China, Africa put COVID at center of FOCAC summit

China, Africa put COVID at center of FOCAC summit

African leaders met Wednesday to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, in a virtual meeting hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, the current chair of the African Union. Also coordinating the Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 was President Macky Sall of Senegal, whose nation holds…

WHO warns COVID-19 spread is accelerating for Africa

WHO warns COVID-19 spread is accelerating for Africa

More than 200,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed on the African continent, and the sweep of the pandemic is accelerating, according to World Health Organization (WHO). Officials said Thursday the coronavirus count reached the benchmark of 100,000 cases in 98 days, but it then took only 19 days to…

New projections see South African COVID cases climb

The number of coronavirus cases in South Africa continues to climb, with the Ministry of Health reporting 30 additional deaths on Thursday and a toll that has reached 369 victims. Among them is a 2-day-old baby who was born prematurely and did not survive on a ventilator. “The mother had…

COVID-19 response must target African ag and the rural poor

By Olusegun Obasanjo and Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe Africa has so far escaped the worst health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the continent looks like it could be the worst hit from the economic fallout of the crisis: 80 million Africans could be pushed into extreme poverty if action is…

WHO issues guidelines on suspected COVID syndrome in kids

There are more than 4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the globe, including more than 285,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization on Friday. Children have been spared for the most part, but a rise in cases of a mysterious inflammatory syndrome that doctors think is related to…

HRW says Egypt is expanding repressive powers during pandemic

The Human Rights Watch organization is sounding the alarm over Egypt’s COVID-related emergency powers legislation, which would expand the power of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi regardless of any public health link to a stated emergency. “President al-Sisi’s government is using the pandemic to expand, not reform, Egypt’s abusive Emergency Law,”…

50,000 radios distributed to help prevent COVID rumors in C.A.R.

United Nations peacekeepers in the Central African Republic are helping to battle the coronavirus pandemic alongside the government led by President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, and one of their priorities is shutting down misinformation about COVID-19. MINUSCA is distributing 50,000 solar-powered radios to communities in CAR to improve people’s access to health…

Tanzania’s Chadema to isolate from parliament over COVID deaths

Tanzania’s main opposition party has called on its affiliated MPs to avoid parliamentary meetings and committee work because of the spread of the coronavirus, which has claimed several of its members. Party for Democracy and Development (Chadema) leader Freeman Mbowe, who has been sharply critical of President John Magufuli’s response…

Guinea Bissau accepts shipment of Madagascar’s herbal COVID product

Madagascar continues to promote a controversial herbal remedy for COVID-19, and now Guinea Bissau has become the third African nation with leaders expressing interest in the Tambavy Covid Organics product for their own citizens. That’s according to President Andry Rajoelina, who has been touting the traditional remedy developed by scientists…