Coronavirus: Follow The Evolution Of The Pandemic In Africa

Presidents and sports personalities launch # ChallengeCOVID19 on social networks

Dear President @PaulKagame, I accept the challenge and encourage all people from Senegal and all contaminated countries to do as well against #COVID19 #SafeHands
What about you? pic.twitter.com/1ga1ZCwYfb

— Macky Sall (@Macky_Sall) March 17, 2020

I joined @WHO #SafeHands challenge. Handwashing is key to preventing the spread of #COVID19. I challenge President Kenyatta @StateHouseKenya, @Macky_Sall, @MagufuliJP, President Tshisekedi @Presidence_RDC, @CyrilRamaphosa, @BorisJohnson, @KGeorgieva to join in by sharing a video pic.twitter.com/udaVPCexCJ

— Paul Kagame (@PaulKagame) March 15, 2020

Raising awarness is 🔑 to fighting the #COVIDー19

Nigeria's Vincent Enyeama with the #SafeHandsChallenge pic.twitter.com/nYo4ExgjGP

— #BSAFCON2022 (@CAF_Online) March 17, 2020

More and more participants in the #SafeHandsChallenge!

Up next is former Senegalese midfielder Alassane N'Dour 👏#COVID19 https://t.co/VM2LTN0DDz

— #BSAFCON2022 (@CAF_Online) March 18, 2020

Gambia announces the first case of coronavirus on its territory

The Gambia has registered its first case of coronavirus, its Minister of Health announced Tuesday after government announcements of measures to contain the spread of the pandemic.

In a televised address, Minister of Health Ahmadou Lamin Samateh said that authorities in the small West African country had detected the coronavirus contamination of a young woman recently returned from the United Kingdom.

She isolated herself after feeling feverish, before being tested positive for Covid-19. “All passengers arriving on the same flight or in contact with the confirmed case will be found and placed in isolation”, assured the Minister.

Earlier, in a televised address, President Adama Barrow announced a ban on public gatherings and the closure of schools for three weeks starting Wednesday. Also, travellers arriving from countries affected by the pandemic will be quarantined for two weeks

Several countries have taken a series of protective measures

Tunisia generalizes quarantine

Tunisia has closed its maritime borders and severely restricted air services with Europe and Egypt, forcing all travellers from abroad to isolate themselves for 14 days upon arrival in order to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

These drastic measures were announced Friday evening by Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh during a televised address, while Tunisia has 16 confirmed cases, mostly people infected abroad.

All maritime services are suspended, as well as air links, to Italy. A daily flight is maintained to France, and a single weekly flight to Spain, Great Britain, Germany and Egypt.

These measures take effect Saturday until April 4.

All travellers arriving from abroad must isolate themselves for 14 days at home. The health ministry said earlier on Friday that it would not be allowed to leave Tunisian territory during quarantine.

There will be no more collective prayers, including Friday, while bars, cafes and restaurants will close at 4:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. GMT ), added Fakhfakh.

Meetings are prohibited, all cultural events cancelled, and sports competitions, including soccer matches, will be held behind closed doors.

The schools, which had been closed this week a few days before the start of the Tunisian holidays, will not reopen until March 28.

“We can control this pandemic by respecting the instructions,” said Fakhfakh, arguing that for the moment the situation was “under control”.

Three new cases were confirmed Friday evening in Tunisia, said the Ministry of Health, bringing to 16 the number of identified patients, one of whom returned to France.

Libya: “preventive” closure of schools

Rival Libyan authorities announced Friday the closure of all educational institutions for two weeks as a “preventive measure” against the new coronavirus.

All schools, public and private, will be closed from Sunday, said in two separate press releases the two rival governments who say they have not yet identified any case of new coronavirus in Libya.

Two authorities are vying for power in Libya: the government of national unity ( GNA ), based in Tripoli and recognized by the UN, and a parallel government based in the east of the country controlled by Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

Hundreds of schools have already been closed since the launch in early April of Marshal Haftar’s offensive against the Libyan capital.

Clashes south of Tripoli have left more than 1,000 dead and more than 150,000 displaced from their homes.

Analysts believe that the spread of Covid-19 disease could have catastrophic consequences in wartime Libya, where the health sector is among the least developed in North Africa.

Guinea too

The first case of infection with the new coronavirus has been detected in Guinea, on a Belgian, announced on Friday the Guinean authorities, according to which “all preventive measures have been taken” in this West African country affected there. six years ago by an Ebola epidemic.

“We have registered the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Guinea,” said Guinean President Alpha Condé on Twitter, adding that a meeting was underway between “the highest health officials and members of the government”.

“All the preventive measures had been taken and are already in force,” he said.

The Minister of Health, doctor-colonel Remy Lamah, had previously told Nigeria News that he had learned “that there is a confirmed case of coronavirus which is in the treatment centre for infectious diseases of Nongo”, in the suburbs from Conakry.

“It is a Belgian national who arrived in Conakry between 4 and 5 days ago and who developed symptoms yesterday (Thursday)”, explained without further details Mr Lamah, contacted by phone.

The information was then confirmed by a doctor from this centre created during the Ebola haemorrhagic fever epidemic which started in December 2013 in southern Guinea.

First confirmed case in Kenya

The first case of a new coronavirus has been diagnosed in Kenya, which concerns a Kenyan student who returned from the United States via London, Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe announced Friday.

It is also the first confirmed case of new coronavirus in East Africa.

“The case concerns a Kenyan citizen, who returned to Nairobi from the United States via London, to the United Kingdom, on March 5, 2020,” said the minister.

The student “is stable and behaves normally,” he said, adding that she ate well and was well.

First two cases of coronavirus in Ghana

Two cases of coronavirus have been identified in Ghana, health authorities announced on Thursday, adding that the infected people were arriving from Norway and Turkey, that they were in “stable condition” and that the situation was “under control”.

“The two patients are kept in solitary confinement and their condition is stable,” said the Minister of Health at a press conference. The process to identify those who have been in contact with them is underway, he added.

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo announced a $ 100 million plan on Wednesday to help the country cope with the pandemic, including “equipping, preparing infrastructure, and raising public awareness.”

All Ghanaian officials have a formal ban on travelling abroad.

The first case in Gabon

The first case of a patient suffering from the new coronavirus was announced Thursday in Gabon in a government statement: a Gabonese returning from Bordeaux, France.

“He is a compatriot aged 27, living in Gabon having stayed in Bordeaux”, we read in this press release.

“When he arrived in Libreville on March 8, he was thermoflashed and showed no symptoms,” the statement said.

“The next day, complaining of cough, sore throat and difficulty breathing, he was admitted to hospital,” the text continues.

“Immediately, samples were taken (…). The results obtained today (…) are positive at Covid-19 “, according to the government, which added Thursday evening:

“The patient’s condition is gradually improving and the identification of contact persons is in progress”.

The first death in Algeria

Algeria has registered its first death from the new coronavirus, the Algerian Ministry of Health announced on Thursday.

The press release, quoted by the official agency APS, gives no details on this death.

In addition, five new cases of Covid-19 have been identified, bringing to 24 the number of cases confirmed on Algerian territory according to the ministry.

A 25th case – the first recorded in Algeria – concerns an Italian national diagnosed positive in February, who has since returned to his country.

Among the five new cases announced Thursday, include two Algerians who stayed in France. They were hospitalized, one in the wilaya (prefecture) of Souk-Ahras (east of the country) and the other in the wilaya of Tizi-Ouzou, east of Algiers.

The other three people are being treated in a hospital in the province of Blida, southwest of Algiers, according to the Ministry of Health.

Seventeen members of the same family from Blida have already been infected, in connection with confirmed cases in Algerian nationals in France.

In order to reduce the risks, the Ministry of Health “advises Algerian citizens who have to go to countries where the epidemic is active to postpone their trip, and Algerian nationals established in countries where the epidemic is active to also postpone their family visit unless absolutely necessary “.

Mali: systematic self-isolation

People arriving in Mali from countries most affected by the new coronavirus will have to undergo a “systematic self-isolation” of 14 days, said Wednesday the spokesman for the Malian government, without specifying the list of countries concerned.

“The Malian government shows its solidarity with the countries affected by COVID -19 and does not prevent the arrival of people who have stayed in these countries”, said Minister of Communication and government spokesman Yaya on Twitter Sangaré.

“However, all passengers submit to systematic screening upon arrival at airport and land borders,” he added.

Before clarifying that “the systematic examination and self-isolation measure of 14 Days taken by the Malian government concerns all passengers from countries HIGHLY affected by the disease at COVID -19″. He did not indicate which countries it was.

No case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Mali. Neighbouring Senegal has five (including two declared cured) and the Ivorian government announced the first case on Wednesday.

The disease is gaining ground in Senegal

The fifth case of coronavirus was declared Wednesday in Senegal. According to the Ministry of Health, the patient was identified in Touba, a holy city of the Muslim Mourides brotherhood, in central Senegal, where a large religious gathering is scheduled for March 22.

The new patient is a Senegalese resident in Italy, who returned to Senegal on March 6. He consulted in Touba on March 10, the day after the onset of the first symptoms, and was then isolated, ministry officials said during a press briefing.

His infection with the new coronavirus was confirmed on Wednesday by the Institut Pasteur in Dakar and he is currently being treated in Dakar, according to the same sources.

Touba is the second agglomeration of Senegal with a population of 1.5 to two million inhabitants.

The FCA does not refer to the threat of coronavirus

African football competitions will not be subject to the law of the new coronavirus. The African Football Confederation ( CAF ) does not intend to modify the programming of its sports activities for 2020.

The apex body of football in Africa maintains “the programming of all its competitions”. Among these sporting events, the 6th African Nations Championship ( CHAN ) scheduled from April 4 to 25 in Cameroon.

Thus, a medical team should set foot on Cameroonian soil next weekend to assess the response system set up by Yaoundé, reports the national television channel CRTV on its Twitter page.

His counterparts like UEFA in Europe had to make significant changes to their timing. This is the case with the Champions League, many of whose matches will now be played behind closed doors.

In Africa, Algeria is one of the few countries to have taken a similar step because of the new coronavirus.

Declared in China in late 2019, COVID -19 has already affected 103 people and killed two others in twelve countries on the continent. Globally, the latest figures show 121,564 people infected and 3,151 dead.

Félix Houphouët-Boigny’s country too

A case of a new coronavirus was identified on Wednesday in Côte d’Ivoire by the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Eugène Aka Aouélé.

Coming from Italy, the second focus of the disease after China, the patient is a 45-year-old Ivorian. It was tested positive in the Adjamé-Plateau-Attécoubé health district.

He is taken care of in the service of infectious and tropical diseases, at the CHU of Treichville. But his condition is “stable”, according to Minister Aka Aouélé who called on his compatriots not to give in to panic.

DRC: first case

The first case of a new coronavirus has been diagnosed in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the capital Kinshasa, the largest city in French-speaking Africa, Health Minister Dr Eteni Longondo announced on Tuesday.

Egypt: 25 cases tested negative after the evacuation of a boat in Luxor

Twenty-five people initially tested positive for the new coronavirus on a cruise ship in Luxor, before being evacuated, were finally tested negative, announced Egyptian Minister of Health Hala Zayed on Tuesday.

“Today there are 25 people, among the 45 infected on the boat, whose tests are negative,” the minister said Tuesday evening at a press conference in Cairo.

However, these people will have to wait until the end of their quarantine period before they can leave the hospital where they are currently.

Forty-five cases of infection were detected at the end of last week on the “A-Sara”, a cruise ship now moored at a quay in Luxor. The 33 passengers and 12 crew members who contracted Covid-19 disease were evacuated on Saturday to hospital in Marsa Matrouh, in northern Egypt, according to authorities.

Morocco: first death

Morocco announced on Tuesday the first death linked to the new coronavirus, an 89-year-old woman who suffered from chronic diseases, according to the Ministry of Health.

The Moroccan, who usually lived in Italy, “suffered from chronic diseases, particularly in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems,” the ministry said in a statement.

She had returned to Morocco at the end of February, before being diagnosed positive for the new coronavirus and transferred to a hospital in Casablanca (west) under medical supervision. His case was then deemed “critical”.

Egypt: first death

Egypt announced on Sunday the first death in Africa linked to the new coronavirus in the south-east of the country, while a cruise ship in which 45 cases had been detected was evacuated to Luxor in the south.

“A 60-year-old German national (…) admitted to Hurghada public hospital on March 6” and tested positive for the new coronavirus the next day died on Sunday, said Khaled Megahed, spokesman for the Ministry of Health in a communicated.

Togo: a first case

The first case of coronavirus has been identified in Togo, the Togolese government announced on Friday, adding that the “42-year-old patient” had arrived from neighbouring Benin by a land border.

“From February 22 to March 2, she, however, stayed successively in Benin, in Germany, in France and in Turkey, before returning to Togo via Benin, by the land border of Sanvi Condji on March 2, 2020”, a-t -He specifies.

The patient was placed in solitary confinement and her state of health “does not give rise to any major concern”.

Her identity has not been revealed, but several sources close to the government have told Nigeria News that she is a Togolese national.

Cameroon confirms first case

Cameroon announces the first case of Covid-19 on the territory. This is a 38-year-old Frenchman who arrived in the capital Yaoundé on February 24, 2020. “The person concerned was placed in isolation in the Care Center of the Central Hospital of Yaoundé for treatment”, says the Minister of Public Health. He also reassures that “all measures are taken by the government to contain the possible risks of the
spread of the virus”.

Algeria: 16 members of the same family infected

Sixteen members of the same family from the Blida region, near Algiers, were infected with the coronavirus following contacts with Algerian nationals living in France, the Algerian Ministry of Health announced on Thursday.

“The total number of people affected by the coronavirus amounts to 17 cases including 16 from the same family”, said Thursday during a press point the director-general of prevention at the Ministry of Health, Djamel Fourar, quoted by the Algerian media.

The epidemiological investigation made it possible to trace the contamination to an 83-year-old Algerian and his daughter residing in France – who are not among these 16 cases. The man and his daughter stayed with their family from February 14 to 21 in Blida, 50 km south of Algiers, according to the Ministry of Health.

Both were confirmed positive for coronavirus after their return to France on February 21.

South Africa affected

South Africa announced Thursday that it has identified a first case of the new coronavirus on its territory, a 38-year-old man who recently stayed in Italy.

The man and his wife were among a group of ten who returned to South Africa on Sunday, said Health Minister Zweli Mkhize.

He visited a general practitioner in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal (northeast) the next day due to fever, headache, sore throat and cough, Mkhize said in a statement.

“The patient has been in solitary confinement since March 3,” said the minister, adding that his doctor was too.

>>> READ ALSO: Coronavirus in South Africa: President Ramaphosa calls for calm

Morocco: behind closed doors for all football matches

All football matches, for all competitions and all categories, will now be played behind closed doors as a preventive measure in connection with the global coronavirus epidemic, we learned on Thursday from the Royal Moroccan Federation ( FRMF ).

This decision aims to “ensure the safety of players, coaches and supporters”, according to a press release from the FRMF published on its website.

Egypt bans Qatari citizens from entry

Cairo decided on Wednesday to deny access to Egyptian territory to nationals of Qatar, who took similar measures on Sunday, as part of the campaign to combat the spread of Covid-19.

Since last Sunday, Doha has imposed a “temporary entry restriction” on all people from Egypt, including Egyptians resident on Qatari soil, due to the virus.

Doha decided following the announcement by France late last week of six new cases of Covid-19 that affected people who had travelled to Egypt.

In response, Egypt decided to “apply the principle of reciprocity and prohibit entry (to Egypt) to Qatari citizens”, starting March 6, said Nader Saad, spokesman for the Egyptian council. of ministers, meeting Wednesday.

African Basketball League kickoff postponed

The inaugural season of the African Basketball League ( BAL ), which was due to start on March 13 in Dakar, has been postponed to a later date due to the spread of the coronavirus, announced Tuesday the NBA, partner of this new competition.

“Following the recommendation of the Senegalese government regarding the escalation of health problems linked to the coronavirus, the inaugural season of BAL is postponed,” said its president, Amadou Gallo Fall, quoted in the NBA press release.

“I am disappointed that we are not able to kick off this historic league as planned, but we look forward to the much-anticipated launch of BAL at a later date,” he added, without giving more precision.

This announcement comes the day after Senegal confirms its first case of infection with the new coronavirus.

Morocco: Cycling Tour and Grand Prix of Rabat cancelled

The 2020 Cycling Tour of Morocco, initially scheduled for April 9 to 18, has just been cancelled by the Federation because of the coronavirus. This decision comes 24 hours after the announcement of the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Morocco. It is said to be linked to the security measures put in place by the local authorities, which recommend the restriction of large demonstrations and mass gatherings. The reason why, the Judo Grand Prix of Rabat, which was to take place from March 6 to 8 in the capital of Morocco, was simply cancelled.

Senegal hit again

Senegal announced on Wednesday two new cases of coronavirus, on a French and an English arrived at the end of February, which brings to four the number of infected people in the country.

One of the new cases concerns a 68-year-old woman, wife of an 80-year-old patient who tested positive on Tuesday, the health ministry said in a statement. Residing in France, she arrived in Senegal on February 29 with her husband.

The second is that of a 33-year-old Englishwoman, who came from London and arrived in Dakar on February 24.

Two first coronavirus cases had been announced Monday and Tuesday, on two French.

Reported events

In Senegal, the Minister of the Interior decided Tuesday “to postpone until further notice” a three-day cultural event, planned from March 6 in the commune of Linguère (north), of which he is the mayor.

The report is intended to “deal with the spread of the recently registered coronavirus in Senegal,” the minister announced on Twitter. The event was to include a concert by the very popular Wally Seck, a wrestling gala, a popular sport in Senegal, and a day of popular clean-up.

It is the first official report of an event since the announcement of the coronavirus on the continent.

Elsewhere in Nigeria, parliament unanimously approved a two-week leave for all of its elected officials on Tuesday to guarantee their “safety” from the coronavirus, a case of which was reported last week in Lagos.

Morocco, the last country affected

The Cherifian kingdom announced in the evening of Monday its first case of coronavirus virus. He is a Moroccan national who recently returned from Italy. After analyzes at the Pasteur-Morocco Institute, the man was confirmed as carrying the virus. Although his state of health “is stable and does not cause concern”, reassured the head of the Moroccan government Saad Eddine El Othmani, who gave a press conference in the evening of Monday with the Minister of Health Khalid Ait Taleb.

Tunisia in the loop

Also on Monday, Tunisia announced its first case of the new coronavirus. It is the first confirmed case in the country. “Tunisia has registered the first case,” said Tunisian Minister of Health, Abdellatif Mekki

“We are going to take health and human measures concerning the family of the patient and the people on board the boat,” said Mekki, who took office on Friday. Some 254 people were on board the boat that arrived in Tunisia on February 27, the minister said on local radio. The authorities, he said, asked the passengers in the boat to isolate themselves and alert the emergency services in case of symptoms, which the patient did, allowing the first case to be detected.

Most affected North Africa

Along with Morocco and Tunisia, North Africa is becoming the African region most affected by the virus. The first cases on the continent had as a reminder been detected in Egypt, then in Algeria. In the morning of Monday, Egypt had also announced the second case of coronavirus. Announcements that come to hurt the economy of these countries while the tourist season opens there, especially in Tunisia or even in Egypt.

Sub-Saharan Africa in slow motion, not without risk

After Nigeria, Senegal became the second country in sub-Saharan Africa to experience COVID -19 on Monday. Dakar recorded a first confirmed case while Lagos faced it as of Friday. A megalopolis of more than 20 million inhabitants, Lagos worries with the arrival of the new coronavirus within its walls. Nigeria is considered to be very vulnerable to viral spread due to its weak health system and high population density.

Communication as the main weapon of struggle

With the scale of the epidemic now affecting no less than 70 countries around the world, African states have taken steps to contain the disease as best as possible. Already, at international airports in several countries, strict controls are ensured in order to detect suspicious cases. Analysis and treatment centres – at least 30 – have hatched as the disease flourished. Finally, communication campaigns have been launched in order to inform the populations on the safest ways to avoid contamination. On social networks, on the websites of ministries of health, toll-free numbers, as well as educational messages about the disease, are disseminated.