline in the number of cases had plateaued and the continent was at a “pivotal moment”.

“So, the continent is at a key juncture where countries could experience, an increase in cases. Sometimes called a new wave of increases,” Moeti said.

Moeti pointed out the development, even as the world was witnessing a resurgence in the number of new infections in Europe.

Europe, as a region, is reporting more daily cases than the United States, India and Brazil put together. The rise in cases is due to, far more testing being carried out than during the first wave of the pandemic.

On Friday, Europe reported more than 150,000 daily coronavirus cases in about a week after reporting 100,000 cases for the first time.

Moeti said it was essential that several African governments had been reopening their borders and schools, and relaxing restrictions on movement and gathering, adding that it was not desirable to have economies closed perpetually.

She further said she was happy to see that governments had used the lockdown period to strengthen their capacities to contain the pandemic.

“Working together with the W.H.O., Africa CDC and other partners African countries are now in a much better position to tackle challenges COVID-19 is throwing our way.”

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa, as of Saturday, stood at more than 1.6 million, according to figures from the W.H.O. while the number of deaths surpassed 38,000.

Source: https://africa.cgtn.com/2020/10/18/...ca-over-potential-increase-in-covid-19-cases/.

 

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Coronavirus death toll in Africa tops 39,700

Total number of cases exceeds 1.64M, recoveries cross 1.35M, says Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

The death toll in Africa from the novel coronavirus reached 39,738, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday.

The total number of confirmed cases have now crossed 1.64 million while more than 1.35 million patients have recovered.

Regionally, Southern Africa saw the most number of cases and deaths that have now stood at 776,000 and 19,900, respectively.

However, the region also has by far the largest number of recoveries that has now stood at 691,200.

North Africa recorded 430,200 cases, 12,400 deaths and 319,400 recoveries; East Africa 194,300 cases, 3,600 deaths and 121,900 recoveries; West Africa 185,000 cases, 2,700 deaths and 170,800 recoveries; and Central Africa 59,300 cases, 1,100 deaths and 52,800 recoveries.

The coronavirus has claimed more than 1.11 million lives in 189 countries and regions since first being detected in Wuhan, China in December.

The US, India and Brazil are currently the worst-hit countries.

Over 39.96 million cases have been reported worldwide, with recoveries exceeding 27.49 million, according to figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/coronavirus-death-toll-in-africa-tops-39-700/2011332.

 

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Coronavirus - Africa: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and European Investment Bank (EIB) expand partnership to support governments in tackling global crisis

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a new partnership agreement to scale up their support to countries facing situations of emergency caused by epidemics, natural disasters, conflict and other types of fragility. This agreement will enable both institutions to reinforce the resilience of partner countries and contribute to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The immediate focus will be to address setbacks, mainly caused by the COVID-19 crisis, in Eastern and Southern neighborhood, Central Asia and Africa.

In situations of emergency, conducting project procurement can represent a challenge too high to ensure a timely response to populations’ urgent needs. This new agreement will enable the UNDP to carry out the procurement required for the implementation of projects financed by the EIB in such situations. UNDP’s presence in fragile and conflict countries will greatly help EIB financing to reach the most vulnerable and allow both organizations to respond quicker to pressing requests.

During the online signing ceremony, Werner Hoyer, EIB president, and Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, exchanged their views on these challenging times.

EIB President Werner Hoyer said: “A coordinated response is paramount to help the most vulnerable countries recover from the COVID-19 crisis. The EIB, as part of “Team Europe”, has quickly reacted to the health crisis with the aim to build the grounds for a green and sustainable recovery. This Procedural Framework is a fundamental step towards a stronger cooperation with UNDP. It will allow us to leverage our respective strengths to get projects off the ground in situations of emergency and fragility, where time is of the essence to save lives and livelihoods.”

“We are facing an unprecedented crisis. As millions of people lose their jobs, it is estimated that the pandemic will cause the first ever increase in global poverty since 1998,” UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said. “The health, economic and social impact of COVID-19 can only be addressed by fast, efficient response and targeted funding – all of which require specific technical expertise that EIB and UNDP can offer jointly to our partners.”

UNDP’s partnership with EIB is essential to help countries access and leverage COVID-19 response financing and better prevent future crises. In 2016, the two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding enabling them to jointly address global challenges and share knowledge with each other in areas such as migration, climate change and crisis response.

Since then, EIB and UNDP have cooperated on a number of projects, including an Integrated Border Management Project and energy efficient public building refurbishment in Armenia, and the recovery and reconstruction of critical infrastructure, such as schools, clinics and centres which are accommodating internally displaced persons in eastern Ukraine. The two organizations also collaborate in other parts of the Globe. Earlier this year, the EIB and UNDP organized a large survey across Africa to understand better the digital solutions that can help the continent face the COVID-19 crisis and estimated the investment required. The study Africa’s digital solutions to tackle COVID-19 provided more than 100 high-impact digital solutions that can help curb the spread of COVID-19 in Africa. This include a self-diagnostic app available in 15 African countries.

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2020/10/...upport-governments-in-tackling-global-crisis/.

 

[sweep_shot]

Tanzania President John Magufuli: The man who 'banned' coronavirus

Tanzania President John Magufuli's idiosyncratic handling of the coronavirus pandemic has put the country in the global spotlight. Now one of the region's most unconventional leaders is seeking a second term.

When Covid-19 arrived in Tanzania, President Magufuli didn't believe in people staying at home. He wanted them to get into the churches and mosques to pray.

"Coronavirus, which is a devil, cannot survive in the body of Christ... It will burn instantly," Magufuli, a devout Christian, pronounced on 22 March from the altar of a church in Tanzania's capital, Dodoma.

He would later speak against social distancing and the wearing of masks, and questioned the efficacy of testing after sending various animals and fruit to be checked for the virus - he announced that a papaya, a quail and a goat had all tested positive. The president said he could not countenance closing down the economy, and excoriated neighbouring countries for doing so.

Although many might dismiss Magufuli's approach as eccentric, it is emblematic of his combative style.

He also purged thousands of so-called "ghost workers" - essentially non-existent employees - from the public payroll, and fired officials considered corrupt or under-performing, in public. Sometimes this was even done live on television.

And he clamped down on what he saw as extravagant spending, cancelling Independence Day celebrations for the first time in 54 years. Instead, he ordered a public clean-up, getting his own hands dirty by picking up rubbish outside State House.

In the first year of Magufuli's presidency, this approach earned him a great deal of praise, inspiring the Twitter hashtag: #WhatWouldMagufuliDo. While some posts mocked the president's austere policies - for example: "Was about to buy myself an oven then I asked myself #WhatWouldMagufuliDo" with a photo of a saucepan suspended over candles - others called for more African leaders to emulate his leadership style. In 2017, a Kenyan professor went so far as to call for the "Magufulication" of Africa during an address at the University of Dar es Salaam.

But from the outset, it was also clear there was a darker side to his leadership - that a number of his initiatives would slowly chip away at the country's democratic space.

The rap song which came true
In January 2016, barely two months into his term, his administration announced that state TV would no longer broadcast live parliamentary proceedings, as a cost-cutting measure. The opposition saw this as censorship as it was among the few ways it could hold the government to account. It planned demonstrations against the ban, but the government responded by banning all protests.

Another example of such censorship was Magufuli's response to a 2017 song by popular Tanzanian rapper Nay wa Mitego. Less than a day after its release, Mitego found himself in police custody.

"Is there still freedom of expression in this country?" the raspy-voiced artist, whose real name is Emmanuel Elibariki, had rapped.

"What if I speak and later find myself at Central [Police Station]?"

"Are there leaders who make stupid decisions? There are!"

"Are there those who miss [former president] Jakaya Kikwete? There are!"

He was accused of insulting the president and maligning the government. The fear he sang about had come true - he was now being detained at the Central Police Station in Dar es Salaam that he referenced in the lyrics.

Although President Magufuli ordered Nay wa Mitego's release just a day later, he advised that the song should be reworked to include lyrics about other problems in the society, such as tax cheats.

Magufuli's administration has continued to roll out a cocktail of bold and unusual directives, introducing new laws intended to increase revenue from multinational mining firms.

In 2017, Acacia Mining, a subsidiary of Canadian parent company Barrick Gold, was slapped with an incredible $190bn (£145bn) tax bill over royalties the government said it owed, though it denied any wrongdoing. As part of the settlement, Barrick eventually agreed to pay $300m after buying out Acacia, and a new operating company, Twiga Minerals, was formed with the government owning 16% of the joint venture. Barrick and the Tanzanian government also agreed to the sharing of unspecified future economic benefits from the mines on a 50-50 basis.

Then there was his highly contentious decree that Tanzanian schoolgirls who get pregnant cannot return to school even after they have given birth. And in 2018, Tanzania passed a law to punish anyone questioning official statistics, making the state the sole custodian of data. The World Bank said the changes were "deeply worrying".

Getting Tanzania's transport moving
But critics agree that Magufuli has contributed to Tanzania's development in recent years, investing in several large infrastructure projects such as the creation of a standard gauge railway to connect the country with its regional neighbours, the expansion of major highways, and the construction of a bus rapid transit system in the commercial hub of Dar es Salaam. He has also increased electricity production to the grid which has reduced the need for power rationing.

And he has revived the state-run national airline, Air Tanzania, which, plagued by debt and mismanagement for years, was effectively grounded with only one plane in its fleet when he took office.

The president appointed a new board and chief executive of the company, which has gone on to purchase six new planes and integrate others which were under maintenance.

The leader of the East African nation has also introduced free education for all Tanzanians in public schools up to the fourth year of secondary school.

'Data darkness' over coronavirus
But it is Magufuli's handling of the coronavirus pandemic which has brought particular international attention to his governance in recent months.

After the first case on 16 March, the only immediate shutdown was of schools and learning institutions. It took about a month for the country to bring in other restrictions - such as halting sporting activities and closing borders.

Buses and public transport carried fewer passengers, and numbers at pubs and restaurants were restricted, but World Health Organization (WHO) Africa director Matshidiso Moeti accused Tanzania of acting slowly to curb the spread of the virus.

"In Tanzania we have observed that physical distancing, including the prohibition of mass gatherings, took some time to happen and we believe that these might have been probable factors that led to a rapid increase in cases there," the WHO official said in April.

Markets and other workplaces stayed open as normal, as did places of worship.

"We have had a number of viral diseases, including Aids and measles. Our economy must come first. It must not sleep… Life must go on," Magufuli has said.

"Countries [elsewhere] in Africa will be coming here to buy food in the years to come… they will be suffering because of shutting down their economy."

In early June, Magufuli declared the country "coronavirus-free", and the health ministry also announced the closure of coronavirus treatment and isolation centres, which had been set up across the country.

Given Tanzania stopped publishing numbers of its coronavirus cases in May, it is difficult to verify how well the country's approach has worked. The country had 509 infections when it published its final tally on 29 April.

"The country operates in data darkness," Tanzanian analyst Aidan Eyakuze noted recently.

Hospitals around the country appear to be operating normally, though independent media and NGOs have not been able to check that themselves as access has been restricted. In July, doctors told the BBC that hospitals were not overwhelmed.

'I know what it means to be poor'
Magufuli was keen to deal with the virus on his own terms, rather than being influenced by the actions of other regional and international leaders. He styles his governance after Tanzania's first president, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, who was always fiercely independent.

"Our founding father was not someone to be directed to be told what to do… Those who devise these kinds of rules [lockdown] are used to making these directives that our founding father refused," Magufuli said, referring to Nyerere's habit of rejecting advice coming from Western nations, who the committed socialist distrusted.

Magufuli grew up under Nyerere's rule in a village in north-western Chato district along the shore of Lake Victoria, and says his modest background has inspired his own desire to work for the Tanzanian public.

"Our home was grass thatched, and like many boys I was assigned to herd cattle, as well as selling milk and fish to support my family," he said during his 2015 campaign.

"I know what it means to be poor. I will strive to help improve people's welfare," he added.

After school he worked for a year as a senior school maths and chemistry teacher before returning to further education. He worked for a few years as an industrial chemist before resigning in 1995 to run for the parliamentary seat in his own Chato constituency. After taking that seat, he quickly rose through the ranks to be appointed deputy minister for public works.

The department's senior minister, Mama Anna Abdallah, says his no-nonsense style, focused on efficiency and results, was quickly evident. In his first year in the job he succeeded in steamrolling through the building of a long-delayed road.

"He is a person who seems to want to leave a legacy… That's his character, he wants to make sure things are done properly," she told me.

By 2015, Magufuli wanted to run for the presidency. He is said to have been considered a consensus candidate for the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party - which had been in power for 54 years. Analysts say his lack of a political base was seen as an asset rather than a liability, his name not associated with corruption unlike some of his contemporaries.

The elections were the tightest in the country's history, but Magufuli pulled ahead to win with 58% of the vote.

Threatened for speaking out
As Tanzania approaches the vote for a new presidential term, calls for other regional leaders to emulate Magufuli's style have long diminished. He has faced criticism from political opponents, civil society and Western countries, who say he is oppressing the opposition, curtailing press freedom and holding foreign companies to ransom.

But as a president who has often styled himself as a stout African nationalist and a devout Catholic waging war against foreign powers seeking to exploit the East African nation, Magufuli is unlikely to be bothered by such censure.

In the country, few have stood up to him, but for some of those who have, the consequences have been grave.

The president's pronouncements are often final, says Zitto Kabwe, an opposition leader who has been arrested more than a dozen times since 2016.

"The state wants us to keep quiet, they threaten us. The best weapon for us is to speak up and radicalise even more," he told the AP news agency in July.

The main opposition candidate in the forthcoming election is Tundu Lissu from the Chadema party, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017, and required nearly three years in hospital abroad for treatment and rehabilitation. No-one has been convicted for the attempt on his life, and there have been no updates on the police investigation. A few weeks ago he was barred from campaigning by the electoral commission for seven days for alleged ethics violations regarding remarks he made against the president.

But while Magufuli discourages challenges to his authority, he is keen on speaking directly to members of the public and hearing what they have to say.

At the end of July, he chose to be driven rather than flown home from a state funeral so he could stop along the way to listen to bystanders' concerns. He stopped in Mkuranga and listened to their issues - about grabbed land, marital problems, women who had been disinherited, a school without desks. The president tried to find solutions, including holding a fundraiser on the spot.

An expat who worked for the multinational Telco says some of the country's civilians seem to genuinely love a president who gets things done.

As the fight for the presidency draws to a close, Magufuli has the advantage of incumbency, and is backed by a party that has never lost the presidency.

Opposition candidate Tundu Lissu is promising economic growth and respect for human rights. The other key opposition contender is Bernard Membe, a former minister and member of the CCM central committee, who is standing for the ACT-Wazalendo party.

If Magufuli does win a second term, he has promised to continue with infrastructural development and improve people's livelihoods.

But unless his style of governance changes, some opposition activists, independent journalists and critics will fear for their future.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54603689.

 

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus - Africa: New COVID-19 rapid tests a game changer for Africa

The roll-out of new, World Health Organization (WHO) approved antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests for the novel coronavirus in Africa will significantly boost testing capacity and marks a game changer in the continent’s fight against COVID-19.

Many African countries have struggled to test in sufficient numbers to control the pandemic, with only 12 in the region reaching a key threshold of 10 tests per 10 000 people per week during the past month. They have also often fallen short when compared to other countries of a similar size in a different region. For example, Senegal has significantly boosted its testing capacity but is testing 14 times less than the Netherlands. Nigeria is testing 11 times less than Brazil.

“The widespread use of high-quality rapid testing in Africa can revolutionize the continent’s response to COVID-19,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “The new, antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests will help meet the huge testing needs in Africa.”

Most countries in the region conduct polymerase chain reaction or PCR tests, the gold standard, which require laboratories, reagents and experts, limiting COVID-19 testing mostly to large cities. People can wait from 48 hours to more than ten days for results as they are sent for laboratory verification.

The new rapid tests are easy to use, cheaper than PCR tests and provide the results in just 15–30 minutes, enabling countries to decentralize testing.

“Most African countries are focused on testing travellers, patients or contacts, and we estimate that a significant number of cases are still missed. With rapid testing, authorities can stay a step ahead of COVID-19 by scaling up active case finding in challenging environments, such as crowded urban neighbourhoods and communities in the hinterlands.” said Dr Moeti.

Rapid antigen tests are an addition to PCR tests, not a replacement for them, and WHO recommends tests that are above 80% accurate. They are more reliable in patients who are symptomatic, with a high viral load, or a lot of virus in their upper respiratory tract.

Currently the two tests which WHO has approved for emergency use are the “standard Q COVID-19 Antigen Test by SD Biosensor Inc” and the “Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Device” manufactured by Abbott. They test for proteins produced by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. Bodily fluids are taken from a nasal swab and applied with liquid to a paper strip, where a dye gives the result.

WHO recommends that rapid antigen tests should be used in four scenarios: in suspected outbreaks where there is no access to PCR testing, including in remote, hard-to-reach areas; to trace the extent of an outbreak where at least one case is detected through PCR, including in close-contact settings such as prisons; among high-risk groups like health workers; and in areas with widespread community transmission.

Globally, 120 million of these tests are being made available to low- and middle-income countries through the ACT-Accelerator, a coalition launched by WHO and partners, comprising international organizations, the private sector and philanthropy. It aims to expedite the development, production and availability of promising tests, vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. Under the umbrella of the ACT-Accelerator, UNITAID, the Global Fund, FIND and the Africa Centres for Disease Control will distribute the tests in 20 African countries. WHO is also supporting countries to procure the tests through the supply portal set up by the United Nations.

WHO is working hand in hand with countries and partners to prepare for the roll out of the rapid tests by deploying technical experts, developing a training package and issuing key guidance documents with detailed information on which situation and how to use the tests.

Dr Moeti spoke during a virtual press conference today facilitated by APO Group. She was joined by Dr Abdoulaye Toure, Director-General of the National Institute of Public Health, Guinea; and Dr Susan Ndidde Nabadda, Head of the Ugandan National Health Laboratory Services and Central Public Health Laboratory.

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2020/10/...vid-19-rapid-tests-a-game-changer-for-africa/.

 

[sweep_shot]

Africa reports over 1.3 million coronavirus recoveries

Africa continued to maintain a more than 80% recovery rate with 1,387,022 patients having recovered as of Friday, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

At least 40,690 people have died of the virus across the continent, the latest update by the Africa CDC revealed. The number of confirmed cases has reached 1,685,589.

Health officials in Africa said the rollout of rapid diagnostic tests for COVID-19 could be a "game-changer” for their fight against the coronavirus but also warned Thursday that increased testing could drive up confirmed cases on a continent that has seen figures in decline or plateauing as case numbers soar in the West.

South Africa has by far the largest of continental figures with 785,600 cases and 20,300 deaths; however, it also has the most recoveries currently standing at 702,500. North Africa recorded 454,100 cases, East Africa, 199,800, West Africa, 186,600 and Central Africa, 59,500, according to data complied by Anadolu Agency (AA).

Some experts worry that Africa has lacked the ability to test widely enough so far, especially in hard-to-reach rural areas and that its case counts don't reflect reality and impede tracking the virus.

"African countries are gearing up to introduce antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests on a large scale and this will be a game-changer, we think, in the fight against COVID-19,” Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) regional director for Africa said.

Speaking from Brazzaville, Congo, at an online news conference, Moeti noted that the WHO Africa region comprised of sub-Saharan Africa plus Algeria – has seen a downward trend from a daily average of more than 15,000 cases in July to less than 4,000 in the past month – prompting some governments to pull back from their toughest containment measures.

"As countries ease restrictions on movement, some increase in cases is expected, but preventing an exponential rise is absolutely critical,” she said. From early on in the pandemic, officials at WHO headquarters in Geneva, including the U.N. health agency's Ethiopian director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, have expressed concerns that COVID-19 could have a big impact on weaker health systems like those in Africa.

However, developed countries with world-class health systems so far have been among the ones hardest hit by virus outbreaks. WHO's 54-nation European region tallied 927,000 cases in its latest weekly count, a new record high.

Dr. Susan Ndidde Nabadda, head of the Ugandan National Health Laboratory Services and Central Public Health Laboratory, suggested that it could take some time to ensure proper authorizations and a high-quality process before rapid diagnostic tests can be applied on a broader scale because "there is no longer really a lot of emergency” in Africa.

Nabadda cited reports indicating that the identification of COVID-19 cases increased in Guinea once the west African country started rolling out the RDTs, noting that "we might see more numbers coming on board” as the tests are deployed more widely.

She said the relative lack of testing in Africa could be one of the reasons why African case counts were lower than in developed countries. WHO announced last month that it and leading partners have agreed on a plan to roll out 120 million rapid diagnostic tests for COVID-19 to help lower- and middle-income countries to make up ground in a testing gap with richer countries.

The antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests for which the WHO issued an emergency use listing are intended to provide better testing access to areas where it is harder to distribute the PCR tests often in many wealthier nations.

The rapid tests look for antigens, or proteins, found on the surface of the virus. They are generally considered less accurate – though much faster – than PCRs, which are higher-grade genetic tests. PCR tests require processing with specialty lab equipment and chemicals – typically, delivering results to patients takes several days.

Source: https://www.dailysabah.com/world/africa/africa-reports-over-13-million-coronavirus-recoveries.

 

[sweep_shot]

Africa: Covid-19 Deaths Exceed 41,000

As of October 25, the confirmed cases of Covid-19 from 55 African countries have reached 1,709,387 . Reported deaths in Africa have reached 41,144 , and recoveries 1,397,522 .

South Africa has the most reported cases - 714,246, with deaths numbering 18,843. Other most-affected countries include Morocco (194,461), Egypt (106,397) Ethiopia (92,858), Nigeria (61,930) and Algeria (55,880).

The numbers are compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (world map) using statistics from the World Health Organization and other international institutions as well national and regional public health departments.

For the latest totals, see the AllAfrica clickable map with per-country numbers.

Visit the AllAfrica Coronavirus section for more coverage from across the continent. Also see: Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization Africa, and African Arguments.

Source: https://allafrica.com/stories/202010250040.html.

 

[sweep_shot]

South Africa records 1,622 new COVID-19 cases, 24 deaths

South Africa recorded 1,622 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the nationwide number to 715,868, according to its health minister.

“Regrettably, we report 24 COVID-19 related deaths today. This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths to 18,968,” Dr. Zweli Mkhize said in the latest update.

The top health official said of the 24 deaths reported today, 5 occurred in the past 48 hours

“We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health care workers who treated the deceased patients,” he said.

The country’s recovery rate now stands at 90.3 percent, which is equivalent to 646,170 people.

South Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 cases on the African continent and is the twelfth most affected country in the world after the UK, Mexico and Peru reported higher numbers.

Source: https://africa.cgtn.com/2020/10/25/south-africa-records-1622-covid19new-cases-24-deaths/.

 

[sweep_shot]

Was Africa ready for COVID-19 consequences?

Continent needs to establish new health orders to cope with 21st-century disease threats, says Africa CDC chief

ANKARA

While struggling with climate change, armed conflicts and poverty, African nations face a new version of a contagious virus with no vaccine to protect citizens or proper health care systems.

Since the coronavirus pandemic was reported on the continent in March, it has claimed 41,262 lives, while infecting 1,716,864, and 1,406,528 recoveries have been recorded, according to data compiled by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday.

Regionally, southern Africa suffered the most cases and deaths that now stand at 792,570 and 20,403, respectively.

However, the region also has the largest number of recoveries with 705,542.

North Africa, meanwhile, recorded 472,367 cases and 13,193 deaths.

COVID-19 has reportedly claimed 3,803 lives while infecting 204,718 in East Africa,.

West Africa, according to Africa CDC’s figures, has witnessed, 2,730 COVID-19-related deaths and 187,449 infections.

And in Central Africa, as of Monday, 1,133 COVID-19-related deaths and 59,760 cases, according to Africa CDC.

In an article about the pandemic’s effects on Africa, the director of Africa CDC John Nkengasong wrote last week: “The SARS-CoV-2 [COVID-19] pandemic has revealed that Africa needs a new public health order to be resilient, to adapt, and to cope with 21st-century disease threats.”

According to Nkengasong, this new order will need a “strengthened continental and national public health institutions; local manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics; attraction, training, and retention of a public health workforce; and fostering of respectful local and international partnerships.”

Nkengasong’s article comes while several international organizations and humanitarian NGOs have released reports regarding the serious situation, in particular African regions, regarding floods, armed conflicts, locust attacks and a lack of basic services like access to clean water or circumstances that allow social distance needed to avoid the contagious virus.

According to reports, even the international humanitarian fund allocated for Africa is facing a shortage to help African adults and children in the face of a complicated scene in which insecurity, hunger, poverty, health treat and being deprived of education opportunities are being mixed.

Poor health systems

In March 2017, a report shared by the UN said 1.6 million Africans have died of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV-related illnesses in 2015, mainly because of a lack of medicine.

“Less than 2% of drugs consumed in Africa are produced on the continent, meaning that many sick patients do not have access to locally produced drugs and may not afford to buy the imported ones,” it said.

For instance, in parts of Zimbabwe, nurses could give pain killers to patients as a “treat-all drug.”

It went on to voice that nearly 80% of Africans “rely on public health facilities, … with public health facilities suffering chronic shortages of critical drugs,” leaving many patients dead from “easily curable diseases.”

After COVID-19 invaded Africa, several reports talked about protests and strikes by doctors and health workers in African countries because of a lack of protection to deal with the contagious virus and providing help to infected patients.

Doctors and health workers also have suffered from a lack of rights, including prober wages and basic financial rights.

Kenya, the third-largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa, witnessed a strike by doctors in public hospitals in Nairobi in August to protest delayed salaries and a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling COVID-19 patients.

Amid continuing protests, the Kenyan president called for investigations into alleged embezzlement of funds meant to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

In Nigeria, doctors and health workers have repeatedly gone on strike and protested the lack of PPE for health care workers and demanded payment of salaries.

In June, the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria began an indefinite nationwide strike, demanding the government make “alternative arrangements” for patient care amid COVID-19.

Nigerian health workers resumed duties after the government released 4.6 billion Nigerian nairas ($11.9 million) later in June to pay hazard allowance to 55,031 workers in 35 coronavirus designated hospitals and medical centers.

However, in September, doctors in Abuja started an "indefinite strike" due to non-payment of a special coronavirus allowance.

That happened while in some Ugandan areas most front-line health workers lack transport to hospitals, as the country received donated bicycles for health workers in the Sembabule and Kitgum districts in May.

In the hardest-hit African country, South Africa, the health system has been affected by “the lack of PPEs, increased mortality rates, mental health problems, substance abuse, resurgent of NCDs [noncommunicable ciseases],” according to a research released in September by the Science Direct journal.

“The closure of international borders, global demand meltdown, supply disruptions, dramatic scaling down of human and industrial activities during lockdown cause socio-economic problems,” read the research.

“The prolonged effects of lockdown on psychosocial support services resulted in the outbursts of uncertainties, acute panic, fear, depression, obsessive behaviours, social unrests, stigmatization, anxiety, increased gender-based violence cases and discrimination in the distribution of relief food aid,” it added.

Citing a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa CDC director said in an article last Thursday entitled, “Africa Needs a New Public Health Order to Tackle Infectious Disease Threats,” that the new public health order in African countries “must stand on four pillars: strengthened public health institutions; local manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics; a strengthened public health workforce; and respectful local and international partnerships.”

“Africa finds itself balancing its developmental aspirations with strengthening its health systems to help it fight synergistic concurrent epidemics,” said Nkengasong. “It is faced with a set of linked health problems that interact synergistically, contributing to its excess burden of disease: rising rates of non-communicable diseases, emerging and re-emerging infections, and endemic diseases.”

This comes while African countries are struggling with high suicide rates, and therefore the need for mental health care is of utmost importance, according to a warning by the WHO.

Government expenditure on mental health is "very low" on the continent -- less than 10 cents as compared to the global average of $2.50 per person, Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Africa director, said during a virtual media briefing on COVID-19 and mental health in Africa.

According to the WHO, critical funding gaps are halting and disrupting crucial mental health services in Africa as demand for services rises amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which makes the latter whether an additional crisis to suffer or a serious alarm to push Africans to survive.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/was-africa-ready-for-covid-19-consequences/2019169.

 

[sweep_shot]

Africa: Coronavirus cases top 1.72M, deaths over 41,600

Over 1.4M COVID-19 patients have also recovered across continent, according to Africa CDC

YAOUNDE, Cameroon / KIGALI, Rwanda

Africa's coronavirus cases to date now total over 1.72 million, according to Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) figures released Tuesday.

At least 41,609 people have died across the continent.

However, the figures also showed that nearly 1.41 million people have recovered from the deadly virus.

By region, Southern Africa to date has had 794,372 confirmed cases, North Africa 480,198, East Africa 205,493, West Africa 187,754, and Central Africa 60,020.

South Africa is the hardest-hit country on the continent, with a total of 716,759 cases to date and 19,008 deaths.

In Rwanda, 90% of the 34 coronavirus deaths registered in Rwanda so far were people suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Health Minister Daniel Ngamije said on Monday, calling for concerted efforts to prevent the killer diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

Addressing a virtual World Health Summit in Berlin, Ngamije said a big number of the victims with non-communicable diseases were also people 55 years and above.

“Recently we noted that with COVID-19, NCDs are really a big problem. We noted that 90% of the 34 cases of death were with NCDs comorbidities,” he said.

The minister pointed out that Rwanda has been successful in containing the virus, noting that out of the 5,066 total accumulated confirmed cases as of Oct. 25, the fatality stood at 0.7%.

Ngamije attributed the success to a health system that he said has greatly improved access to medical services for the majority of Rwandans.

The lower death toll can be attributed to timely access to health facilities by patients; early detection and treatment of people infected with COVID-19, he said.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/africa-coronavirus-cases-top-172m-deaths-over-41-600/2020327.

 

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus: South Africa's COVID lockdown may have created 'herd immunity'

Strict controls to contain the virus may have actually accelerated its spread through heavily populated areas.

Leading scientists in South Africa believe the country has established a form of collective or herd immunity to COVID-19 after the number of infections unexpectedly plummeted following a major outbreak in June and July.

Commenting on a series of studies revealing the existence of high infection rates in the provinces of Western Cape and Gauteng, the country's leading vaccinologist, Professor Shabir Mahdi, told Sky News that he believed the coronavirus had stimulated a level of immunity in approximately 12 to 15 million people.

"What has happened in SA today, the only way to explain it, the only plausible way to explain it is that some sort of herd immunity has been reached when combined with the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions... like the wearing of masks, physical distancing, ensuring ventilation when indoors and so on."

At the height of the pandemic, South Africa was ranked as the world's fifth most-effected country, behind the US, India, Brazil and Russia - all of which have much larger populations.

It was at this point that researchers based in Cape Town began testing for traces of the virus in blood samples provided at local clinics by pregnant woman and HIV patients.

Virologists like Dr Marvin Hsiao were surprised to find that on average 40% of respondents had developed coronavirus antibodies with the majority being unaware that they had been infected.

Preliminary indications from a similar study in Gauteng, which contains the country's largest city, Johannesburg, reveal that approximately one third of those tested had been infected.

"Inexplicably, the numbers (of those infected with COVID-19) started dropping off at the end of July, and at the time I couldn't explain why," said Dr Hsiao.

"But when we analysed the data it become clear, this immunity within the population level (linked to) the big surge infections is probably the main reason why we've seen the decrease of numbers of infected."

The understanding that South African scientists have reached on the attainment of a level of collective immunity in their country seems to contradict a study by researchers at Imperial College, London, who found that the number of people with COVID-19 antibodies in the UK declined from 6% of the population in June to 4.4% in September.

Their 'React-2' study suggests that immunity to COVID-19 may be short-lived, but Professor Mahdi challenges the importance of antibody analysis, pointing out that it only evaluates one part of the human body's immune system.

"This waning of antibodies does not really inform what to expect without adequate interrogation of other components of the immune system. Experience with common cold and SARS coronavirus is that T-cell immunity likely lasts for 2-3 years."

South African researchers believe that South Africa's strict level five lockdown - which was imposed back in March - worked inadvertently to kickstart a massive wave of infection.

In the densely packed townships that surround the major cities, residents were forced to cue for essentials like food and social security payments, creating what Dr Hsiao described as "new networks for the spread of the disease". Social distancing was practically impossible on plots where 20 or more to people are often forced to live at close quarters.

Dr Mahdi says the lockdown's failure to suppress COVID-19 provided the country with the unintended benefit of temporary - or longer-lasting immunization - for many South Africans.

"This inadequacy in terms of adherence of the lockdown, where inadvertently we've had transmission taking place, has resulted in a high percentage in densely populated areas becoming immune.

"There might be a question in terms of the duration of immunity... based on our experience with other coronaviruses, a mild infection is probably going to (generate immunity) for two to three years but that places us in a really good position."

For the scientists - and the policy makers - there is a great deal of work to be done and additional studies will be commissioned over the next few weeks with the aim of better understanding the numbers of those infected and how the virus has spread.

But the vaccinology professor clearly believes that the development of some immunity in the population to COVID-19 was not only inevitable - but a necessary development in the South African context.

"It is not denying that COVID is the most important cause of death this year, superseding HIV, TB and everything else but the response needs to be much more nuanced than simply believing that a highly restrictive lockdown is going to get rid of the virus.

"Under no circumstances is a lockdown on its own going to achieve elimination of the virus."

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...kdown-may-have-created-herd-immunity-12116494.

 

[sweep_shot]

Coronavirus pandemic leads to rise in FGM across Africa

Campaigners against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) say that the coronavirus pandemic has had a negative impact on efforts to curb the practice. FGM remains common despite being criminalized in many countries.

Domtila Chesang is from West Pokot County in northwestern Kenya, a region where Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is still common practice. She became a campaigner against FGM and child marriage after witnessing her cousin be subjected to the practice. The nightmarish experience made her not anxious, but determined: In 2017, she received a Queen's Young Leaders Award at Buckingham Palace in London for her work raising awareness.

"I use my voice and my influence to fight for the rights of girls and against gender-based violence," she told DW.

Long-term psychological and physical damage

But Chesang's work has become all the harder since the coronavirus pandemic struck. "Our campaigns are not very effective," she said. "We can't move freely because Kenya is in lockdown and also has a nighttime curfew."

"The focus is on COVID-19. That's what most funding is going towards. So, there are more girls who are being subjected to harmful cultural practices in their communities."

She said that over 500 girls had been subjected to FGM in the months of April, May and June, when the lockdown measures were at their strictest. This was a major setback: "The girls will suffer their whole lives, both psychologically and physically."

Girls are sometimes married off as young as 12 or 14 and thus robbed of any chance of making their own decisions. FGM is considered by some communities to be a necessary rite of passage before a woman marries.

Marriage seen as path out of poverty

Daniela Gierschmann from the women's rights organization Medica Mondiale said that the coronavirus pandemic had led to a similar situation in West Africa, particularly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast: "Such crises are particularly difficult for girls and women. They exacerbate already existing inequalities," she told DW.

"There is less protection from institutions and a significant rise in sexual and domestic violence. Teenage pregnancies and FGM are increasing."

Gierschmann explained that families were more likely to try to marry off a daughter in difficult times when it became harder to feed all children — and FGM was part of the marriage ritual.

"COVID-19 has had a negative effect on human rights," agreed Asita Maria Scherrieb from the women's rights organization Terre des Femmes. "We've seen that in West Africa. Because of the coronavirus, there are no more awareness-raising campaigns in schools and nobody is keeping an eye on the girls. It doesn't get noticed if they don't turn up," she told DW. She also explained that healthcare was limited because COVID-19 patients were being prioritized, and that distancing regulations meant there were fewer spots in protective institutions than usual.

Human rights violation

"FGM is a grievous violation of human rights and considered a crime by international law," she added. It is actually prohibited in many countries but according to the World Health Organization, the practice continues to exist in almost 30 African countries. Across the world, over 200 million girls and women are thought to have been subjected to the practice. Schierrieb estimated that the figure might well have increased by two million during the coronavirus pandemic alone.

Nonetheless, there was a small flicker of light in the parts of West Africa which had learned from prior epidemics, said Gierschmann from Medica Mondiale: "Many women have used their experience from the Ebola outbreak and set up decentralized telephone hotlines for girls and women at risk." She also said that though women's refuges were offering more protection and some extracurricular classes, these measures did not suffice.

Domtila Chesang doubts that Kenya will be able to put an end to FGM by 2022 as the president has pledged. She is very worried about the future of all the girls who "have been married off by force, cut off from education and are now completely dependent on their husbands."

"They have no voice and nobody hears them."

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-pandemic-leads-to-rise-in-fgm-across-africa/a-55441184.

 

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Coronavirus - Nigeria: COVID-19 case update (30 October 2020)

(MENAFN - African Press Organization) ABUJA, Nigeria, October 31, 2020/APO Group/ --

170 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria;

Lagos-106
FCT-25
Oyo-14
Edo-7
Kaduna-7
Ogun-4
Bauchi-2
Benue-2
Kano-1
Osun-1
Rivers-1

62,691 confirmed
58,430 discharged
1,144 deaths

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

MENAFN3110202000027471784ID1101047348

Source: https://menafn.com/1101047348/Coronavirus-Nigeria-COVID-19-case-update-30-October-2020&source=29.

 

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South Africa records 135 new COVID-19 related deaths
Country has highest number of cases in Africa, 12th most affected globally

Johannesburg
JOHANNESBURG


South Africa recorded 135 new coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities to 19,411, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced late Sunday.

Mkhize said 1,371 new COVID-19 cases were also detected in the same period, pushing the number of infections to 726,823.

South Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 cases on the continent and is the 12th most-affected nation globally.

The country has so far conducted 4.8 million tests for the virus since it was first detected seven months ago, with nearly 20,000 tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

Despite having a high number of cases, South Africa is doing well in terms of recoveries, with a total of 655,330 people winning their battle against the virus, translating to a recovery rate of 90%.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/south-africa-records-135-new-covid-19-related-deaths/2027476.

 

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COVID-19 claims 43,176 lives across Africa

(MENAFN) The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said Monday in a statement that the combined tally of patients who have been diagnosed as positive coronavirus cases across the landmass has amounted to 1,794,507.

As of Monday afternoon, a total of 43,176 people have succumbed to the merciless infection throughout the continent, continental disease control and prevention agency said in a statement.

The Africa CDC further included that a number of 1,466,766 people infected with COVID-19 have recovered across the continent up to date.

The most COVID-19 impacted African countries in terms of the number of positive cases include South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia and Nigeria.

The Southern Africa region is the most COVID-19 affected region both in terms of the number of confirmed positive cases as well as the number of deaths.

MENAFN0211202000450000ID1101057651

Source: https://menafn.com/1101057651/COVID-19-claims-43176-lives-across-Africa&source=30.

 

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Over 1.4M coronavirus patients recover in Africa

Total number of cases surpass 1.79M, death toll exceeds 43,000, says Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

YAOUNDE, Cameroon

The total number of recoveries from the novel coronavirus in Africa topped 1.46 million, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday.

The total number of cases on the continent surpassed 1.79 million, while the death toll rose to 43,176, it said.

Southern Africa is the hardest hit region with 807,783 cases and 20,884 deaths; however, it also has the most recoveries that currently stand at 722,013.

North Africa recorded 519,444 cases, East Africa 215,876, West Africa 190,680, while Central Africa registered 60,724 virus cases.

South Africa has by far the highest virus figures in the region with 726,823 cases and 19,411 deaths, the country’s Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on late Sunday.

"We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers that treated the deceased patients," Mkhize said.

"Our recoveries now stand at 655,330 which translates to a recovery rate of 90%," he added.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/over-14m-coronavirus-patients-recover-in-africa/2027932.

 

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Rheumatic Patients in Africa, Asia Faced Hydroxychloroquine Shortage due to COVID-19


Antimalarial therapies hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine—once at the heart of clinical debate regarding their failed benefit for preventing and treating SARS-CoV-2 infection—were in short supply for their evidenced purpose of treating rheumatic disease in the early months of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In data presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2020 this week, a team of international investigators reported findings indicating that patients in regions of Africa and Southeast Asia had far greater difficulty accessing hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to treat patients with rheumatic disease than did regions of the Americas and Europe.

Such shortages led to greater rates of deteriorating mental and physical health among patients in need of the antimalarial therapy, while their resourcing in other parts of the world for a coronavirus-centric indication the drugs continually failed to live up to drew the ire of investigators.

“Antimalarials did not protect patients with rheumatic disease from COVID-19 or from hospitalization as a result of COVID-19,” they wrote. “The unintended harmful consequences of repurposing antimalarials, without adequate evidence for benefit, highlights the importance of maintaining scientific rigor even in the context of a pandemic.”

Investigators, led by Emily Sirotich, a PhD student in Health Research Methodology at McMaster University, sought to interpret whether antimalarial therapies were indeed associated with lowered COVID-19 infection risk, what were the observed prevalence of drug shortages during the pandemic, and what impact such shortages had on patient populations.

The “empirical” promotion and use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for SARS-CoV-2 infection treatment and prevention, prior to any robust efficacy data, could have led to harmful shortages for patients with rheumatic diseases, they suggested.

They used the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (C19-GRA) Patient Experience Survey, an online questionnaire sent to patient support organizations and through social media in April 2020, to gauge international perspectives. The survey allowed for patients with rheumatic disease, or parents of such pediatric patients, to anonymously contribute data pertaining to their diagnosis, treatment regimen, COVID-19 status, and disease outcomes.

Sirotich, Patient Engagement Lead of the C19-GRA, explained in a statement that the survey was established at a time when scientific and research communities were under “extraordinary pressure” to identify effective, safe therapies for SARS-CoV-2.

“Since hydroxychloroquine is an essential treatment for (rheumatoid arthritis) and lupus, reported drug shortages of antimalarials became a major concern,” Sirotich said.

The team assessed the survey for the effect of antimalarial drug availability on patient disease activity and mental and physical health states. They compared mean values with two-sided independent t-tests to identify significant differences.

Their assessment included 9393 respondents, 3872 (41.2%) of whom reported taking antimalarial therapy. Mean patient age was 46.1 years old, with 90% being female.

More than 6% of patients (n = 230) were unable to continue taking antimalarials due to lacking supplies at their pharmacies at the time. Regionally, patients in Southeast Asia (21.4%) and Africa (26.7%) were far more likely to report an inadequate supply than patients in the Americas (6.8%) and Europe (2.1%).

Patients unable to access antimalarials versus those able to experienced notably greater levels of rheumatic disease activity (5.1 vs 4.3; t(244) = 4.44; P <.001), poorer mental health (5.8 vs 6.3; t(252) = 3.82; P <.001), and poorer mental health (5.6 vs 6.4; t(254) = 5.97; P <.001).

What’s more, Sirotich and colleagues observed similar rates of COVID-19 infection among patients on hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine (6.7%) as those not on malarial therapy (4.7%). More than 10% (n = 28) of patients with COVID-19 who were taking antimalarials were eventually hospitalized.

Among the observed 519 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 68 (13.1%) reported being prescribed an antimalarial for the treatment of the virus.

“The findings from this study highlight the harmful consequences of repurposing antimalarials, without adequate evidence for benefit, on patients who rely on access to their hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine prescriptions for their rheumatic diseases,” Sirotich said in a statement. “It is necessary to maintain scientific rigor even in the context of a pandemic and recognize the potential impacts of drug shortages."

Particularly among rheumatic patients living in developing countries, investigators stressed, there is a growing need for ensured care and access to therapies in the appropriate setting.

The study, “Antimalarial Drug Shortages During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from the Global Rheumatology Alliance Patient Experience Survey,” was presented at ACR 2020.

Source: https://www.hcplive.com/view/rheumatic-patients-africa-asia-hydroxychloroquine-shortage-covid-19.

 

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Coronavirus cause of Algeria president’s hospitalization

Algeria’s secretive presidency confirmed Wednesday that the mysterious illness that caused President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to be hospitalized in Germany last month was the coronavirus.

The presidency said that the state of 74-year-old Tebboune’s health is “gradually improving” and he “continues to receive treatment in a specialized German hospital after contracting COVID-19.”

It was the first time that officials explicitly mentioned COVID-19 in connection with the Oct. 28 hospitalization. They previously referred to it as being “care in a specialized structure,” without identifying the ailment.

Prior to his hospitalization, several senior officials in the president’s entourage had developed COVID-19 symptoms, and Tebboune had been placed in what the government called “voluntary preventive confinement.” But it was initially unclear if Tebboune’s current state was connected.

Source: https://africa.cgtn.com/2020/11/04/coronavirus-cause-of-algeria-presidents-hospitalization/.

 

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Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 case update (3 November 2020)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

137 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria; Lagos-60 Abia-21 FCT-18 Rivers-13 Kaduna-5 Oyo-4 Edo-3 Delta-2 Imo-2 Kano-2 Ogun-2 Bauchi-1 Gombe-1 Nasarawa-1 Niger-1 Osun-1 63,173 confirmed 59,634 discharged 1,151 deaths

Source: https://www.cnbcafrica.com/africa-p...nigeria-covid-19-case-update-3-november-2020/.

 

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Coronavirus knock-on effect hitting vital health services in Africa - WHO

NAIROBI — The coronavirus pandemic is having a knock-on effect on other vital health services in Africa as countries are forced to redirect already stretched resources, a regional head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

The continent of more than a billion people has been spared the worst consequences of COVID-19, with relatively lower death rates and infections seen elsewhere.

Africa has recorded at least 1.8 million cases, with 43,700 deaths, according to the WHO.

“A preliminary analysis by WHO indicates COVID-19 is hitting other health services really hard,” Matshidiso Moeti, Africa director for the WHO, said in an online press conference.

Lockdowns imposed by countries to halt the spread of the virus in May, June and July contributed to a more than 50% drop in services monitored by WHO.

From January to August, an extra 1.3 million children aged under one missed their first doses of the measles vaccine, compared with the same period last year, Moeti said.

In Nigeria, for example, more than 362,000 pregnant women missed their ante-natal care between March and August.

In August, there were 310 maternal deaths in health facilities, almost double the number recorded at the same time in 2019, she added.

“So while COVID-19 is not overwhelming African health facilities in the way … first predicted … it is really stretching already resourced-limited health systems,” Moeti said.

Moeti said immunization campaigns against measles and polio had restarted but more needed to be done to protect the gains made in previous years in improving access to health services and outcomes on the continent. (Reporting by Omar Mohammed; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Source: https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health...t-hitting-vital-health-services-in-africa-who.

 

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Coronavirus: Nigeria records 155 new cases, four deaths

According to the NCDC, the 155 new cases were reported from 10 states.

On Wednesday, 155 new coronavirus cases and four deaths were recorded in Nigeria, after a total of 7,810 samples were tested across the country, according to official records.

This brings the total infection toll to 63,328 while the total fatality reached 1,155.

This is according to the latest statistics provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Wednesday night.

Of the 63,328 cases, 59,675 cases have been discharged in the 36 states across the country and the Federal Capital Territory. A total of 668,729 tests have been carried out across Nigeria

According to the NCDC, the 155 new cases were reported from 10 states – Lagos (85), FCT (23), Ondo (18), Ogun (8), Kaduna (5), Oyo (5), Taraba (5), Kano (3), Rivers (2), Bauchi (1).

With the latest figures, Lagos still retains its lead on the total confirmed cases with 21,483, followed by Abuja (6,165), Plateau (3,652), Oyo (3,461), Rivers (2,846), Edo (2,669), Kaduna (2,668), Ogun (2,061), Delta (1,816), Kano (1,749), Ondo (1,687), Enugu (1,314), Kwara (1,069), Ebonyi (1,049), Katsina (953), Gombe (938). Osun (930), Abia (919), Borno (745), and Bauchi (715).

Imo State has recorded 619 cases, Benue (493), Nasarawa (483), Bayelsa (413), Ekiti (335), Jigawa (325), Akwa Ibom (295), Anambra (277), Niger (277), Adamawa (257), Sokoto (165), Taraba (151), Kebbi (93), Cross River (87), Yobe (82), Zamfara (79), while Kogi state has recorded five cases only.

Although Nigeria has reopened its economy as the coronavirus cases declined, authorities have warned of a second wave if residents do not stick to COVID-19 protocols including social distancing and use of facemasks.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news...igeria-records-155-new-cases-four-deaths.html.

 

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Doctor's self-funded test lab leads way in Somalia's Covid fight

(MENAFN - Gulf Times) Having scraped money together following medical studies abroad, Somali doctor Abdullahi Sheikdon Dini opened Mogadishu's first advanced diagnostic labouratory in January.

Its arrival could hardly have been better timed because, just two months later, the coronavirus epidemic reached the Horn of Africa country.

Since then Medipark Diagnostics, which he runs with five other doctors who pooled $1 million to buy equipment, has become a linchpin of the country's creaking, donor-supported health infrastructure.

Hospitals in the battle-scarred city that once had to wait weeks for blood test results now use the lab to test for conditions including HIV and hepatitis.

But, as the Somali government has acknowledged, it is in the fight against Covid-19 that Medipark has made its most visible mark.

‘We had the supplies and our molecular pathologists were in touch with other pathologists doing Covid-19 tests in other countries,' said Dini, 37, whose studies took him to India and China.

Until July, Medipark was the only private lab in the city testing for the virus, but since then its technicians have trained government health workers to conduct tests.

‘We were needed ... and we were appreciated,' he said.

Medipark has arranged import pipelines of reagents needed for tests, including the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test used for Covid-19. It employs staff from Kenya, Lebanon and India to operate and maintain equipment imported from Europe, Asia and the United States.

Somalia has been plagued by conflict since 1991, and outbreaks of diseases such as cholera are common.

More than 2 million people do not have enough food. Many live in crowded, unsanitary camps, creating fears Covid-19 could scythe through a vulnerable population.

So far, that hasn't happened. The health ministry has recorded 4,229 infections and 107 deaths in the pandemic though, with large swathes of the country are off limits due to the fighting, that is likely to be an undercount.

Medipark lab is next to Hotel Shamo, where a 2009 bombing killed 19 people during a medical student graduation. Dini was there and the memories are still raw, but he and his fellow doctors are proud to be back home.

‘I am glad to help my community and make a difference,' said Ali Muse, who practised in Rwanda and South Sudan before returning two years ago to help open the lab.

Source: https://menafn.com/1101079864/Doctors-self-funded-test-lab-leads-way-in-Somalias-Covid-fight.

 

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COVID-19 hits life-saving health services in Africa

(MENAFN - Caribbean News Global)

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo – The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to key health services in Africa, raising worries that some of the continent's major health challenges could worsen.

The preliminary analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) of five key essential health service indicators that include outpatient consultation, inpatient admission, skilled birth attendance, treatment of confirmed malaria cases and provision of the combination pentavalent vaccine in 14 countries finds a sharp decline in these services between January and September 2020 compared with the two previous years. The gaps were the widest in May, June and July, corresponding to when many countries had put in place and enforced movement restrictions and other social and public health measures to check the spread of COVID-19. During these three months, services in the five monitored areas dropped on average by more than 50 percent in the 14 countries compared with the same period in 2019.

'The COVID-19 pandemic has brought hidden, dangerous knock-on effects for health in Africa. With health resources focused heavily on COVID-19, as well as fear and restrictions on people's daily lives, vulnerable populations face a rising risk of falling through the cracks,' said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa.

'We must reinforce our health systems to better withstand future shocks. A strong health system is the bedrock for emergency preparedness and response. As countries ease COVID-19 restrictions, we must not leave the door open for the pandemic to resurge,' said Dr Moeti. 'A new wave of COVID-19 infections could further disrupt life-saving health services, which are only now recovering from the initial impact.'

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa was unacceptably high, accounting for about two-thirds of global maternal deaths in 2017. Preliminary data indicates that COVID-19 is likely to exacerbate women's health challenges and the new analysis found that skilled birth attendance in the 14 countries dropped. In Nigeria, 362 700 pregnant women missed ante-natal care between March and August 2020. Over 97 000 women gave birth away from health facilities and over 193 000 missed postnatal care within two days of giving birth. There were 310 maternal deaths in Nigerian health facilities in August 2020, nearly double the figure in August 2019.

An additional 1.37 million children across the African region missed the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine which protects against Tuberculosis (TB) and an extra 1.32 million children aged under one year missed their first dose of measles vaccine between January and August 2020, when compared with the same period in 2019.

Immunization campaigns covering measles, yellow fever, polio and other diseases have been postponed in at least 15 African countries this year. The introduction of new vaccines has been halted and several countries have reported running out of vaccine stocks.

'Now that countries are easing their restrictions, it's critical that they implement catch-up vaccination campaigns quickly,' said Dr Moeti. 'The longer, large numbers of children remain unprotected against measles and other childhood diseases, the more likely we could see deadly outbreaks flaring up and claiming more lives than COVID-19.'

WHO has issued guidance on how to provide safe immunization services, including how to conduct a careful risk assessment before implementing preventive mass vaccination, with attention to appropriate protective measures to avoid transmission of COVID-19. The Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia have already carried out catch up measles vaccination campaigns. Thirteen other African countries aim to restart immunization campaigns for measles, polio and human papillomavirus in the coming months and WHO is providing guidance on COVID-19 prevention measures to keep health workers and communities safe.

WHO has also provided guidance to countries on how to ensure the continuity of other essential health services by optimizing service delivery settings, redistributing health work force capacity and proposing ways to ensure uninterrupted supply of medicine and other health commodities.

As part of the COVID-19 response, health workers have received capacity building in infection, prevention and control, laboratories have been strengthened and data collection and analysis improved. These efforts support the fight against the virus while also building up health systems.

Dr Moeti spoke during a virtual press conference today facilitated by APO Group. She was joined by Professor Ifedayo Adetifa, clinical epidemiologist, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme and Associate Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; and Regina Kamoga, executive director, Community Health and Information Network and chairperson of the Uganda Alliance of Patients Organisations.

Source: https://menafn.com/1101086417/COVID-19-hits-life-saving-health-services-in-Africa&source=27.

 

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Nigeria: Coronavirus infections cross 63,500

Nigerian gov't signs agreement with firm for local production of COVID-19 vaccine

ANKARA

Authorities in Nigeria reported 180 new coronavirus cases on Friday, taking the country’s overall count since March past 63,500.

“Till date, 63,508 cases have been confirmed, 59,748 cases have been discharged, and 1,155 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory,” the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said in its daily update.

With over 21,500 infections, commercial capital Lagos remains Nigeria’s worst-hit city.

It is followed by the Federal Capital Territory, which includes the capital Abuja, with more than 6,100 cases, and the southwestern Plateau State, where over 3,600 cases have been confirmed to date.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is among the five hardest-hit countries on the continent, along with South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, and Ethiopia.

Osagie Ehanire, the country's health minister, said the government has signed an agreement with a company for local production of COVID-19 vaccines.

He said the company, Biovaccines Nigeria Limited, has been working with the government “for the production of safe & affordable vaccines for Nigeria and prospectively Africa,” according to a post on the Health Ministry’s Twitter account.

“This Memorandum of Understanding will serve as an implementation framework for guaranteeing market access, which is conditional for transfer of technology to indigenous vaccine manufacturers,” the minister said.

Since last December, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed over 1.23 million lives around the world, according to data compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

More than 48.76 million infections have been recorded across the globe, with recoveries now over 32.24 million, latest figures show.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/nigeria-coronavirus-infections-cross-63-500/2034464.

 

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Africa’s coronavirus cases pass 1.8 million, deaths near 44,500

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Africa surpassed the 1.8 million mark on Saturday, according to figures from the Africa CDC, to stand at 1,856,261.

The number of deaths stood at 44,447, while the number of recoveries was 1,556,290.

Southern Africa remained the worst-affected region with 820,036 confirmed cases as South Africa also remained the country with the highest number of cases with a total of 734,175 cases to date, including 675,593 recoveries and 19,749 deaths.

The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) previously urged African countries to exercise caution regarding the coronavirus pandemic despite registering a general downward trend in its curve in the last few months.

W.H.O. Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti warned that the decline in the number of cases had plateaued and the continent was at a “pivotal moment”.

Source: https://africa.cgtn.com/2020/11/07/africas-coronavirus-cases-pass-1-8-million-deaths-near-44500/.

 

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South Africa records 40 more COVID-19 fatalities

COVID-19 deaths near 20,000 threshold in South Africa

ABUJA, Nigeria

South Africa recorded 40 new coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the number of fatalities to 19,879, health ministry officials said Sunday.

It also announced 1,731 people were diagnosed with the virus, pushing the number of cases to 735,906.

South Africa has had the highest number of COVID-19 infections on the continent and is the thirteenth most-affected nation globally.

It has conducted more than 4.8 million tests for the virus since it was first detected seven months ago.

The US, India and Brazil are currently the worst-hit countries.

Nearly 50 million cases have been reported worldwide, with 33 million recoveries, according to figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/south-africa-records-40-more-covid-19-fatalities/2035963.

 

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How Fake News in Africa has been Amplified by the Coronavirus Pandemic

SEATTLE, Washington — In Africa, viral misinformation about the coronavirus has circulated across social media since the beginning of the pandemic. Throughout the continent, articles, Facebook posts and memes have made claims saying alcohol kills the virus, sharing face masks is O.K. and Africans can’t get the coronavirus. Even heads of state have contributed to the spread of fake news in Africa.

Needless to say, false information and fake news about a global pandemic can seriously harm people’s ability to remain healthy and safe. However, Africa’s “infodemic” has taken a wild approach to this. Salva Kirr, the president of South Sudan, is promoting “’protective’ badges” that release chlorine dioxide—which was identified by the FDA as a potentially harmful substance—that people can wear to fend off the coronavirus. Another widely-circulated story in Tanzania claimed President John Magufuli banned masks in public, which was tweeted with a fake signed press statement.

Fake news in Africa
However, fake news in Africa is not new and has actually been widespread in recent years, causing problems across the continent. In 2018, BBC News embarked on a research project called “Beyond Fake News” to identify misinformation and its effect in Kenya, Nigeria and India. Through the analysis of more than 8,000 articles in the two African countries, thousands of Facebook pages and WhatsApp messages and interviews with individuals, the project identified fake news as a pressing problem.

In addition, the researchers found that national preoccupations are evident in the content of fake news, making the misinformation more likely to capture the attention and belief from viewers. For example, the unemployment rate in Nigeria sits around 19%. Consequently, misinformation regarding employment comprises 6.2% of fake news stories shared on WhatsApp. In addition, Nigeria often has problems and anxiety surrounding terrorism, which accounts for 3% of fake news on WhatsApp. According to an Ichikowitz Survey, approximately 86% of 18-to-24 year olds in Africa own a smartphone and 90% of them use it for social media. Therefore, misinformation likely reaches a huge proportion of young Africans on a regular basis.

How Zimbabweans are tackling the pandemic’s misinformation crisis
While fake news in Africa on social media poses a significant threat to Africans during the pandemic, one group of young people in Zimbabwe created a task force that works to disband coronavirus misinformation. Working alongside charity organization Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), the group spends its day scanning social media to pinpoint and correct misinformation surrounding COVID-19.

The group uses modern-day tactics to alert Zimbabweans and Africans everywhere about coronavirus misinformation. They invented WhatsApp stickers stating “Fake News Alert” and “Wash your hands thoroughly b4 you touch your face.” They have worked with popular comedians to spread correct information through humor. Their announcements on both social media and radio are assumed to have reached over 100,000 people thus far.

Along with Nigeria and Kenya, Zimbabwe experiences regular problems with fake news. An Ichikowitz survey found that 52% of young Zimbabweans believe that the prevalence of fake news impairs their ability to remain well-informed. However with VSO and the youth group leading the way, coronavirus misinformation is making up a lesser portion of the fake news circuit.

Their work is especially important in Africa. COVID-19 cases throughout the continent skyrocketed during June due to economies re-opening across the globe following months of lockdown and border closings. The World Bank also predicted that as many as 58 million people could fall into extreme poverty as a result of the pandemic, making the importance of accurate information on social media potentially necessary to sustaining a life free of poverty.

Other resources for fact-checking
The website Africa Check compiles data “banks” of factual information and attempts to check timely misinformation when it arises. WhatsApp and Facebook also struck up a partnership with many African governments to combat misinformation in the continent using tactics including bots and push notifications.

Africans everywhere are fighting social media misinformation with social media for good. Through efforts across the continent, people can hopefully eradicate fake news in Africa to safely live through the pandemic and beyond.

Source: https://www.borgenmagazine.com/how-...s-been-amplified-by-the-coronavirus-pandemic/.

 

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Tunisia’s coronavirus deaths may reach 7,000

Tunisian Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi said on Monday that the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in the country may reach 6,000-7,000, describing the health situation as “very dangerous”.

Coronavirus cases have been rising quickly in Tunisia, which had managed to contain the virus earlier this year, and have now reached 70,000 cases and 1,900 deaths in a country of 11.5 million.

Medical sources told Reuters intensive care units in most state hospitals had reached maximum capacity.

The government imposed a night curfew this month and banned travel between cities to slow a second wave of the pandemic.

Source: https://africa.cgtn.com/2020/11/10/tunisias-coronavirus-deaths-may-reach-7000/.

 

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Coronavirus - Africa: COVID-19 Update (10 November 2020)

Over 1.8 million confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent - with more than 1.5 million recoveries & 45,000 deaths cumulatively.

View country figures & more with the WHO African Region COVID-19 Dashboard: https://arcg.is/XvuSX.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/530490258/coronavirus-africa-covid-19-update-10-november-2020.

 

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South Africa reopens to foreign travellers amid virus creep

JOHANNESBURG — In an effort to revive its tourism industry, South Africa has opened up international travel to visitors from all countries, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced.

South Africa will now admit foreign visitors providing they produce negative COVID-19 test results, Ramaphosa said in a broadcast address Wednesday night.

This step, making South Africa one of the world’s countries most open to international travel, comes as cases of the disease are slowly increasing in the country. Ramaphosa said his government will closely monitor any signs that international visitors increase transmission rates.

“By using rapid tests and strict monitoring we intend to limit the spread of the infection through importation,” said Ramaphosa. “We expect that these measures will greatly assist businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors.”

After closing its borders as part of one of the world’s strictest lockdowns imposed at the end of March, South Africa has gradually reopened, resuming international flights on Oct. 1 but not admitting travellers from countries with high infection levels. Now that restriction has been removed, Ramaphosa said.

With a cumulative total of more than 740,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including just over 20,000 deaths, South Africa has nearly 40% of Africa’s total number of more than 1.9 million reported cases, including 46,272 deaths, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. South Africa, with a population of 60 million people, has reported a disproportionately high level of cases for the continent of 1.3 billion in 54 countries.

At its first peak of COVID-19 in late July, most of South Africa’s hospitals succeeded in coping with patients. Hospitalizations and deaths dropped in August and September but in recent weeks, cases have begun to climb.

The 7-day rolling average of daily new cases in South Africa has risen over the past two weeks from 2.74 new cases per 100,000 people on Oct. 28 to 2.85 new cases per 100,000 people on Nov. 11. The 7-day rolling average of daily deaths in South Africa has risen over the past two weeks from 0.09 deaths per 100,000 people on Oct. 28 to 0.10 deaths per 100,000 people on Nov. 11.

South Africa’s upward creep is part of an increase across the continent. Africa’s top public health official said the continent has seen an average 8% rise in new coronavirus cases over the past month.

“We expected it to happen,” John Nkengasong, director of the Africa CDC said Thursday, warning that when the virus comes back for a second wave, “it seems to come back with a lot of full force.”

The African continent is “at a critical point in the response,” he said, again urging governments and citizens to follow public health measures. Testing across Africa remains a challenge, with 19 million tests conducted so far. Countries with the highest increase of cases in the past week include Congo at 37%, Kenya at 34% and Nigeria at 17%.

In South Africa, Ramaphosa warned that citizens must remain vigilant to try to prevent a fresh resurgence of the disease, warning that the Eastern Cape province is experiencing a worrying increase. The number of new cases in the province has risen 50% in the past week and the total number of new cases in the last 14 days is around 145% higher than the previous 14 days, said Ramaphosa.

The president announced that South Africa has extended the country’s current COVID-19 restrictions, requiring people to wear masks in all public places, businesses and stores to keep people distanced and a nighttime curfew from midnight to 4 a.m. In one relaxation, liquor sales can now resume to ordinary trading hours.

Ramaphosa said that the country was looking to secure a significant supply of COVID-19 vaccines when tests show they are effective and safe.

“South Africa is collaborating with several multinational pharmaceutical companies to obtain a safe and effective vaccine for our people and is contributing towards the availability of the vaccine in the rest of the continent,” said Ramaphosa. “We are working through the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to acquire and fund a vaccine for the African continent. It is estimated that Africa will need around $12 billion and 750 million doses of an effective vaccine.”

Last week, South African pharmaceutical firm Aspen Pharmacare announced a deal with the U.S. firm Johnson & Johnson to manufacture its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, if it is approved in South Africa and internationally. Aspen said that it would have a capacity to produce 300 million doses of the vaccine.

The COVID-19 outbreak has taken a toll on South Africa’s economy since the lockdown was imposed in March. South Africa lost up to 2.2 million jobs in the second quarter of the year, taking the unemployment rate to a record high of 42%, according to official statistics.

Africa’s most developed country slipped further into recession in the second quarter of the year, contracting by 51%. Its economy is expected to shrink by up to 8.2% in 2020, its central bank announced last month.

Mogomotsi Magome, The Associated Press

Source: https://www.570news.com/2020/11/12/south-africa-reopens-to-foreign-travellers-amid-virus-creep/.

 

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Coronavirus - Kenya: COVID-19 updates (12 November 2020)

(MENAFN - African Press Organization) NAIROBI, Kenya, November 13, 2020/APO Group/ --

Total confirmed: 66723

Total recovered: 44040

Deaths: 1203

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Source: https://menafn.com/1101122159/Coronavirus-Kenya-COVID-19-updates-12-November-2020&source=29.

 

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Nigeria’s new COVID-19 cases increase for third consecutive day

With the latest update, Nigeria’s COVID-19 total case count increased to 64,728.

Nigeria’s new COVID-19 cases increased for the third consecutive day with 212 confirmed cases reported Thursday according to health authorities.

Nigeria had recorded 94 new cases on Monday, 152 on Tuesday and 180 new cases on Wednesday.

With the latest update, Nigeria’s COVID-19 total case count increased to 64,728.

The total death toll remains 1,162 since no new fatalities added to the tally in the last 24 hours.

This is according to an update Thursday night by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Meanwhile, there has been significant improvement in recoveries even as fears over an imminent and more devastating second wave of infections gains momentum.

Of the over 64,728 total, about 60,790 persons have been discharged from hospitals, after treatment, while about 4, 000 active cases remain in the country.

The 212 new cases were reported from 17 states- Lagos (71), Imo (26), Plateau (26), FCT (19), Ondo (17), Kaduna (14), Rivers (9), Oyo (9), Katsina (6), Osun (4), Bauchi (2), Ekiti (2), Nasarawa (2), Ogun (2), Kano (1), Kwara (1), Taraba (1).

There have been concerns that the coronavirus second wave which is already causing havoc in parts of Europe and America could be well on its way to Nigeria especially now that citizens seem to have lowered their guard on observing safety protocols.

Drawing on historical pandemics, health experts believe second waves of viral infections are often more destructive.

The second wave of the Spanish flu pandemic during 1918-20 was particularly devastating and more lethal than the first, according to Full Facts, an international fact-checking network. The second wave of the H1N1 swine flu epidemic in 2009 to 2010 was also more lethal than the first.

Studies also show that natural defenses against viral infection like mucus and your nose’s cilia do not work as well in colder, dry climates, the very season we are about to enter.

Chikwe Ihekweazu, the director of Nigeria’s infectious disease agency, NCDC said a second wave was “inevitable” if citizens do not continue to adhere to measures put in place to contain the viral pandemic.

President Muhammadu Buhari had also said there is a need to avoid a new spike in the COVID-19 cases in the country as Nigeria’s economy “is too fragile “to endure a new lockdown.
“Looking at the trends in the other countries, we must do all we can to avert a second wave of COVID-19 in Nigeria. We must make sure that our cases, which have gone down, do not rise again. Our economy is too fragile to bear another round of lockdown,” Mr Buhari tweeted last month.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is among the five hardest-hit countries on the continent, along with South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, and Ethiopia.

The country has not tested up to 1 million of its 200 million citizens since the virus was detected in the country in February. Only about 697,544 successful tests have been conducted thus far.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news...cases-increase-for-third-consecutive-day.html.

 

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Kenya to see rise in herbs export amidst coronavirus pandemic

(MENAFN)

According to the industry lobby on Friday, Nov. 13, herbs exports of Kenya are expected to rise by 20 percent this year amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Herbs like basil, rosemary and mint are witnessing strong demand from the European Union, Britain and the Middle East, stated Okisegere Ojepat, CEO, Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya while addressing Xinhua in Nairobi.

Ojepat noted, "We are projecting that our exports of herbs will increase by between 15 to 20 percent this year as consumers believe that the plants will help them cope with the COVID-19 pandemic."

About 4,000 tons of herbs were exported by the country during the past year, stated the industry lobby.

Source: https://menafn.com/1101124586/Kenya...-export-amidst-coronavirus-pandemic&source=30.

 

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Over 1.9 million confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent – with more than 1.6 million recoveries & 47,000 deaths cumulatively.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2020/11/15/coronavirus-africa-covid-19-country-figures-15-11-2020/.

 

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Coronavirus - Rwanda: COVID-19 update (15 November 2020)

(MENAFN - African Press Organization) KIGALI, Rwanda, November 16, 2020/APO Group/ --

Total cases: 5,455 (+61)
Recovered: 4,995 (+1) | 92%
Active cases: 415
Tests: 586,989 (+1,449)
Deaths: 45 (+3) | 0.8%
Test positivity rate: 4.2%

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.

Source: https://menafn.com/1101135180/Coronavirus-Rwanda-COVID-19-update-15-November-2020.

 

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More than 35,000 health workers in South Africa infected with Covid-19

More than 35,000 health workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in South Africa since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the country’s Minister of Health.

Dr. Zweli Mkhize on Sunday said a total of 35,490 healthcare workers have been infected with Covid-19 while 338 of them had died.

In August, the Ministry of Health launched an investigation into reasons why the country’s healthcare workers were increasingly contracting the coronavirus while discharging their duties.

Surges in infections, shortages of staff, unsafe environments and a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) have been blamed for the increases in infections among health workers.

South Africa was previously listed by the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) as one of the African countries with the highest number of infections among health workers. Others were Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Kenya.

Healthcare workers have also previously protested against poor working conditions and urged the government to end corruption in the procurement of Covid-19 personal protective equipment.

As of November 15, South Africa has recorded 751,024 confirmed cases, 20,241 deaths and 693,497 recoveries.

Source: https://africa.cgtn.com/2020/11/16/...rkers-in-south-africa-infected-with-covid-19/.

 

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Africa’s coronavirus deaths top 47,100

South Africa accounts for the biggest number of deaths

PRETORIA, November 17. /TASS/. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Africa reached 1,880,975 after 6,975 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours, eNCA TV reported Tuesday, citing the regional World Health Organization (WHO) office.

The number of coronavirus-related fatalities went up by 126 in the past 24 hours to reach 47,198, while more than 1.6 million people recovered.

South Africa accounts for the biggest number of infections (751,024) and deaths (20,241). Egypt, meanwhile, has recorded 6,442 virus-related deaths and 110,547 infections. Morocco reported 4,697 fatalities.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya is ranked second after South Africa with with 70,245 coronavirus infections and 1,269 fatalities, followed by Nigeria (65,148 and 1,163).

In late December 2019, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

Source: https://tass.com/world/1224453.

 

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Coronavirus cases in Africa surpass the 2 million mark: Reuters tally

Total coronavirus cases in Africa surpassed the 2 million mark on Wednesday despite the slow addition of reported infections compared to other regions around the world.

With over 2,012,000 cases, Africa represents under 4% of the world’s reported cases, which many experts believe to be an undercount.

They believe that many COVID-19 infections and related deaths in Africa are likely being missed as testing rates in the continent of about 1.3 billion people are among the lowest in the world, and many deaths of all types go unrecorded.

The region’s COVID-19 fatality rate at nearly 2.4% is the third-highest in the world behind Latin America and the Middle East, though total reported deaths is far lower. Africa has reported over 48,000 deaths so far.

Countries such as Sudan, Chad, and Egypt have reported the highest fatality rates across the continent at 7.81%, 6.28%, 5.82%, respectively. South Africa has the continent’s highest number of reported COVID-19 cases at over 750,000, with a death rate of 2.71%, based on a Reuters tally.

With the continent representing nearly 16.7% of the entire world population, about 15 cases are reported for every 10,000 persons.

Africa’s lower number of infections and deaths compared Europe, South America and the United States can in part be attributed to several factors aside from a likely undercount.

The virus hit Africa later than other continents, giving medical personnel time to set up field hospitals, source oxygen and ventilators, and learn from treatment improvements.

South Africa introduced one of the world’s toughest lockdowns in late March when the country had confirmed just 400 cases. Experts also point to the continent’s demographics.

The risk of developing severe COVID-19 increases with age, so the continent’s relatively youthful population is likely contributing to a lower overall fatality rate, experts have said.

African governments also have experience battling deadly infectious diseases such as Ebola, which killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa from 2013 to 2016, so officials took notice when the new coronavirus started spreading around the globe and many put early measures in place to curb the spread.

More recently, however, the pandemic is having an impact on other vital health services in Africa as countries are forced to redirect already stretched resources, a regional head of the World Health Organization said.

Source: https://africa.cgtn.com/2020/11/18/...ica-surpass-the-2-million-mark-reuters-tally/.

 

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Over 2,100 kids contracted coronavirus in Ghana: Report

Majority of children infected since March were under age of 14, according to rights group

ABUJA

More than 2,100 children in Ghana have contracted COVID-19 since March, according to a report by a rights group.

Some, 2,180 children – 1,161 girls and 1,019 boys – in 589 regions of Ghana were found to be infected with the coronavirus from March until Nov. 9, said the report by Child Rights International (CRI) released on Tuesday.

A majority of the children – 1, 284 – were aged 14 or under, while 896 were between the ages of 15 and 17.

There were four deaths among the total number of children – three girls and one boy, all in the under-14 age group, according to the report.

Bright Appiah, executive director of CRI, said most of the infected children did not develop symptoms and were not admitted to hospitals.

The overall COVID-19 tally in Ghana currently stands at 50,457, including 323 deaths, according to the latest figures from the US’ John Hopkins University.

The pandemic has claimed over 1.35 million lives in 191 countries and regions since last December, the data shows.

More than 56.34 million people have been infected worldwide, with recoveries now over 36.23 million.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/over-2-100-kids-contracted-coronavirus-in-ghana-report/2049203.

 

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SOUTH AFRICA RECORDS 3,105 NEW COVID-19 CASES

This marks the first time since 21 August where the daily jump in coronavirus infections surpassed the 3,000 mark.

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa has recorded 3,105 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, pushing the national caseload to 762,763.

This marks the first time since 21 August when the daily jump in coronavirus infections surpassed the 3,000 mark.

Health officials in the country have sounded the alarm over a possible resurgence in cases, with fears the intensifying pandemic in the Eastern Cape could have a domino effect across the country.

The province accounts for more than half of the new cases recorded.

Meanwhile, 88 more people have succumbed to the virus in the past day, placing the total number of fatalities at 20,759.

Source: https://ewn.co.za/2020/11/20/south-africa-records-3-105-new-covid-19-cases.

 

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Coronavirus - Africa: COVID-19 country figures (20.11.2020)



Over 2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent – with more than 1.7 million recoveries & 48,000 deaths cumulatively.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2020/11/21/coronavirus-africa-covid-19-country-figures-20-11-2020/.

 

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South Africa records 2,270 new COVID-19 cases

South Africa recorded 2,270 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 767,679.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said the total number of deaths rose to 20,903 after 58 more COVID-19 related fatalities were reported.

“We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers that treated the deceased,” Mkhize said.

He said the cumulative number of COVID-19 tests conducted since the virus was first reported about eight months ago is now 5,290,966 with nearly 21,904 tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The minister further said that 710,099 people have recovered from the virus, which translates to a recovery rate of 92.5%.

South Africa is the 16th most-affected country globally in terms of infections and is the most affected on the African continent.

Source: https://africa.cgtn.com/2020/11/22/south-africa-records-2270-new-covid-19-cases/.

 

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Coronavirus - Africa: COVID-19 Update (23 November 2020)



Over 2 million confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent – with more than 1.7 million recoveries & 49,000 deaths cumulatively.

View country figures & more with the WHO African Region COVID-19 Dashboard: http://arcg.is/XvuSX.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2020/11/23/coronavirus-africa-covid-19-update-23-november-2020/.

 

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65 MORE SOUTH AFRICANS DIE OF COVID-19, 2,080 NEW INFECTIONS CONFIRMED

In the past 24-hour-cycle, 2,080 new infections have been recorded, taking the total number of confirmed cases since the start of the outbreak to more than 769,000.

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's coronavirus death toll has risen to 20,968, with 65 new deaths confirmed by the Health Ministry.

In the past 24-hour-cycle, 2,080 new infections have been recorded, taking the total number of confirmed cases since the start of the outbreak to more than 769,000.

The recovery rate is still around the 92% mark, which means more than 711,000 people have recuperated so far.

Source: https://ewn.co.za/2020/11/24/65-more-south-africans-die-of-covid-19-2-080-new-infections-confirmed.

 

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13 African countries launch clinical trials for mild COVID-19 cases

(MENAFN - IANS)

Nairobi, Nov 25 (IANS) Thirteen African countries announced a collaborative venture with international research networks to implement clinical trials aimed at enhancing treatment of mild COVID-19 cases.

The Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), an international drugs research entity, said in a statement released on Tuesday in Nairobi that the clinical trials will be conducted in 19 sites to help identify therapeutics that could prevent COVID-19 patients from reaching critical stages, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.

"There is a need for large clinical trials in Africa for COVID-19 to answer research questions that are specific to an African context," said John Nkengasong, director of Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 20 global and African research organisations will be part of the ANTICOV consortium that will test the safety and efficacy of treatments in 2,000 to 3,000 mild to moderate COVID-19 patients in the 13 Sub-Saharan African countries.

The clinical trials that will be coordinated by DNDi will help discover therapeutics that can help minimize severity of the disease and avert strain on public health facilities in the continent.

"It is heartening to see so many African countries collaborate to get much-needed answers about our unique COVID-19 patient needs," said Borna Nyaoke-Anoke, senior Clinical Project manager at DNDi.

"We need research here in Africa that will inform policies and test-and-treat strategies, so that as clinicians we can give the best options to people with COVID-19," she added.

Researchers affiliated to the ANTICOV consortium will identify the most promising treatment option for managing the mild COVID-19 cases in Africa with the overarching goal of averting a strain on public health facilities.

Among the therapeutics being explored are the ones which are currently used to treat malaria, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis c, parasitic infections and some types of cancers.

"We support the ANTICOV trial because it will provide key data about early treatment for COVID-19, a knowledge gap that numerous scientists have called to fill in recent months," said Soumya Swaminathan, chief scientist of the World Health Organization.

She hailed Africa-led research on novel drugs for treating mild COVID-19 cases, adding that it will inform enactment of innovative policies to combat the pandemic elsewhere.

Source: https://menafn.com/1101184375/13-African-countries-launch-clinical-trials-for-mild-COVID-19-cases.

 

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President Al-Sisi warns of increasing COVID-19 infections in Egypt

(MENAFN - Daily News Egypt) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi warned, on Tuesday, of the increasing number of infections with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) nationwide.

He also called on Egyptians to adhere to the government-implemented precautionary measures which aim to prevent infection.

Also present at the Tuesday meeting were: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly; Minister of Health Hala Zayed; Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar; and Presidential Adviser for Health Affairs Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, among other officials.

"The pandemic still continues, and our concern must continue, as well as our precautionary measures to protect ourselves from the risk of contracting the virus,' Al-Sisi said in a recorded speech to Egyptians.

He added that during the coronavirus' first wave in Egypt in the spring, the authorities took many measures and had to enforce partially closures nationwide.

'We do not want to get to that again," he said, and warned that "the number of infections are growing'.

"We hope that we will not repeat the measures we took in the first wave, and this will not be possible without your concern and your cooperation,' President Al-Sisi said.

He also said that 'the awareness of citizens is the true vaccine', and called on Egyptians to avoid closed places for long periods, to respect social distancing measures, and to wear face masks.

The President also said that whilst the pandemic has had a severe impact on the world economy, it has not imposed a great impact on Egypt due to its citizens' efforts and the state's economic reform programme.

The country will provide the new vaccines against the coronavirus to all Egyptians, the President said, adding that Egypt will receive the vaccines in mid-2021. The vaccines that will be made available nationwide have been given emergency approval.

Egypt has seen a gradual increase in the number of new coronavirus infections in recent weeks. On Monday, Egypt recorded 354 new confirmed cases and 12 fatalities, bringing the total number of cases to 113,381 and 6,560 deaths.

President Al-Sisi said that a specialised scientific committee has been working on the health crisis since December 2019, which will be strengthened to study the most appropriate vaccines that will be used in the next stage.

The President also said that Egypt took several economic steps to confront the first wave of the pandemic, including an initiative worth EGP 100bn to reduce the fall-out from the closures and economic slowdown. He highlighted his full appreciation to the medical teams and the government for their efforts in combating the pandemic.

Al-Sisi said that the state has dealt with the coronavirus pandemic in a calm manner and to avoid alarming citizens. Many countries have praised the Egyptian experience in managing the crisis, and have used it as a model for their own actions.

The President added that while Egypt is working on its own vaccine, it will still acquire batches of the recently announced vaccines, with a contract to be signed in the coming days on this matter.

Source: https://menafn.com/1101185461/President-Al-Sisi-warns-of-increasing-COVID-19-infections-in-Egypt.

 

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Coronavirus - Africa: World Health Organization (WHO) urges African Countries to Ramp Up Readiness for COVID-19 Vaccination Drive

As the race to find a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is showing increasing promise, a new World Health Organization (WHO) analysis finds that Africa is far from ready for what will be the continent’s largest ever immunisation drive.

All 47 countries in the WHO African Region have received WHO’s Vaccine Readiness Assessment Tool which is intended to be used by Ministries of Health, with support from WHO and UNICEF. It provides a roadmap for countries to plan for COVID-19 vaccine introduction and covers 10 key areas: planning and coordination, resources and funding, vaccine regulations, service delivery, training and supervision, monitoring and evaluation, vaccine logistics, vaccine safety and surveillance and communications and community engagement.

Forty countries have updated the tool and provided data to WHO. An analysis finds that based on the self-reports by the countries, the African region has an average score of 33% readiness for a COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, which is well below the desired benchmark of 80%.

“The largest immunization drive in Africa’s history is right around the corner, and African governments must urgently ramp up readiness. Planning and preparation will make or break this unprecedented endeavour, and we need active leadership and engagement from the highest levels of government with solid, comprehensive national coordination plans and systems put in place,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

WHO together with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation and other partners is working to ensure equitable access to vaccines in Africa through the COVAX facility, the vaccines pillar of the WHO Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator. When vaccines are licensed and approved, COVAX will work to secure enough doses to provide protection to an initial 20% of the African population.

However, the WHO analysis of the country readiness data finds only 49% have identified the priority populations for vaccination and have plans in place to reach them, and 44% have coordination structures in place. Only 24% have adequate plans for resources and funding, 17% have data collection and monitoring tools ready and just 12% have plans to communicate with communities to build trust and drive demand for immunization.

“Developing a safe and effective vaccine is just the first step in a successful rollout,” said Dr Moeti. “If communities are not onboard and convinced that a vaccine will protect their health, we will make little headway. It’s critical that countries reach out to communities and hear their concerns and give them a voice in the process.”

WHO estimates the cost of rolling out a COVID-19 vaccine on the African continent to priority populations will be around US$ 5.7 billion. This does not include an additional 15% – 20% cost for injection materials and the delivery of vaccines, which require trained health workers, supply chain and logistics and community mobilization. This cost is based on COVAX facility estimates of the average vaccine price at US$ 10.55 per dose and that a two-dose regimen will be needed.

WHO and partners recently released guidance on COVID-19 vaccination planning and deployment for national governments, aiming to help them design strategies for the deployment, implementation and monitoring of COVID-19 vaccines and better integrate their strategies and financing to boost efficiency.

Dr Moeti spoke during a virtual press conference today facilitated by APO Group. She was joined by Professor Helen Rees, Executive Director, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand, Chairperson, African Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group (RITAG) and Chairperson of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority. Other speakers were Professor Pontiano Kaleebu, Director Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and MRC/UVRI and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit; and Professor Fredrick N Were, Perinatal & Neonatal Medicine, University of Nairobi and Chief Research Scientist, Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium.

Source: https://www.africanews.com/2020/11/...-up-readiness-for-covid-19-vaccination-drive/.

 

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South Africa experiencing resurgence of COVID-19

'The fatigue, the psycho-social strain on our staff is huge,' says health minister

JOHANNESBURG

Some provinces in South Africa are witnessing a resurgence of the novel coronavirus cases, the country’s health minister said Friday.

Addressing a media briefing in the Eastern Cape Province, which has the highest cases in the country, Zweli Mkhize said medical staff in many provinces are feeling the pressure associated with the resurgence of the virus.

"The fatigue, the psycho-social strain on our staff is huge," the minister said, adding more health workers are being infected with the virus and are going into self-isolation, while others are taking leave from work.

He said this has left those on duty traumatized after seeing their colleagues either infected or having passed on.

"We need to intensify communication, to make people understand that if they do not adhere to the measures [of COVID-19 such as wearing masks and sanitizing], the numbers will rise," Mkhize said.

He said a team from the national health department has come to Eastern Cape Province to support the provincial health department in dealing with the pressure medical staff are facing and the rising cases of the virus.

He said the COVID-19 cases were not only increasing in the Eastern Cape but also in the Western Cape Province.

During the surge in July and August, South Africa would record 10,000 to 12,000 infections a day, but cases declined to between 800 to 1,500 in September and October. Now cases are again increasing daily from 2,800 to 3,300.

During the surge in August, Gauteng province, which includes the capital Pretoria and commercial hub Johannesburg, had the highest cases followed by the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and West Cape provinces.

The minister said the health department still has an opportunity to act on the new outbreaks in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces so that it can stem the spread of COVID-19 to the seven remaining provinces. South Africa has nine provinces.

He said the department is concerned that infections might increase this festive season.

"The fight against COVID-19 is in the hands of the community, and where communities fail, the whole society fails," Mkhize said, adding: "We encourage everyone to take the message of COVID-19 very seriously. Enjoy the festive season responsibly."

South Africa has recorded 778,571 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections and 21,289 deaths, the highest on the continent and 16th globally.

Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/south-africa-experiencing-resurgence-of-covid-19/2058201.