Tag: Covid-19 - Page 21 - African News Today

Egypt Records More than 50,000 Confirmed Cases of Corona Virus Infection

19Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Egypt, News

Egypt Records More than 50,000 Confirmed Cases of Corona Virus Infection

Health authorities in Egypt announced 1,218 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday 18 June, 2020. This brings the total number of corona virus cases in Egypt to over 50,000, two weeks before her planned easing of lockdown measure. Egypt imposed lockdown in March to mitigate the transmission of the virus, resulting in school closure, restaurants and bulk of international airlifting. The Arab nation’s booming tourism industry was negatively impacted by the disease. Government credits tourism for 5% of its economic revenue though analysts are of the view it might be as high as 15% of jobs, indirect investment related to the industry inclusive. Egypt plans to restart scheduled international flights from July 1 which will enable opening its borders to tourists for the forthcoming summer sea...

Covid-19: Lockdown in Khartoum, Sudan Extended Until June 29

18Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Sudan

Covid-19: Lockdown in Khartoum, Sudan Extended Until June 29

The security and Defence Council of the Republic of Sudan has prolonged the existing lock down in the state of Khartoum to June 29 in a conscious effort to stem the tide of corona virus spread. The nation’s capital- Khartoum, boasts of the largest population in the African country. The council announced the continuation of 3 p.m to 7 a.m curfew as part of recommendations of the Supreme Committee for Health Emergencies. Effective from Sunday, Sudan will commence bringing back of stranded expatriates through flights and border crossings to ensure safety. The council added that returnees without medical certificates to prove being corona virus free would be quarantined until being cleared by undergoing test. Sudan had last week, extended the closure of airports to international...

Kenya Records Close to 4,000 Pregnant School Girls During Corona Virus Lockdown

17Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, Kenya, News, Women Empowerment

Kenya Records Close to 4,000 Pregnant School Girls During Corona Virus Lockdown

The chances of school girls in Kenya continuing their education after lockdown have been threatened by spate of pregnancy among school-going girls in the country. Teen pregnancy has surged in the five months period of lockdown imposed in the country as measure to check the spread of fatal corona virus disease. A Health Information Survey conducted in Kenya reveals that about 4,000 school girls have been impregnated over the course of the lockdown. North eastern prince- Machakos leads in the number of pregnancies recorded. Data gathered reveals a total of 3,964 pregnancies among girls aged 19 years and below. Salome Muthama the Machakos County Children Officer claims the reported cases do not represent the actual figure. She said far more cases are unreported at present. Accordi...

Kenya Relaxes Burial Guidelines Amid Increased Cases of Covid-19

15Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Kenya, News

Kenya Relaxes Burial Guidelines Amid Increased Cases of Covid-19

The Kenyan ministry of health has relaxed guidelines relating to the burial of COVID-19 victims. Kenya had established a guideline which required victims of corona virus to be buried not more than 48 hours after death. Families of victims had been forced to hurriedly bury their relatives to evade breaking the rule. Some had to put their loved ones to the grave at night. The director general of ministry of health, Patrick Amoth has disclosed that the relaxation is due to findings that people stand a low risk of contracting coronavirus through dead bodies if well handled. “If you look at the transmission of Covid-19 against other infections, there is very little likelihood that one stands a chance of getting infected from a body, if treated well,” he said. Reports say a...

Most-At-Need Sudanese to Get Direct Cash Payments from Government

15Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Economy, News, Sudan

Most-At-Need Sudanese to Get Direct Cash Payments from Government

Citizens of Sudan are set to receive direct cash transfers from next week as part of experimental programme as the country attempts to ease off expensive subsidies. Sudan’s capital Khartoum has been striving to revive its faltering economy. This latest attempt is aimed at improving the lot of the city and the country at large. Sudan has faced an inflation rate of almost 100% and the currency facing a free fall. The government has had to print money to subsidise basic necessities like bread, fuel and electricity. The country has a foreign debts rate of about $62 billion. Last week, its government started talks that could usher international finance support by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) through a non-funded programme. Under first phase of the new pilot cash payment progr...

South Africa: Student Union Threatens to Close Schools Across SA Over Covid-19 Fears

14Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, News, South Africa, Youths

South Africa: Student Union Threatens to Close Schools Across SA Over Covid-19 Fears

The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) have said the body will be “shutting down all schools over SA” from Monday. The union said in a statement, “We want to put it on record that we are not giving anyone an option but we are taking a radical approach, we will save the lives of innocent scholars by hook or crook.” Cosas said it would mobilise at a school in Cape Town where it believed a Covid-19 case had been reported, “from there we will move to any other school that is operating”. This comes after recent reopening of schools in South Africa. Cosas is believed to be of the view that school reopening amid corona virus threat is undue. Source: TimesLive

Update: COVID-19 Cases Recorded in Nigeria Rise to 13,464

10Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria

Update: COVID-19 Cases Recorded in Nigeria Rise to 13,464

Latest update published by the Nigerian centre for Disease for Disease Control (NCDC) shows that Nigeria has recorded fresh 663 cases of coronavirus. It brings the total number of cases in Nigeria to 13,464 with 365 deaths while 4206 have been discharged. It read, “663 new cases of #COVID19; Lagos-170, Ogun-108, Bauchi-69, Ebonyi-49, Edo-33, Rivers-30, FCT-26, Jigawa-26, Delta-20, Anambra-17, Gombe-16, Kano-16, Imo-15, Abia-14, Borno-11, Oyo-11, Plateau-8, Kebbi-6, Kaduna-6, Ondo-4, Niger-2, Katsina-2, Osun-1, Ekiti-1, Kwara-1 and 1 in Nasarawa-1. “13464 cases of ‪#COVID19Nigeria. Discharged: 4206, deaths: 365.”

Corona Virus: Schools Resume in South Africa

9Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Africa, Covid-19, Education, News, Safety, South Africa

Corona Virus: Schools Resume in South Africa

School children in South Africa resumed classroom activities on Monday, 8th June 2020, as government starts to ease restrictions imposed on the country to curb the spread of corona virus. Resumption of schools was delayed in the country after teachers’ union advised members to ignore the order by the government to resume last week, stating that schools lacked adequate health measures to keep both teachers and pupils safe. Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga had earlier stated on Sunday that government concluded efforts to equip schools in the past week and that 95% of primary and secondary schools in the country are now able to restart. “The golden rule is there will be no school that will resume if not ready to do so,” Motshekga said. She also stated that government will...

Increased Number of COVID-19 Cases in Ghana Stop Operators from Reopening

9Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Economy, Ghana, News

Increased Number of COVID-19 Cases in Ghana Stop Operators from Reopening

Bar and pub operators in Ghana have continued to make appeals to the government to ease some restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them restart operations, the Ghana News Agency reports. West African country, Ghana has continued to enforce strict measures to curb the growing number of corona virus cases. Ghana had a surge in COVID-19 cases in May 2020 but there has been a gradual ease of restrictions to enable some sectors of the economy to function. This may have informed the decision by pub operators to make the appeal to the government. The operators maintained that the lock down of their businesses due to the pandemic was affecting them economically. They expressed their readiness to enforce the required health protocols if allowed to resume operations. President...

8Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Africa, Covid-19, Tanzania

Has Tanzania Triumphed Over Covid-19?

Tanzania has conquered the scourge of coronavirus. This was declared by President John Mogufuli in a church service in the capital, Dodoma on Sunday. President Mogafuli attributed the victory to prayers by citizens. According to him, the disease has been defeated thanks to God. This comes on the heels of concerns by the World Health Organisation (WHO) over the mode of tackling the prevalence of the virus by the government. Tanzania had 509 cases and 21 deaths as at 29 April when the last official figures were published. Sources have expressed doubt over the claim of being coronavirus free by the President. Mr. Magufuli had conceded last week that the nation was treating four patients in Dar es Salaam. United states embassy had last week raised an alarm over the “extremely high”...