Coronavirus: Africa faces the pandemic Friday, April 24

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Africa counted this Friday, April 24, 27,852 confirmed cases of coronavirus. The Covid-19 has already claimed the lives of 1,303 people on the continent, according to the African Union Center for Disease Prevention and Control. 7,474 patients are cured. South Africa passes in front of Egypt and is now the most affected country on the continent.

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• Ramadan: strict confinement in Burkina and Chad, slight relaxation in Algeria and Egypt

Ramadan will not have the same flavor for African Muslims depending on where they are on the continent. This sacred period of fasting, the fourth pillar of Islam, begins this Friday. In Burkina-Faso, we expect to live a difficult month, especially in the capital. Ouagadougou is in quarantine, the mosques and markets are closed. Families are getting ready to tighten their belts, reports our correspondent Yaya Boudani . "  The table will not be stocked as usual,  " said a resident of Ouagadougou. “  Food no longer circulates as before. For example donuts or dates, I don't think we will have any " To cope, solidarity chains are organized in mosques, to help the families most in distress. With the preparation and distribution of kits, in which the faithful will find essential products: pasta, rice, sugar and oil. Burkina Faso counts until Friday 616 cases of coronavirus for 41 deaths.

In Côte d'Ivoire too, the month of fasting will not be as festive as usual, for the 43% of Muslims in the country. Believers are called to pray at home, mosques are closed and solidarity is difficult to organize. "  Usually every Ramadan, we organize fasting,  " explains a volunteer from a mosque in Abidjan to our correspondent François Hume-Ferkatadji. "  And from 6 p.m. we make Baga, coffee, tea, bread ... We are at least a hundred to break the fast here. This time, we are not going to have the means to make food parcels. So it will be very difficult this year. The country has recorded 1,004 cases and 14 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Same observation in Chad: Ramadan promises to be tough, especially as the price of basic foodstuffs has increased. Our correspondent in the Chadian capital Madjiasra Nako, tells us that the inhabitants took advantage of the last salaries in April, just paid, to fill up. But also that the Chadians would like an easing of the curfew during this period of Ramadan. The current curfew in place since April 2, lasts 20 hours at 5am and prev u very least until the end of the month. Chad has 40 people who have contracted the virus since it first appeared, but no one has died.

In Morocco, on the contrary, no relaxation, but a tightening of the containment measures. The Interior Ministry has announced the establishment of a night curfew for this month of Ramadan, from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. It will be formally forbidden for residents to move "  outside their homes or on public roads during this time slot either on foot or on board transport vehicles, with the exception of people working or practicing in the sectors and essential activities  ”, specifies the document. The Cherifian kingdom is one of the most affected countries on the continent (3,568 cases, 155 dead).

On the contrary, the Algerian neighbor, also very affected (3,007 cases, 407 dead) will slightly relax the restrictions for the Ramadan period. For example, the total containment of the province of Blida, epicenter of the epidemic in the country, is replaced by a curfew (from 2 p.m. to 7 a.m.). And in Algiers and eight other provinces, the curfew already in force will be shortened (no longer 3 pm / 7 am, but 5 pm / 7 am). Measures taking effect this Friday.

Same thing in Egypt, where the curfew is reduced by two hours for Ramadan: it now extends from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. In addition, stores and shopping centers can open on Friday and Saturday until 5 p.m. Egypt is the 2nd most affected country on the continent: 3,891 cases, 287 deaths.

In Libya (60 cases, 1 death), confinement was replaced by a curfew, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for the next ten days. Until then, the confinement put in place since last week had been little respected by the inhabitants of this country at war. The Tunisian authorities have shortened by two hours the night curfew imposed since March 22. It now starts at 8 p.m. Tunisia counts 909 cases for 38 deaths.

• Africa would fare better than other continents

The African continent has far fewer cases of coronavirus than the others, pointed out this Friday Norbert Navarro in his press review. A finding highlighted by the French daily Les Echos . At most, 0.02% of the African population is infected, against several percent in Europe for example. The economic consequences of the pandemic are still uncertain on the continent, but this weak expansion of the virus is partly explained by demography. 95% of Africans are under 65, and young people are not very contagious.

► Listen and read here  : Africa press review

• DRC: North Kivu no longer has any cases of coronavirus

Good news in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo: there is no longer a single case of Covid-19 in the province of North Kivu, announces its governor. However, he remains attentive to the double threat hanging over the region: that of the coronavirus, and that of Ebola. Five cases were previously recorded in this border province of Rwanda and Uganda. All were cured, whether in Goma or Beni. The trips so far suspended between Beni and Butembo can resume, but travelers must wear a mask. The DRC has so far recorded 394 confirmed cases, including 382 in its capital Kinshasa, which concentrates all 25 deaths.

• Senegal: 66 new cases

On the first day of Ramadan in Senegal, the latest report from the Ministry of Health is on the rise: 66 new cases. Since the start of the pandemic, Senegal has registered 545 positive cases, including 276 under treatment. The number of deaths (6 since the appearance of the virus) has not changed on Friday. According to the Minister of Health, "  traders are among the most exposed  ". Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr also recalls the safety instructions: wearing a mask and prohibiting travel between localities. The number of direct debits will be increased over the next few days.

• In Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda and Kenya, NGOs and intellectuals denounce police violence during the confinement

They are academics, lawyers or journalists… This dozen Congolese have signed a platform to denounce cases of police violence during confinement, and in particular during the curfew: violence, racketeering, attack on physical integrity… Some traders in Brazzaville even claim to be victims of looting by the police. The signatories of the tribune concede that the state of emergency is necessary to stem the spread of the virus (the country has 186 cases declared for 6 dead), but that safeguards must be put in place to avoid police excesses, they told RFI. Congolese government spokesman Thierry Mungalla believes that the accusations have not been substantiated, but nevertheless calls on victims of violence or racketeering by law enforcement officials to seize the competent judicial services.

Police violence also pointed to in Rwanda and Kenya. The NGO Human Rights Watch reports that at least 7 people have been killed in Kenya since the start of the curfew, and 2 in Rwanda in Nyanza. The Rwandan army says it has opened an investigation into the alleged incidents and arrested five suspects. Rwanda lists 154 cases and no deaths.

• Cameroon organizes the repatriation of 668 citizens stranded abroad

675 Cameroonians have already been repatriated since the start of the pandemic, but almost as many want to return. For the moment, 668 citizens are still stranded abroad, due to the closure of the borders. But Cameroonian Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute announced their imminent repatriation at the end of the weekly inter-ministerial meeting around Covid-19. Cameroon has 1,401 cases and 49 deaths from the pandemic.

# Covid19Cmr
CR of the meeting of the Interministerial Monitoring and Evaluation Committee # Covid19 🇨🇲 which I chaired this morning by videoconference.
To date, the country registers 1134 cases, 668 cures, 43 deaths. The Government will ensure the repatriation of the 668 compatriots stranded abroad pic.twitter.com/IwwLwiuxcb

• Towards less strict confinement in South Africa

3,953 patients, 75 dead ... South Africa is close to 4,000 cases and this Friday becomes the most affected country on the continent. Figures that did not prevent President Cyril Ramaphosa from announcing that the confinement, so far very strict, would gradually be relaxed. Deconfinement in stages, to avoid a "  precipitous deconfinement  " feared by the South African authorities, which could reinforce the epidemic. To do this, five levels have been established, which correspond to five alert levels. For the moment, South Africa has been at level 5 for a month. Before considering a return to normal, the rainbow nation will go to level 4 on May 1. This means that some companies will be able to resume their activities with a few employees. However, the country's borders will remain closed. Shops, stadiums and places of worship too. Wearing a mask will be made compulsory. A mask that had a lot of trouble putting on the head of state during his televised address, which did not fail to amuse the internet users.

The mask refused to comply with level 4 #Ramaphosa #LockdownSA # level4 pic.twitter.com/vLxYjtlKHJ

A not resentful president who also made fun of his awkwardness during a new appearance in the media:

[WATCH]: President Cyril Ramaphosa shared a lighter moment with journalists at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, where he poked fun at himself putting on a mask, jokingly saying he would start his own TV channel to show people how to put on a mask. # CyrilFridays #CyrilMaskChallenge pic.twitter.com/2FyEc3NCMW

• Kenya: laboratories on the front line

The Kenyan response is activated. Facing Covid-19, the country is launching a massive campaign of tests, which began with the examination of health workers. The role of laboratories, responsible for detecting patients, will become crucial. And our correspondent in Nairobi, Sébastien Németh was able to visit Kemri, the Kenya Medical Research Institute. The deputy director explains that in early April, the tests were done manually, up to 300 per day. Now, tests are done by machine, and some can process 3000 samples per day. The country expects 250,000 tests by the end of June. Kenya has recorded 320 cases of coronavirus and 14 deaths since the appearance of the virus.

🇰🇪😷 #Kenya is launching a massive test campaign for # Covid19.
► It started with the examination of health workers. In this system, the role of laboratories is crucial.
🎧 Report from @SebastienNemeth to the Kenya Medical Research Institute #RFImatin 👇 pic.twitter.com/dg5OFRC0DN

• American soldiers from Djibouti on alert

Alert in Djibouti. US forces have been placed on health alert because the number of positive cases has increased dramatically in this small country in the Horn of Africa. "A state of emergency in a preventive manner," detailed in a statement General Michael Turello, commander of the American forces in Djibouti. However, he did not specify whether cases of coronavirus had been identified among the military and civilian personnel of the American installations. In the past week, Djibouti has registered 400 additional cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 999 (for 2 deaths). The number of positive cases increased by 7 in two weeks. A worrying development for this small state, whose population approaches one million inhabitants, where the authoritarian power of President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh struggles to enforce confinement.

• WHO worried about lack of measures in Tanzania

The delay by Tanzania worries in high places. Matshidiso Moeti, Botswana doctor and director of the African branch of the World Health Organization said that certain measures had taken too long to be implemented: "  In Tanzania, social distancing and the prohibition of mass gatherings took a while. We believe that this may have been factors that led to a rapid increase in cases of coronavirus,  "she said.

President John Magufuli ruled out complete containment of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, and had been widely criticized for encouraging the public to continue gathering in places of worship. Tanzania reported its first Covid-19 case on March 16, and today counts 284, with 8 deaths.

• Uganda seeks to reduce contamination of truck drivers

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni asked truck drivers in his country not to touch each other, to stem the spread of the virus. Indeed, they are 11 to have contracted Covid-19, which brings to 74 the number of positive cases in Uganda (no deaths). A joint response is being studied with the Kenyan and Tanzanian neighbors. Drivers could be tested before being allowed to resume driving. Uganda is a landlocked country, and truck traffic is believed to be vital to the country's economy by its leaders.

• HIV carriers and former tuberculosis patients particularly exposed to Covid-19

It is now proven: the presence of other pathologies increases the risk of complications for a patient who would contract the new coronavirus. It is therefore even more important for these populations than for others to be extra vigilant, especially for people with HIV and former TB patients. Jean-Marie Kayembe, head of the pulmonology department at the university clinics in Kinshasa, returns at length to the question.

► Read here: Covid-19: HIV carriers and former TB patients must be very vigilant

On the other hand, Covid-19 would have curative virtues against… infidelity. This is the astonishing observation that this comedian Charlotte Ntamack draws up this Friday in La parlotte de Charlotte .

• The Games of La Francophonie 2021 towards a postponement

Is the 2021 edition of the Francophone Games cursed? The question can arise… Because after the change of venue (initially planned in Canada, these 9th Games were relocated to Kinshasa), place the change of dates. The International Organization of La Francophonie, in charge of the event, confirmed it in a press release: these Games of La Francophonie (which give pride of place to sporting events, but also to storytelling, song and dance) are going to be postponed. Scheduled from July 23 to August 1 in Kinshasa, the competition could finally take place in 2022, as desired by the DRC and the OIF. “  We have decided to postpone these Games. Because the Olympic Games are at exactly the same time next year  , ”said Rwandan Louise Mushikiwabo, President of the OIF. A report which must still be approved by the bodies of the organization. The Games now have to make their way into the traffic jams of the competitions of the summer of 2022… Where the World Championships in Athletics, the Mediterranean Games, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games will compete.

► Find here: the press release of the 9th Games of La Francophonie

• Artists and athletes mobilize for Africa and prevention against Covid-19

You must have heard them on RFI antennas or seen them on our digital platforms. Since the beginning of confinement, artists and sportsmen have been mobilized. Thus, a new personality, like the singer Tiken Jah Fakoly or the former footballer Joseph-Antoine Bell, invites himself every day at 8:25 am UT at the microphone of Juan Gomez in Calls on current events

Artists also found at Claudy Siar's Tropical Colors, broadcast daily at 4:10 pm UT. Or on the Facebook pages of World Music and Urban Legends . A'salfo or Ninho, there is something for everyone.
And if you're more of a balloon than a song, Radio Foot Internationale is back on the air on Friday at 3.10pm GMT, around Annie Gasnier. Who in particular took news of a star confined but mobilized: El Hadji Diouf . While the sports department took him news of the lioness Ajara Nchout, star of African football, on the Facebook page Mondial Sports

Our selection on SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

• Listen to Coronavirus Info , daily chronicle on the pandemic

• Explanation:  The origins of the Covid-19

• Analyzes:
→  What strategies to face the epidemic ?
→  A vaccine, the only solution to stem the pandemic?
→  What impact on conflict zones?

• Practical questions:
→  What is known about the mode of contagion
→  What results for ongoing clinical trials?
→  How to make a mask and use it well

Find all our articles, reports, chronicles and programs on the coronavirus by clicking here .

See also the files of RFI Savoirs  on the Covid-19:
•  Birth of a pandemic
•  Everyday life put to the test
•  The history of epidemics
•  The science facing the Covid-19
•  The geopolitical consequences

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