Coronavirus: Africa faces the pandemic Monday, April 27

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Africa counted this Monday, April 27, 32,182 confirmed cases of coronavirus. The Covid-19 has already claimed the lives of 1,428 people on the continent, according to the African Union Center for Disease Prevention and Control. South Africa is the most affected country, with 4,546, closely followed by Egypt. Next come Morocco, Algeria and Cameroon. 

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• The 60 years of independence of Togo celebrated in small committee

The 60 years of independence of Togo were celebrated with a ceremony while sobriety. Due to the state of emergency declared on April 1 to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the country, the traditional military and civilian parade was canceled, as were other celebrations planned across the country. Only a short ceremony of taking up arms with national anthem and raising of colors took place this morning in the courtyard of the presidential palace.

Sunday evening, President Faure Gnassingbé rekindled the flame of independence. "  In these difficult times which do not allow our fellow citizens to celebrate and pay homage to this long journey that we have known, I would like on our behalf to all say with pride that we will overcome this pandemic  " published the chief State on Twitter. "  May the courage and determination of our predecessors give us the strength to continue building our nation,  " he added.

In these difficult times that do not allow our fellow citizens to celebrate and pay homage to this long journey that we have known, I would like on our behalf to say with pride that we will come to the end of this pandemic. pic.twitter.com/EI2AJrO8ih

• In Dakar, an online ceremony to celebrate the abolition of slavery

On April 27, 1848, the abolition of slavery in the French colonies was decreed on the initiative of Victor Schoelcher. A commemoration ceremony was to take place today at Dakar city hall, but had to be canceled due to the coronavirus epidemic. The Mémoires et Partages association, based in Bordeaux in France and in Dakar, organized this Monday a day of virtual commemorations, on Facebook , so as not to forget this page of history.

“  This Covid pandemic once again awakens the memory of one of the consequences of slavery and trafficking. We remember all these controversies that there were around the tests that must be done on Africans. The question of racism is a question which is unfortunately permanent. So more than ever we need to celebrate those whose sacrifice has enabled us to still be there and to hope for better societies  ", explains Karfa Sira Diallo, the president of the Memories and Sharing association, at the microphone of our correspondent at Dakar,  Charlotte Idrac . It has been ten years since the Senegalese National Assembly declared the trafficking of blacks and slavery crimes against humanity. Senegal was the first country on the continent to do so, and remains the only one to date.

• Burkina Faso is considering reopening its schools

In Burkina Faso, where schools and universities have been closed since March 16, the government has announced measures to reopen classes , although no date has yet been announced . Twelve million masks are to be produced and distributed to pupils, teachers and all educational staff. Disinfection and cleaning should also be organized in establishments located in cities with positive coronavirus cases. For the time being, pupils are taking classes at a distance, broadcast on television and radio channels, or put online on digital applications.

• Guinea crosses 1,000 positive cases

Guinea surpassed the 1,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus on Sunday. "  We have recorded for today alone (Sunday) 98 new cases, which make a total of 1094 positive cases and unfortunately seven deaths,  " said Sory Keïra, spokesman for the National Agency for Health Security (ANSS), the official body for managing the epidemic in the country.

Despite the introduction of a curfew, the closure of schools, places of worship, borders, and the obligation to wear a mask, the virus continues to spread in Guinea. Several senior officials have been infected: Sékou Kourouma, the secretary general of the government, and Salif Kébé, president of the Election Commission, died from coronavirus. The director general of the ANSS, doctor Sakoba Keita, also tested positive for Covid-19 last week.

• Containment expanded to new provinces in Sudan

The Sudanese Ministry of Health has announced that twelve new cases of Covid-19 have been detected, bringing the number of cases recorded in the country to 174 since the start of the pandemic. In addition, the isolation measures currently limited to the Khartoum region, which has been in confinement for ten days, are starting to be extended to other provinces. The governor of North Darfur placed the regional capital El-Fasher in quarantine this Sunday. Entrances and exits are prohibited and the markets are closed as of this Monday. On Saturday, the provinces of South Darfur, Gedaref and the Red Sea were confined on the orders of their governor, for a period of ten days. Only vehicles for health services and trucks carrying basic necessities can circulate.

• In Kenya, extended restraint measures

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta announced Sunday that the school closings will be extended for one month, which will take effect on May 4, when schools are scheduled to reopen. During the weekend, the head of state had already announced the extension of the curfew in the capital and the isolation of the regions of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale for another 21 days.

The restaurants will reopen, the health ministry announced on Monday morning. But under several very strict conditions: employees of all establishments must be tested before reopening, buffets will remain prohibited and customers installed at least 1.5 meters away. The opening hours must be between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m., to allow time for employees to return to their homes before the start of the curfew at 7 p.m. The bars, however, remain closed for the time being. 

CS KAGWE says restaurants can only open once staff have been tested and found to be Covid-19 free, says infected servers risk spreading virus. pic.twitter.com/QuwZtmAUNo

• Total Group employees tested positive in Congo-Brazzaville

The oil group Total confirms 14 cases of coronavirus among its employees in Congo-Brazzaville. The French group does not specify on which oil site or platform these employees worked. But the company says all suspected cases are automatically brought ashore and placed in quarantine. Despite the pandemic and the drop in oil prices, Total's activity continues in the country with a production of 190,000 barrels per day. 

• Moroccan students on vacation this Monday

In a statement published on Sunday evening, the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research has declared school holidays from this Monday, April 27 until next May 3 . According to the authorities, this decision is necessary when the confinement has been extended until May 20 in the country. In its press release, the ministry specifies that these holidays will allow students and teachers to "  better resume studies with commitment  ". 

• Civil society in Congo-Brazzaville unsuitable containment

Since March 31, the Congolese population has been subject to containment, in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus on the territory. But civil society organizations deplore measures that are inappropriate for the culture of the Congolese. “  It is important to remember that confinement cannot be done as in Europe or the United States. The rulers must take into account the experience of the Congolese. So, we need a Congolese confinement with a mass distribution of foodstuffs to the populations  ”, explains Jo Washington Ebina, actor of the civil society.  

• Ghana extends ban on rallies

President Nana Akufo-Addo has extended the ban on public gatherings for two weeks. Schools and borders also remain closed. The Minister of Health is now encouraging the entire population to wear masks in public places.

In a televised address, the head of state also announced plans to start building 88 new district hospitals, eight regional hospitals and three centers for infectious diseases in the country. Last Monday, the Head of State announced that he would lift the containment measures taken in several localities in Ghana, including the capital Accra. 

• In Nigeria, the mask is now compulsory in the economic capital Lagos

Authorities in Lagos have indicated that wearing the mask will now be compulsory in public places in the city. Failure to comply with this measure will lead to sanctions, according to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who also announced that masks will be distributed to the population. Lagos is the city most affected by the virus in Nigeria, with 731 confirmed cases, more than half the number of cases recorded throughout the country. Containment has been in force for a month in the city, as in the capital Abuja and in the state of Ogun. 

• Médecins sans Frontières alerts on the situation of migrants in Libya

The NGO Médecins sans Frontières is warning this Monday about the conditions of migrants detained in detention centers in Libya, in the west of the country. 1,500 are placed in official establishments managed by the militias of the GNA (the government of national unity in Tripoli), but the majority of migrants are detained in illegal centers, in which international organizations cannot return them visit. These people are "  more than ever in danger,  " said Salwa Abou Chacra, spokesperson for Médecins sans Frontières. With the suspension of rescue operations at sea since the start of the coronavirus epidemic, the cessation of repatriation flights organized by the IOM (International Organization for Migration), clashes and the risk of the spread of coronavirus, the situation in these camps worries the NGO. 

• Liberia's justice minister tested positive for coronavirus

Liberia's health authorities announced on Sunday that Justice Minister Franck Musa Dean had tested positive for Covid-19. He was hospitalized in a facility outside the capital Monrovia. "  I have hope. The doctors are very professional and do their best. It must be remembered that even in developed countries, with much more sophisticated health systems, the fight against the virus remains a challenge,  "the minister told journalists of FrontPage Africa.

• In Cameroon, the Archbishop of Douala claims to have found a cure for the coronavirus

Monsignor Samuel Kleda, Archbishop of Douala, claims in a report broadcast on CRTV that he found a natural herbal treatment to treat patients suffering from the coronavirus. The care provided to several patients was free, and the prelate assured that the remedy would have "  relieved  " the sick. “  Since I already knew the plants according to the symptoms of the coronavirus, I simply put together all the recipes I had. I applied to people and they are relieved,  ”said Bishop Samuel Kleda. 

• South Africans turn to homemade recipes with ban on alcohol sales

In South Africa, if certain containment measures are to be relaxed from Friday, in particular for businesses, the ban on the sale of alcohol should be maintained. So some people turn to brewing house beers to get around the ban. Others even try to reproduce traditional South African recipes, such as umqombothi, a beer made from corn and sorghum .

On social networks, publications of homemade alcohol recipes have multiplied. But the authorities point out that homemade alcohol is also affected by the ban. They put forward several arguments to justify this measure: the weakening of consumers' immune defenses, their lack of social distancing and the number of hospital beds occupied because of alcohol-related accidents.

► Read also: Containment in South Africa: house beer is on the rise

• 99-year-old patient discharged from hospital in Algeria cured

This is news that gives hope to everyone with Covid-19. In Algeria, the oldest patient with coronavirus, a 99-year-old man, came out cured of the disease on Sunday. He was able to leave the establishment in which he was hospitalized, in the Bouira region, east of the capital. Her 45-year-old son, however, did not survive the virus. Algeria is one of the countries most affected by the pandemic in Africa. To date, the authorities have recorded 3,382 confirmed cases and 425 deaths.

• No rhino victim of poaching since the beginning of confinement in Botswana

Good news in Botswana: since the start of containment on April 2, no rhino has been killed by poachers in the country. In question, according to a statement from the Ministry of the Environment, the strengthening of anti-poaching surveillance, which has led to the death of six criminals since the beginning of the month. "  The Minister is aware that poachers may try to take advantage of the confinement of the absence of tourists to carry out their illegal activities. But anti-poaching personnel continue their work and ensure zero tolerance for any criminal activity,  ” the press release said .

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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