ABUJA, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The total number of Coronavirus cases in Africa reached 51,698, according to data released by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
According to the latest update, the death toll in the continent rose to 2,012, while 17,590 coronavirus patients have so far recovered.
North Africa registered a total of 19,100 cases, including 1,200 deaths and 6,700 recoveries; West Africa reported 14,500 cases, with 330 deaths and 4,300 recoveries; Southern Africa saw 8,300 cases, with 169 deaths and 3,300 recoveries; East Africa confirmed 5,100 cases, including 150 deaths and 2,000 recoveries; and Central Africa reported 4,700 cases, with 188 deaths and 1,200 recoveries.
South Africa has the highest number of cases with 7,800, while Egypt has 7,600 cases; but in terms of deaths, Egypt recorded 469, while South Africa counted 153.
Algeria has the highest number of deaths from the coronavirus with 476, while Morocco saw 183 deaths.
Cameroon lost 108 people to the virus, Nigeria 103, Burkina Faso 48, Sudan 49, Somalia 39, Kenya 26, and the Democratic Republic of Congo 36, while many other countries across the continent registered deaths numbering less than 10.
Meanwhile, the head of the Africa CDC rejected an assertion by Tanzania’s president that his nation’s coronavirus tests are faulty and are giving too many false positives.
“The tests that Tanzania is using we know they are working very well,” Dr John Nkengasong told journalists on a conference call.
The Africa CDC, along with the Jack Ma Foundation, a charity run by a Chinese billionaire, supplied the tests, Nkengasong said.
Last weekend, President John Magufuli, who has been criticised for his approach in dealing with the virus, said that he had secretly had some animals and fruits tested at the laboratory and that a paw-paw, a quail and a goat had returned positive samples.
But responding to a question about Magufuli’s comments, Nkengasong said that the test had “been validated and we know that they are performing very well”.
He went on to say that co-operation, co-ordination and collaboration were vital if the fight against Covid-19 was to be successful.
“No country in Africa is an island” when it comes to dealing with the virus, Nkengasong said.
What is needed is a coherent message right from the leadership of the continent down to the local level, he added.
In Tanzania, the government’s main priority appears to be keeping the economy going as Magufuli refuses to countenance the closure of markets or the lucrative port in the commercial hub of Dar es Salaam.
Magufuli has insisted that people should still go to places of worship to find “true healing” – despite these being areas where social distancing is difficult to follow. — NNN-AGENCIES
