ABUJA, June 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Africa has now confirmed over 200,000 coronavirus cases across all 54 countries, according to latest statistics from the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The continent has however recorded relatively low deaths with toll now at over 5,500 deaths.
Africa has however recorded a significant number of recoveries now at over 90,000.
South Africa remains the most affected country in terms of infections with tally now at over 52,000 with concerns things could get worst.
Many African countries have been reopening their economies, schools and places of worship in reaction to agitations from citizens.
There have been fears that such early decisions to ease some lockdown restrictions could trigger a spark in cases.
Some of the African countries are also coming under criticisms for not being transparent with their Covid-19 strategies.
The World Health Organization had already predicted that there could thousands of deaths in Africa if containment measures fail.
In other developments, UGANDA’s President Yoweri Museveni has said the country is preparing a 40,000-bed field hospital at Namboole Stadium in the capital, Kampala, for coronavirus patients.
The president said the ministry of health was initially planning for 9,000-bed facility but he had instructed that the capacity be increased.
Uganda has so far recorded 657 cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by Coronavirus.
The DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of CONGO (DRC), is set to benefit from European Union funding in its efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic.
The European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic; announced a 19.5 million euros humanitarian aid to help the country combat the spread of the coronavirus.
The announcement comes as the central Africa country is grappling to control the spread of the novel coronavirus. DRC is currently the second most impacted in the region behind Cameroon.
Countries like the DRC would struggle to cope if the outbreak intensifies and Brussels has set aside 3.25 billion euros ($3.67 billion) in grants and 1.4 billion euros in loans to help countries through the crisis.
DRC has 4,259 confirmed cases with 90 deaths and 539 recoveries.
NIGERIA: An increased number of children are in the labour force right now because schools have closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Experts monitoring child labour in the country say since the pandemic shutdown, more children are working as hawkers, cleaners or on city streets begging to earn money to help their families.
Child labour in Nigeria has been outlawed since 2003, but the practice remains widespread especially among the country’s poor.
The International Labor Organization estimates 15 million Nigerian children are in the labour force — the highest total in West Africa.
The ILO says Nigeria’s relaxation of lockdown measures while keeping schools closed has triggered a rapid rise in the child labour rate.
Child labour advocates say poverty and cultural perceptions are major obstacles to eliminating child labour in Nigeria.
SOUTH AFRICA’s Air Force headquarters in the capital, Pretoria, has been temporarily closed after two people working there tested positive for coronavirus.
The building was evacuated on Tuesday as a precautionary measure and will be closed for two days for “deep cleaning”, the military said in a statement.
The two people have since been quarantined.
South Africa has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the continent.
— NNN-AGENCIES
