Nigerian Air Force researchers unveil new ventilator
Nigeria’s Air Force Institute of Technology, based in Kaduna, has unveiled locally made ventilators that it hopes will be a game changer in the country’s fight against Covid-19. “The ventilators will go a long way to help not only coronavirus patients but also others with...
Malema virus warning: ‘Don’t go to church, you’ll die’
South Africa’s firebrand opposition politician Julius Malema has urged people not to fall for the “trap” of going to church, saying they will die after contracting coronavirus. Places of worship are set to reopen from 1 June after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced easing of lockdown...
Trump’s ventilators ‘have not arrived in Nigeria’
Nigeria’s information minister has said the country is yet to receive ventilators promised by US President Donald Trump in April. Lai Mohammed has denied Mr Trump’s remarks made last week that he had sent 1,000 ventilators to the West African country. Mr Mohammed said that...
Ex-mayor sentenced to life over Rwandan genocide
Rwanda’s High Court has sentenced a former mayor to life in prison for his role in the 1994 genocide. Ladislas Ntaganzwa – who was arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo five years ago – was found guilty of personally leading a series of massacres...
WHO Africa says they are seeing “rapid increases” in cases across the continent
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa said they are “seeing some rapid increases” in cases during a press briefing on Thursday. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa said, “It took 36 days to reach 1,000 reported cases, and then...
Kenya leader scolds son for violating Covid-19 curfew
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has revealed how his son violated a government dusk-to-dawn curfew order issued to prevent the spread of coronavirus. He said one of his two sons, whom he did not identify, recently went out to party at night in the coastal city...
Ghana MPs want parliament to close over virus fears
A number of Ghanaian opposition lawmakers want parliament to be temporarily closed. The West African country has so far confirmed about 7,000 cases and 34 deaths. Speaker Mike Oquaye last week told Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff to be tested for the virus before...
Nigeria’s coronavirus cases ‘could be four times higher’
A body representing Nigerian doctors believes the real number of coronavirus cases in the country could be four times higher than the 8,733 cases confirmed so far by the authorities. It is concerned that the rate of testing remains low, with less than 50,000 tests...
Hong Kong police arrest hundreds and fire pepper pellets amid fresh unrest
Police in Hong Kong have arrested about 300 people and fired pepper pellets amid new anti-mainland unrest. Protesters were rallying against a bill on China’s national anthem and Beijing’s planned introduction of a national security law. Police said the arrests were on suspicion of unauthorised...
South Africa to reopen places of worship
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that places of worship will be reopened on 1 June with strict guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Churches, mosques, temples and other recognised places of worship will be required to ensure worshippers keep their distance. A...
Thirty Tunisians hospitalised after Eid alcohol poisoning
Six people have died and around 30 others hospitalised in Tunisia since Sunday after drinking tainted homemade alcohol. The alcohol was consumed across several towns and cities in the province of Kairouan. The cases first came to light on Sunday – the day of Eid...
Nigeria to continue with clinical trials of malaria drug for Covid-19
Nigeria will continue with the planned clinical trials on malaria drug hydroxychloroquine on Covid-19 patients even after the World Health Organization (WHO) halted a similar effort because of safety fears. The director of Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (Nafdac), Mojisola...
Coronavirus: Egypt doctors accuse government over medics’ deaths
Doctors have accused Egypt’s health ministry of negligence in its handling of Covid-19 and said it bears “full responsibility” for medics’ deaths. A union said on Monday that 19 doctors had so far died from the disease and more than 350 others had been infected....
Free coronavirus hotline launches in Mozambique
The government in Mozambique has launched a free coronavirus hotline to reduce the number of people physically visiting health centres. Callers can dial the switchboard on 110 for information and counselling. They are also encouraged to report people who are flouting quarantine or self-isolation guidance....
Coronavirus: Egypt to probe doctor’s death
Egypt’s health minister has ordered an investigation into the death of a doctor who contracted coronavirus while on duty, amid rising concern about the number of health workers dying of the disease. Minister Hala Zayd promised to do everything necessary to uncover any shortcomings over...
Lorry drivers ‘found after escaping from test centres’
The authorities in Uganda have arrested seven lorry drivers out of 25 others who escaped from a coronavirus testing centres on the country’s border with Kenya. The drivers had been tested at Elegu and Malaba border posts where they returned positive tests. The seven were...
WHO ‘fears silent virus epidemic’ in Africa
The World Health Organization is worried Africa could face a “silent epidemic” if its leaders do not prioritise testing of coronavirus, an official is quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. “My first point for Africa, my first concern, is that a lack of testing...
Uganda starts lifting coronavirus restrictions
Uganda is to begin easing lockdown restrictions on Tuesday with private cars expected back on roads and shops and restaurants reopening in many areas. But everyone must continue to wear face masks in public, President Yoweri Museveni is quoted as saying by the Daily Monitor...
Coronavirus cases top 100,000 across Africa
There are now more than 100,000 cases of coronavirus across Africa, with the virus spreading to every country in the continent, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. So far, 3,100 people in Africa have died from the virus. “For now Covid-19 has made...
Coronavirus: COVID-19 pandemic disrupting vaccination for at least 80 million babies, warns WHO
At least 80 million babies are at risk of diseases such as diphtheria, measles and polio due to disrupted vaccinations, three international organisations have warned. Routine vaccination efforts have been “substantially disrupted” in 68 countries due to the coronavirus pandemic, said officials from the World...
Mory Kanté: African music star dies aged 70
The singer Mory Kanté, who helped bring African music to world audiences with hits like Yéké Yéké, has died in Guinea. Kanté died in hospital on Friday in the capital, Conakry, aged 70, his son Balla Kanté told the AFP news agency. His death was...
Why Ethiopia is limiting cash withdrawals
Ethiopia’s central bank has issued a directive limiting cash withdrawals for individuals and businesses. It said the move is aimed at tackling tax evasion and encouraging a more efficient use of cash. Under the directive, individual Ethiopians cannot withdraw more than 200,000 birr ($5,800; £...
Uganda revises coronavirus tally by nearly half
Uganda’s health minister has announced a downward revision of coronavirus cases in the country following President Yoweri Museveni’s directive to expunge all foreign drivers from the tally. The country had by Wednesday confirmed 260 cases according to the World Health Organisation, but the minister says...
Two-day-old baby dies from coronavirus in South Africa
A two-day-old baby born became the youngest victim of coronavirus in South Africa after being born prematurely to a coronavirus positive mother. It is the country’s first neonatal death. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said the premature baby had lung problems and required ventilation immediately after...
Biya breaks two-month silence on coronavirus
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has addressed the nation for the first time since coronavirus spread to Cameroon on 6 March. Mr Biya urged people in Cameroon to remain calm, trust the government and join the fight against the disease, in a broadcast on state TV....
Nigeria’s Nasarawa state lifts ban on religious gatherings
Nigeria’s Nasarawa state has lifted its ban on religious gatherings for two weeks after which a review will be done to determine if it is feasible. The state commissioner for information, tourism and culture Dogo Shammah said religious leaders will be expected to follow the...
El Salvador’s Supreme Court overrides President’s state of emergency extension
El Salvador’s Supreme Court on Monday suspended the anti-coronavirus state of emergency declared by President Nayib Bukele, saying the decree’s extension was unlawful. Bukele signed a presidential decree extending anti-coronavirus measures on Saturday, a day before the restrictions were set to expire, without seeking Congress...
South Sudan’s vice-president tests positive
South Sudan’s Vice-President Riek Machar has tested positive for coronavirus. He said he had no symptoms, but would self- isolate for 14 days. His wife, Defence Minister Angelina Teny, some bodyguards and other staff have also tested positive. Mr Machar was tested on 13 May...
Tanzania lifts quarantine requirement for foreigners
Foreigners visiting Tanzania will no longer be subjected to a mandatory 14-day quarantine, the health ministry has said. Quarantine requirement for foreigners was introduced last month to help prevent importation of coronavirus to the country. But new guidelines released by officials on Monday now require...
South Africa’s President Ramaphosa warns that coronavirus highlights “dangerous” inequality
“The pandemic has highlighted the dangerous and growing inequality that exists between countries and within them,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa warned at the World Health Organization’s virtual 73rd World Health Assembly. “Although the virus has affected both developed and developing countries, it is the...
