Health authorities in Ghana have adopted the use of drones to deliver test samples, another example of African ingenuity in the face of the coronavirus crisis…
Rwandan security forces accued of “raping and killing during lockdown”
Human Rights Watch has accused the security forces in Rwanda of killing, raping and arresting people since the coronavirus lockdown came into force.
The organisation claims that people accused of breaching lockdown rules have been detained in stadiums, with reports of women being raped by men in military uniforms.
The Rwandan military has launched an investigation into the alleged incidents and five suspects have already been arrested.
Global coronavirus death toll passes 200,000 mark
Nigeria’s governors seek to make face masks compulsory in public
Nigerian state governors have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the compulsory use of face masks in public as confirmed coronavirus cases rise, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Saturday.
The 36 governors believe Buhari’s approval is needed to ensure a uniform and coordinated policy at federal and state levels to tackle the virus, the letter from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) said.
The presidency declined to comment on whether Buhari had received the letter or would act on the advice.
Two presidency sources said the request had taken the form of a suggestion to the president’s task force on COVID-19. They said the task force would brief him on the suggestion on Sunday.
Nigeria reported 114 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday, bringing its total to 1,095, with 32 deaths. A total of 28 states have so far reported cases, and more than half are in the commercial hub, Lagos.
With 200 million people, Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country. Some 20 million reside in Lagos.
The governors want Buhari’s next set of coronavirus measures to incorporate a lockdown on flights and on interstate movement, restrictions on large gatherings and overnight curfews, as well as making the use of face masks in public compulsory.
The movement of food, beverages, medical and pharmaceuticals, petroleum supplies and agricultural products should be exempt, said the governors, who on Thursday agreed to ban interstate movement for two weeks.
Lagos and Ogun states, as well as the capital Abuja, are already under federally imposed lockdowns, while various states have instigated their own containment measures.
Africa Covid-19 update: 08:00 WAT Sunday 26 April (09:00 CEST)
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 2,898,703 cases have been detected worldwide, with 203,043 deaths and 822,264 people now recovered.
Nigeria: 1,182 cases / 35 deaths
South Africa: 4,361 cases / 86 deaths
Ghana: 1,279 cases / 10 deaths
Kenya: 343 cases / 14 deaths
Algeria allows businesses to reopen to ease coronavirus impact
Algeria has taken further steps to ease restrictions over the novel coronavirus by allowing several businesses to reopen “to reduce the economic and social impact of the health crisis” caused by the pandemic, the prime minister’s office said on Saturday.
It said shops to be reopened including those for materials for building and public works, appliances, fabrics, jewelry, clothing and shoes, cosmetics and perfumes, home and office furniture, pastries and hairdressers in addition to urban transport by taxi.
The government on Thursday decided to ease confinement measures by shortening the curfew for some provinces but called on citizens to be “vigilant”. That measure came hours before the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on Friday.
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