Major African stats: May 9 as of 7:00 GMT:
Confirmed cases = 57,844
Number of deaths = 2,154
Recoveries = 19,133
Infected countries = 53
Virus-free countries = 1 (Lesotho)
SUGGESTED READING: rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Africa II
Africa could risk case, death explosion – WHO warns
Comoros records first case
SUGGESTED READING: rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Africa I
Africa risks explosion of cases, deaths
The coronavirus could “smolder” in Africa for years and take a high death toll across the continent, the World Health Organization has warned.
More than 52,000 confirmed infections and 2,074 virus-related deaths have been reported by African countries, according to figures released Friday (May 8) by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The South African president is also current chairperson of the African Union, AU; he is leading Africa’s most impacted country and the continent’s effort to get international support to fight the pandemic.
Africa dangerously behind in global race for virus gear
As Africa braces for a surge in coronavirus cases, its countries are dangerously behind in the global race for scarce medical equipment.
AP
Some major developments to read about below are as follows:
US support for Kenya, South Africa; Africa’s equipment crunch
Africa case increase worries experts
Mauritania virus-free
Tanzania MP infected
Zimbabwe quarantines UK returnees
Madagascar announces COVID-19 treatment
Africa will suffer Trump’s WHO move
Burundi voters locked out
Tanzania’s three-days of prayer
Malawi imposes lockdown as president’s court hearing starts
Uganda speaker unveils COVID-19 combating spray
US joins Africa in fight against Chinese racism
AU appoints four-member international liaison team
Two prominent deaths
AU protests Chinese mistreatment of Africans
April 23: Africa’s 43% jump in virus cases in 1 week worries experts
Africa registered a 43% jump in reported COVID-19 cases in the last week, highlighting a warning from the World Health Organization that the continent of 1.3 billion could become the next epicenter of the global outbreak.