Coronavirus: Africa faces the pandemic on Friday June 5

Text by: RFI Follow

According to the latest figures from the African Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Africa has 163,599 confirmed cases of coronavirus. The Covid-19 has already claimed the lives of 4,611 people on the continent. The countries most affected by the epidemic are South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria.

Publicity

• Ugandan Prime Minister placed in solitary confinement

Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda said on social media that he has quarantined himself. “  My friends, I went into solitary confinement after some of my contacts tested positive for Covid-19. My own test was negative, however, I decided to follow the health recommendations  , ”he wrote on his Twitter account. The Prime Minister was head of the executive task force on the coronavirus. His duties have been delegated to the Deputy Prime Minister, Moses Ali.

The health ministry spokesman said all the ministers are being tested, as are staff in the Prime Minister's office. They will be checked again every two weeks. 

• Due to lack of places, some Covid-19 patients in Kenya will be discharged from the hospital

In Kenya, the Ministry of Health is preparing a guide to caring for patients with Covid-19 at home, in order to relieve hospitals' congestion. For the moment, all those tested positive are sent to health centers and placed in quarantine. “  The Kenyatta University and Mgabathi hospitals have almost reached their maximum capacity. Many of the coronavirus cases are asymptomatic and can therefore be managed from their home,  ”said Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe. 

• South African government appeals judgment against restrictions

In South Africa, the government is appealing the decision of the Pretoria High Court criticizing certain restrictive measures intended to combat the spread of the epidemic. "  The government is going to ask that the appeal be heard urgently so that all of us are fixed on the regulations,  " said minister attached to the presidency, Jackson Mthembu, at a press conference. In a decision rendered on Tuesday, the Pretoria High Court had ruled certain measures taken by the government to be unconstitutional and invalid, notably the ban on going to a funeral or practicing a sporting activity. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa was traveling this Friday in Cape Town. He promised to send medical reinforcements to the region, whose hospitals are threatened with saturation by the rapid spread of the epidemic. "  The Ministry of Defense is ready to immediately send military personnel to the province to lend a hand. We will also find caregivers in other provinces to bring them here,  ”said the head of state. 

• UEMOA companies greatly impacted by the crisis

According to a survey carried out in April with the chambers of commerce and employers' associations of the eight countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), employment fell by 25% and certain sectors saw their activity reduced to nil . The sector most impacted by measures to fight the pandemic is unsurprisingly that of services, with in April activity decreases ranging from 100% for tourism and 95% for hotels and restaurants.

If the pandemic lasts all year round, the sector would lose 50% of its turnover.
Trade is also very impacted: 63% of wholesalers saw their activity drop by a quarter, but 81% of retailers working in the informal sector made the same observation. Informal traders, street vendors or market vendors are the big collateral victims of the crisis. The picture is less catastrophic in industry, agriculture and mining. Gold producers in particular are doing well. But overall salaried employment in the WAEMU fell by 25%, even though many companies had given up laying off. 

• Algerian government details plan for deconfinement

Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad detailed his roadmap for the relaxation of restrictive measures in Algeria. From this Sunday, the building, public works and hydraulics sector will be able to resume their activities. Twenty-five types of businesses, such as hair salons, real estate agencies, pastry shops and bookstores will also be able to reopen.

A second phase of deconfinement is to begin on June 14. It will concern taxi transport activities, catering and drinking places. The executive indicated that the issue of lifting or reducing the curfew on this date is possible. The authorities condition this easing to the development of the epidemic in the coming days. 

• Pandemic could affect fight against climate change in Africa

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the global coronavirus pandemic risks weakening the financial capacities of sub-Saharan Africa to respond to the challenges linked to climate change, of which it is the first victim. "  A third of the world's droughts occur in sub-Saharan Africa and the frequency of storms and floods is increasing more there  " than in the rest of the world, worries the IMF in a report.
"  Financing adaptation to climate change will be more profitable than frequent aid to victims of disasters  ", estimates the financial institution, which estimates the cost of this adaptation of 30 to 50 billion dollars per year during the next decade. This aid focused on the resilience of populations to climate change will also make it possible to increase “  resilience to pandemics, reduce inequalities and ensure macroeconomic stability  ”, underlines the Fund. 

• Over 100 caregivers have been infected with coronavirus in Ghana

In the central region of Ghana, 111 health care workers tested positive for Covid-19, and 45 of them were admitted to hospitals. In total, the central region concentrates 439 cases of coronavirus. According to the Deputy Regional Director for Health, Dr Kwabena Sarpong, the increase in the number of cases is caused by the slackening of the population and the non-compliance with barrier measures such as wearing a mask. "  It is very hard to believe, that barely a month earlier, there were only one or two confirmed cases, and that the assessment is now at 439 cases. In addition, 2,174 samples are still waiting to be tested in the region, further increasing our concern,  "he said.  

• Kenya's largest football club calls for help

The Gor Mahia Football Club of Nairobi calls for the solidarity of its fans. The largest Kenyan club and 19-time national champion, it was severely affected by the Covid-19 epidemic which ended the championship prematurely. "  It's been five months since the players have had no salary and yet they still have rents to pay and families to feed,  " worries Ambrose Rachier, president of Gor Mahia. If the supporters want to help the club survive, he suggests that they convert their loyalty points accumulated with telephone operators into money and donate them to the team.

"  Our supporters will do their best but they do not earn much and they too are affected by the epidemic,  " said Captain Kenneth Muguna, who has made no secret of his personal financial distress since he was no longer in salary. The federation ended the championship in April because of the epidemic, designating Gor Mahia the winner again. This does not prevent the club from being in turmoil. Some players are even in the process of being evicted from their homes. “I told the property owners that the rent arrears were due to the suspension of wages. The players will pay them as soon as they have their money, "said Ambrose Rachier. 

• An online concert to support Africa in the face of the pandemic

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is organizing this Friday evening  the Africa Together , an online concert intended to help Africa during the coronavirus health crisis. On the bill: Youssouf N'dour, Ferre Gola, Salif Keita, Lady Ponce and many others.

Our selection on the coronavirus

• Listen to our Coronavirus Info column 

• Our  explanations  :
→  What we know about the mode of contagion
→  Disparities and inequalities facing the coronavirus
→  Triple therapy, Discovery… update on research
→  Remdesivir, antibodies and immunity
→  The race for the vaccine is in full swing
→  How to make a mask and use it well

• Our series  :
→ “  The response, country by country  ”
→ “  Nurses  ' words ”

• After Covid-19, towards a new world?

• 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
→  Science facing the Covid-19
→  The geopolitical consequences

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• Coronavirus
• Coronavirus: the state of the world facing the pandemic
• South Africa