“Only eight countries in Africa – Algeria, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Egypt, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, and South Africa – record more than 75% of deaths, according to the United Nations. In other regions, where official data is readily available, researchers have used the number of deaths from all causes that exceed the average for the time of year to help gauge the number linked to the coronavirus pandemic.”
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the immediate re-banning of alcohol sales, while maintaining the current, national level three lockdown. He also announced the opening of parks for exercise and the implementation of a national curfew between 9pm and 4am, which will come into effect from Monday night. Wearing cloth masks in all public spaces will now be mandatory and enforceable by law, to limit the spread of the coronavirus.”
“The premier of Gauteng, South Africa’s most populous province, said on Friday he had tested positive for COVID-19, as new confirmed infections in the country hit a record high.”
“It’s not because we don’t have the money or anything. It’s just that the whole world is trying to buy the same test kits we are trying to buy. Suppliers can only supply us a limited number.”
“Timely interventions, meticulous contact tracing and scaled-up testing has seen Rwanda emerge as a model of COVID-19 handling in the region as it recorded only three deaths, even as it slowly reopens its economy.”
“The coronavirus pandemic in Africa is reaching ‘full speed’ and it’s good to prepare for the worst-case scenario, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief said Thursday, after a South African official said a single province is preparing 1.5 million graves.”
“Health Minister Zweli Mkhize told parliamentarians that the surge in South Africa’s COVID-19 outbreak is here. Meanwhile, doctors at Johannesburg clinics are struggling to find hospital beds for patients ill with COVID-19. In the Eastern Cape, Nelson Mandela Bay has only two ambulances for COVID-19 patients and a hospital overflowing with contaminated laundry.”
“More than a third of Kenyans were not able to pay their rent for the month of May according to a government survey.”
“Hundreds of cases of COVID-19 were recorded among the inmates released from five prisons dotted across Cameroon’s central region in April, according to government data seen by Reuters which has not been made public.”
“Six people from the Gauteng department of health’s COVID-19 war room have tested positive for the virus. Among them is the head of the department, Prof Mkhululi Lukhele.”
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