Africa Coronavirus UPDATE: Morocco August 20
Morocco may reimpose full lockdown as Covid-19 cases surge – King
Morocco could return to a complete coronavirus lockdown as cases continue to spike, Moroccan King Mohammed VI said on Thursday, warning of severe economic repercussions. The warning came as a jump in infections in the once bustling tourist hub of Marrakech strained health services and led to protests by medical staff in recent days.
New cases nationally have surged to more than 1,000 a day since Morocco lifted a strict three-month long lockdown in late June and hit a record high of 1,766 on 15 August.
“If figures continue to increase, the Covid-19 Scientific Committee may recommend another lockdown, perhaps with even tighter restrictions,” the King said in a speech. The deterioration of the health situation “does not leave much room for optimism,” he said.
Read more on this report: Morocco August 20 Coronavirus
Coronavirus tracker: Africa
Africa has now registered 1,148,423 cases with a 250,560 deaths. 871,196 people have recovered from the disease.
As the number of continent-wide daily cases has fallen this week, the director of Africa CDC, Dr John Nkengasong has spoken of a “sign of hope”, but also called for cautious optimism.
Coronavirus – Zimababwe: COVID-19 Update (20 August 2020) @MoHCCZim @MoetiTshidi @WHOAFRO @DrTedros @WHO #Coronavirus #Africa #COVID19 #Pandemic #PandemicCOVID19 #Health https://t.co/2Jxis0K6Pk
— APO Group English (@APO_source) August 20, 2020
Latest figures from Zimbabwe, Kenya and Ghana
Zimbabwe has reported 102 new cases in the past 24-hour period to bring its total tally to 5,745. The death toll increased by 1 to reach 151.
Kenya has confirmed 426 new cases, taking its total caseload to 31,441, while 10 new deaths have been reported, brining the total to 516.
Ghana has registered 166 new cases in the past 24 hours as the country surpasses 43,400 total cases.
Tracking the spread of coronavirus: Africa Today #NationNewsplex https://t.co/6TyraTz2Mk pic.twitter.com/xLB0LsSeFA
— Daily Nation (@dailynation) August 20, 2020
Coronavirus & International Flights: Nigeria announces restrictions on some countries
As Nigeria reopens to international flights, it has been announced that the country will not allow international flights from EU and other countries that still have bans on flights from Nigeria.
Nigeria will not allow international flights from European Union (EU) countries, and other countries that have banned flights from Nigeria.
“As we open the airspace, we’ll apply the issue of reciprocity.” – PTF on COVID-19. https://t.co/B2FFR1Vdwc pic.twitter.com/Y82pXVE5ZU— GoldMyne (@GoldmyneTV) August 20, 2020
Corona Virus Africa: Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health issues Covid-19 video
#DYK Many people who are infected with #COVID19 may develop mild to moderate symptoms but can unknowingly spread the disease to other people who will develop severe symptoms.#TakeResponsibility & continue to adhere to all non pharmaceutical preventive measures of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/U2et1s2q0z
— Federal Ministry of Health, NIGERIA (@Fmohnigeria) August 20, 2020
Egypt says from Sept travelers must show coronavirus test results
Egypt will require all visitors to the country to present Polymerase Chain Reaction test results for the new coronavirus on arrival from Sept. 1, the prime minister said in a televised address on Wednesday.
Egypt will also allow Friday prayers to resume in mosques from Aug. 28 under strict health and safety protocols to be issued by the Ministry of Endowments, Mostafa Madbouly added.
BREAKING: Egypt to require all travelers to present negative PCR test ahead of entry starting September https://t.co/PLgm3lI70S pic.twitter.com/VSJx101sYz
— Ahram Online (@ahramonline) August 19, 2020
Coronavirus Africa: Nigeria passes 50,000 cases
The Wednesday figure is the highest daily record of new cases in August, with Plateau topping the list of states with 186 positive samples, followed by Lagos with 172.
The development comes less than four weeks after Nigeria crossed 40,000 cases – the country had confirmed a total of 40,543 infections as of July 26, out of which 17,374 recoveries and 858 deaths were recorded.
Not good numbers; the COVID–19 Pandemic cases in Nigeria exceed 50,000 (50,488 confirmed cases). The good thing is that the recovery is very encouraging, almost 40,000 (37,304 people recovered). But the painful part is that almost 1,000 deaths (985). COVID–19 is real, #WearAMask!
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) August 19, 2020
Coronavirus Africa: Zambia’s vice president tests positive for Covid-19
Zambia’s vice president Inonge Mutukwa on Wednesday tested positive for the coronavirus, the presidency said in a statement, which also said her condition was stable and she was in self isolation at home.
Zambia’s vice president Inonge Mutukwa tests positive for COVID-19https://t.co/bKzQY7re0D
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) August 20, 2020
Massive credit to en.as.com for this Africa Coronavirus report
