COVID-19 Africa Updates

For future updates, we encourage you to follow the BBC Africa News Updates here and the Coronavirus In Africa Tracker here.

Weekly Summary September 25, 2020

Africa:

Under pessimistic scenarios, COVID-19-related disruption to malaria control in Africa could almost double malaria mortality in 2020, and potentially lead to even greater increases in subsequent years. To avoid a reversal of two decades of progress against malaria, averting this public health disaster must remain an integrated priority alongside the response to COVID-19. Read more here.
A panel of experts gathered by the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed a number of factors that may be pushing the spread of coronavirus in Africa down. Expertise in epidemic control, a young population and a possible effect of pre-existing immunity were cited as possible factors. The structure of the African society was also cited. Read more here.

Uganda:

A new study of over 400 smallholder farmers in Uganda reveals 97% have seen incomes reduced due to COVID-19. Learn more here.
Kapchorwa hospital in eastern Uganda has been partially closed after 19 staff members tested positive for coronavirus. Read more here.
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has announced a further easing of coronavirus restrictions in the country as the infection rate continue to rise. The health ministry blames the rise in infections on the public’s complacency to social distancing and wearing of masks. Read more here.

‍Togo:

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Kenya:

Farmers in Kenya say they are stuck with more produce than they can sell, as early rains and the financial pain of COVID-19 prompt more people to take to the fields. Read more here.
Kenyan investigators are to recommend the prosecution of at least 15 top government officials and businesspeople over the alleged misuse of millions of dollars meant for buying Covid-19 medical supplies. Read more here.

Malawi:

Ghana:

Ghana’s nurses and midwives will resume work on Thursday after calling off their indefinite strike. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary September 18

Africa: Record rainfall across parts of Africa is stretching the resources of government officials and aid workers already struggling with COVID-19 outbreaks, regional conflicts, and other health-related emergencies. Read more here.
Togo: At the start of Togo’s coronavirus outbreak, the small West African nation welcomed a team of 12 Cuban healthcare workers to tend to sufferers of the virus, boost its laboratory testing and help improve its hospital protocols. Read more here.
Kenya: Pandemic takes toll on Kenya’s medical workers. Read more here.
Kenya: Women bear the brunt of Covid-19, especially in Kenya, where a spike in teen pregnancies has featured regularly in the media since the government closed schools in March in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Read more here.
Kenya: To help some of the hundreds of thousands of Kenyans who have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic, the government is paying people to brave open sewers to clean up their neighborhoods. Read more here.
Ghana: Surveys show just how unprepared African countries were for Covid-19 lockdowns. Of the countries surveyed, only four had over 50% of respondents classified as fully ready. On average, only 24% of respondents across the 34 countries analyzed met all three criteria. The report captures the lack of readiness in some of Africa’s largest economies with Ghana scoring below 50%. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary September 11

Africa: As the global economy absorbs the most punishing reversal of fortunes since the Great Depression, hunger is on the rise. Those confronting potentially life-threatening levels of so-called food insecurity in the developing world are expected to nearly double this year to 265 million. The largest numbers of vulnerable communities are concentrated in South Asia and Africa, especially in countries that are already confronting trouble, from military conflict and extreme poverty to climate-related afflictions like drought, flooding and soil erosion. Read more here.
Africa: Floods, coming from exceptional rainfall, have killed more than 200 people and affected over a million more, in a band of countries from Senegal to Sudan, AFP news agency quotes the UN as saying. Read more here.
Africa: The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) have launched a new laboratory network that will reinforce genome sequencing of coronavirus in Africa. Read more here.
Uganda: Farmers in Uganda have produced a bumper harvest, but disruption of transport and reduced demand for their crops has led to a collapse in food prices. Agriculture continued throughout the coronavirus pandemic, but now farmers are being forced to sell their produce at almost giveaway prices, because shops and traders have cut the amount of food they are buying. Read more here.
Kenya: Whenever a health crisis hits communities, community health workers and volunteers are on the frontlines in Kenya’s hardest-to-reach communities. As Covid-19 spreads across Kenya and Africa in general, these brave, down-to-earth and hard-working men and women will remain the people communities rely on to remain healthy. Read more here.
Kenya: A day after the gender distribution of COVID-19 cases evened out, the health ministry announced a tilt towards women. Read more here.
Malawi: Mice have become a vital source of protein in Malawi since the coronavirus outbreak aggravated food shortages and economic hardship. Read more here.
Malawi: International institutions are warning of a growing food crisis in southern Africa, with up to 50 million people at risk. The UN's World Food Programme says Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe are the worst affected countries. Read more here.
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Weekly Summary September 4

Africa: 426 children per day at risk of death from hunger following impact of COVID-19. Read more here.
Uganda: News coming in from the ministry of health in Uganda stipulates that the country has run out of coronavirus testing kits owing to the ballooned out cases especially in the central region of the country. Read more here.
Uganda: On Sunday evening, the Ugandan government issued a directive requiring agencies to charge $65 (£50) per COVID test. Read more here.
Malawi: Malawi said on Wednesday that weather-related hazards coupled with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic would leave 15% of the population in need of food aid this season. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary August 28

Africa: The World Food Programme (WFP) has said serious hunger and malnutrition looms for millions of refugees across eastern Africa who depend on assistance from the food agency to survive. Read more here.
Africa: African countries are closing in on 1.2 million coronavirus cases mark, according to an update by Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Read more here.
Togo: Togo will review its national development plan to adapt to the coronavirus crisis which affects both the local and global economy, focusing on agro-industrial development. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya’s president extended a nationwide curfew for another 30 days on Wednesday, saying coronavirus cases were rising in areas outside the capital. Read more here.
Kenya: Doctors employed by Kenya's Nairobi County government resumed work following a six-day strike over delayed salaries and a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling patients who may have COVID-19. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya's education minister has hinted at reopening of schools earlier than his initial proposal of January 2021 if coronavirus cases continue to reduce. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary August 21

Africa: The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations children's agency have urged African governments to promote the safe reopening of schools during the coronavirus pandemic. They say prolonged closure of schools is harmful to students and want governments to invest in sanitation facilities to prevent the spread of coronavirus in learning institutions. Read more here.
Africa: Average daily cases of coronavirus in Africa fell last week, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Read more here.
Uganda: A new report has revealed that 7 out of 10 citizens in Uganda were worried about what their families would eat in June 2020 as the impact of COVID-19 continues to bite. Read more here.
Uganda: The Ugandan government on Monday warned of reimposing a ban on public transport over continued violation of COVID-19 regulations, like wearing compliance and hand sanitizing, amid a spike in the number of cases in the country. Read more here.
Togo: In Togo, the anti-covid-19 measures affected around 62% of jobs. Read more here.
Kenya: Dozens of doctors in at least two of Kenya’s 47 counties have gone on strike over delayed salaries, inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for handling COVID-19 patients and lack of medical insurance, a union official told Reuters. Read more here.
Malawi: Nearly 500 inmates in Malawi will be released from prisons after 107 inmates and 21 prison guards tested positive for the novel coronavirus, local media reported. Read more here.
Malawi: Malawi is transferring female prisoners to remote jails in a bid to slow the pandemic, but human rights groups say the move could instead spread the coronavirus and damage the women’s welfare. The relocation ends all family visits, leaving the women isolated and short of basics, from food to sanitary pads. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary August 14

Africa: The number of coronavirus cases in Africa has surpassed one-million, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, but the continent appears so far to have been spared the worst of the pandemic. Half of the infections are in just one country, South Africa. Read more here.
Kenya: A top official in Kenya’s health ministry has died of Covid-19 as the country battles to contain rising infection and deaths. Kamau Mugenda was the second in charge at Kenya Medical Research Institute - which oversees the country’s Covid-19 testing and vaccine trials program. Read more here.
Malawi: Malawi has made wearing masks mandatory in public places in an effort to curb a surge in COVID-19 cases. Read more here.
Malawi: The Malawian government through a corona virus legislation has banned gatherings of more than 10 people with the exception of funerals limited to 50, national assembly and meetings convened to discuss Covid-19 interventions as a means of containing the alarming rise of Covid-19 cases in the country. Read more here.
Malawi: Malawi closed down bars and churches on Sunday as new restrictions to limit the “alarming spread of coronavirus, three months after a court blocked the government from imposing a full lockdown. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary August 7

Africa: The number of food-insecure people in East Africa is estimated to increase this year to more than 41 million as a result of COVID-19, including 14 million who are estimated to live in urban areas, two United Nations agencies warned. Read more here.
Africa: The number of coronavirus cases in Africa has surpassed one-million, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Half of the infections are in just one country, South Africa. There are still low levels of testing in most countries, meaning the rate of infections could be higher than reported. Read more here.
Uganda: As the number of cases in Africa approaches one million, Uganda’s experience shows what can be accomplished when a government with a firm grip on power acts quickly and enforces a strict lockdown. But its success came at a cost, critics say. Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda is clamping down on informal cross border trade with Tanzania and the unregulated movement of people between the countries, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, in a region where cases of infection have increased. Read more here.
Togo: Togolese authorities announce international flights will resume on August 1. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya bought COVID-19 supplies at grossly inflated prices, handing billions of shillings in quick profits to a few individuals. Read more here.
Kenya: The burden of coronavirus continues to weigh heavily on Kenya, with reports indicating that the country is nearing 700 new infections every 24 hours. Read more here.
Malawi: President Lazrus Chakwera has said the number of people infected with COVID-19 in Malawi appears to be rising. In addition to calling for citizens to wear face masks, wash their hands and socially distance, he also announced a new quarterly award for outstanding health personnel who have helped fight the pandemic. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary July 31

Africa: The World Health Organization is warning that malaria-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa could more than double this year because of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.
Africa: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that easing of Covid-19 restrictions could lead to a resurgence and has asked African governments to strengthen testing and contact tracing. Read more here.
Africa: Michael Ryan, who leads the WHO's emergencies programme, has said: "I am very concerned right now that we are beginning to see an acceleration of [the] disease in Africa." The global humanitarian relief body, the International Rescue Committee, says it believes the true scale of the pandemic may be hidden because of a lack of testing and issues with data. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya already had one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the world, and though data are not yet available on the effects of the new curfew, experts believe the number of women and babies who die in childbirth has increased significantly since it was imposed mid-March. Read more here.
Kenya: As national figures surge, hospitals preparing for more infections. Positive cases in Kenya have nearly doubled in the last two weeks to 15,601, mirroring a continental surge. Africa topped 750,000 cases on Wednesday. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta extended a nightly curfew on Monday for 30 days to curb the spread of COVID-19 and banned alcohol sales in restaurants but stopped short of locking down the country again despite a surge in cases. Read more here.
Kenya: With the number of Covid-19 deaths reaching 285 on Monday, the country looked to retired intensive care health workers for the support of those in need of round-the-clock medical attention. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya’s Ministry of Health says the number of mental health cases have jumped dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the country's mental health task force, 25% of coronavirus outpatients and 40% of in-hospital patients suffer from mental health issues such as depression. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya's education minister says colleges and universities will remain closed until January 2021 after failing to comply with safety protocols to curb the spread of coronavirus. Read more here.
Ghana: Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo has announced a fresh easing of coronavirus restrictions. Gatherings in places of worship will now last for two hours from one hour, but congregants must wear face masks and maintain social distancing, the president said in a televised address. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary July 24

Africa: Despite global scientific data showing that COVID-19 is a deadly new strain of coronavirus, which has killed almost 600,000 people, if you publicly declare in Kenya that you have the virus then you are in danger of being castigated as a liar desperate for attention or a government stooge. Read more here.
Africa: World Health Organization "very concerned" that COVID-19 cases may accelerate in Africa. Read more here.
Africa: The World Health Organization (WHO) says more than 10,000 healthcare workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa since the beginning of the pandemic. That's about 10% of all medics who've become infected by coronavirus worldwide, despite Africa recording far fewer infections than other continents - only 700,000 out of more than 15 million global cases. Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda has started easing some more lockdown restrictions that have been in place since March. Salons and several business arcades can now reopen, while boda boda riders – bicycle and motorcycle taxis commonly used in East Africa – will be allowed back on the roads from July 27. Read more here.
Uganda: One member of the Ugandan parliament tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the ministry of Health has confirmed. Read more here.
Kenya: The authorities in Kenya are yet to trace 13,000 people who came into contact with people who later tested positive for COVID-19. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya's government spokesman has admitted he is being treated for COVID-19 at an isolation facility. Read more here.
Malawi: A Malawi lawmaker who had reported COVID-19 or coronavirus infection has passed away, the speaker’s office confirmed on Friday. Read more here.
Ghana: Over 2,000 health care workers in Ghana have tested positive for coronavirus since the beginning of the outbreak in March, according to the Ghana Health Service. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary July 17

Africa: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the African continent reached 644,205 as of Thursday morning, the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said. Amid the rapid spread of the virus across the continent, the highly affected African countries in terms of positive cases include South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria, Morocco, and Cameroon. Read more here.
Africa: This time last year, countries in East Africa were leading the continent in economic growth. Now, much of that progress is at risk as the region faces a dangerous triple threat: torrential rain and flooding, voracious swarms of locusts and the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.
Africa: The spread of COVID-19 has impacted access to anti-malarial medication, with people wary of going to a doctor, and the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets. It would not be the first time an outbreak of another disease led to a rise in the number of malaria infections. Read more here.
Africa: Coronavirus travel restrictions mean the humans have suddenly vanished, and along with them a billion-dollar tourism industry that employs millions and underpins a symbiotic human-wildlife ecosystem — the private conservancy — that is essential to wildlife conservation in many African countries. Read more here.
Africa: The number of children likely to miss vaccinations this year could double as a result of disruption to immunisation services due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda on Thursday began the mass testing of its 426 legislators and their staff for the new coronavirus, a parliamentary spokeswoman said. Read more here.
Uganda: The Catholic Church in Uganda has suspended all staff at its privately funded schools across the country. Read more here.
Kenya: At least 41 employees at the country's largest maternity hospital have tested positive for the coronavirus, Kenya's Ministry of Health said Tuesday. Read more here.
Kenya: In nearly one month, the number of young, healthy people dying of the coronavirus has significantly increased. Although people above age 60 remain more susceptible than the rest, young people under the age of 40 are increasingly dying. Read more here.
Malawi: A spike in COVID-19 cases has forced authorities in Malawi to delay plans to reopen schools on July 13. In addition, the country is running short of testing kits. Read more here.
Malawi: The Malawi Government has established a National COVID-19 Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), effectively replacing the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19. Read more here.
Malawi: Malawi Parliament has shut down its operations for 14 days due to the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases among members of staff and legislators. Read more here.
Ghana: Some 2,065 health workers in Ghana have tested positive for Covid-19 since the coronavirus outbreak began, according to the Ghana Health Service. Read more here.
Ghana: The health authorities in Ghana have detected 55 cases of coronavirus among students and staff at Accra Girls Senior High School in the capital. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary July 10

Africa: Combined with other disasters, such as the locust plague that has ravaged the Horn of Africa, the risk of food and income security has become more pronounced. Border restrictions introduced to slow the spread of the virus are also substantially impacting the production, transportation, and trade of food across the continent. Read more here.
Africa: The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the coronavirus pandemic on the continent is reaching “full speed” after cases surpassed a half-million. Read more here.
Africa: Africa now has more than a half-million confirmed coronavirus cases, while South Africa's health minister declared Wednesday that “we have now reached the surge." Read more here.
Africa: The African Union Commission has launched a consortium for Covid-19 vaccine clinical trials aimed at securing more than 10 trials as early as possible. Read more here.
ore people could die from hunger as a result of the coronavirus pandemic than from the disease itself, an international charity warns. Oxfam says the crisis has disrupted harvests, food supplies and remittances in the poorest countries. Read more here.
Africa: The African Development Bank (AfDB) has said that 49 millions Africans could be pushed into extreme poverty by the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.
Uganda: The decision to turn Mandela Stadium into a field hospital comes at a time as Uganda fears a resurgence of infections. So far, a total of 939 cases have been reported in Uganda. The daily average is eight or nine cases. Read more here.
Togo: Togo has extended its health emergency to August 16, 2020. Read more here.
Kenya: In Kenya's capital, Nairobi, coronavirus is not the only worry. With high HIV rates, it is important that patients stay on their medications. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced a phased reopening of the country amid a rising number of coronavirus infections. The president lifted travel restrictions in and out of Nairobi, Mombasa and Mandera counties, which are some of the regions with the highest coronavirus cases. Read more here.
Kenya: Schools in Kenya will reopen in January and not September as planned earlier, with the number of the coronavirus infections in the country continuing to climb. Read more here.
Kenya: There are now almost 300 healthcare workers who have tested positive for Covid-19 in Kenya. Read more here.
Malawi: Malawi is running low on Covid-19 test kits and the remaining kits will only be used to test people who show symptoms of Covid-19. Read more here.
Malawi: Malawi's Vice-President Saulos Chilima and his wife Mary have tested negative for coronavirus days after his personal secretary died from the virus. Read more here.
Malawi: Health-care workers at Kameza isolation centre in Blantyre, Malawi, are striking over non-payment of an allowance, local media reported on Tuesday. Read more here.
Ghana: Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo is now working from isolation after he went on a 14-day quarantine as a precaution when a member of his close circle tested positive for coronavirus. Read more here.
Ghana: Ghana's Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah has gone into isolation after reports that some judges tested positive for coronavirus. Read more here.
Ghana: At least four doctors in Ghana have died during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the country’s medical association. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary July 4

Africa: From Kenya to Nigeria, South Africa to Rwanda, the pandemic is decimating the livelihoods of the once-stable workers who were helping to drive Africa’s economic expansion. Read more here.
Africa: Livestock-keepers had been hoping for a good year to help them recover from drought but have struggled to sell their animals as pandemic disrupted markets. Read more here.
Africa: The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for caution as African airlines begin operations in various countries. Read more here.
Africa: The African Union is warning that the coronavirus pandemic is having a devastating effect on Africa's tourism industry. It says more than $50bn (£40bn) in revenue was lost to the continent in just three months, and some airlines may not survive. Read more here.
Uganda: Ugandan teachers employed by private schools have had no income for four months since schools closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya's 'Adopt a Family' Campaign Pairs Wealthy with Less Fortunate During COVID Lockdown. Learn more here.
Kenya: Kenya has launched an electronic court filing system that will allow parties to submit cases online. Read more here.
Malawi: Coronavirus is spreading "all over Malawi" and "faster than before", the country's new President Lazarus Chakwera said in what was billed as a special address to the nation. Read more here.
Ghana: Ghana's deputy trade and industry minister has been forced to resign for breaking coronavirus self-isolation restrictions after testing positive for COVID-19. Read more here.
Ghana: Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo has announced that an incentive package brought in for health workers when coronavirus hit the country will be extended for another three months. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary June 26

Africa: One inadvertent effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic downturn across Africa has been the harsh spotlight on shortcomings of social safety nets across the continent. In addition to boosting public health systems and infrastructure, African governments have also been faced with the task of providing economic relief for the citizens worst affected: the millions of low-income households and informal economy workers who depend on daily earnings. Read more here.
Africa: As the crisis deepens, with over 277,000 cases now recorded across the continent, and healthcare systems as well as front-line medical workers increasingly stretched, the need to combat coronavirus-related misinformation is far more heightened. Read more here.
Africa: The COVID-19 pandemic could affect availability and distribution of antiretroviral medicine used to treat HIV, UNAIDS said Monday. Read more here.
Africa: African countries have pulled together to set up a one-stop shop to give the continent a fairer chance in the international scramble for COVID-19 test kits, protective equipment and any vaccines that emerge. Read more here.
Africa: Already known and respected, community health workers are a perfect first-line response to a pandemic, say health experts. Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has warned that the country is heading to a more dangerous phase of the coronavirus pandemic. In a televised address on Monday night, Mr Museveni said cases of the disease were being reported among people whose contacts could not be traced following the reopening of private and public transport in some parts of the country. Read more here.
Kenya: The coronavirus curfew and restrictions on movement in Kenya have led to an increase in violence against women, say health workers. Learn more here.
Malawi: Malawi’s do-over election is fraught with tensions and uncertainty amid COVID-19 fears. Read more here.
Ghana: An earth tremor hit Ghana's capital, Accra, on Wednesday night causing houses to shake according to videos shared on social media. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary June 19

Africa: The direct and secondary impacts of the virus threaten to unravel the gains made for the poorest children across Africa. Read more here.
Africa: African Countries Scramble to Ramp up Testing for COVID-19. Nations in the continent, which have had to import testing supplies and bid against richer countries, are trying to develop their own tests. Read more here.
Africa: COVID-19 and the associated economic challenges will likely spill into an African food crisis if the food system cannot cope. Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda has entered the third stage of infection of COVID-19. The third stage is community transmission and stage 4 is an epidemic. Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda's opposition figures Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, and Kizza Besigye will plan nationwide protests against the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.
Togo: The ministry of grassroots development and craftsmanship has launched a project aimed at producing in the next two weeks, 1.2 million face masks. The latter will be distributed, at zero cost, to schools across the country since they are about to reopen. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya's health ministry has relaxed a controversial rule that required families to bury Covid-19 victims within 48 hours after death. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya has recorded its highest single-day increase in new COVID-19 infections after the health ministry announced 184 new cases. Read more here.
Kenya: When the Kenyan government announced a dusk to dawn curfew in March, cases of pregnant women either dying or delivering distressed or stillborn babies started emerging. One doctor filled the gap. Learn more here.
Kenya: Officials in Kenya say that there has been a significant rise in teenage pregnancies, especially since the start of Covid-19 restrictions in March. Read more here.
Kenya: The Kenyan authorities are investigating the disappearance of medical equipment donated to help stop the spread of Covid- 19. Read more here.
Malawi: Malawi’s economy could shrink by 3.8% in 2020 in worst case scenario estimates. Read more here.

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Weekly Summary June 12

Africa: COVID-19 symptoms in children can be similar to those of other common diseases in Africa. Malaria and sickle cell anaemia, in particular, can be hard to differentiate from COVID-19 and must be tested for. Constraints on availability mean few children in Africa are being tested for the virus, however. Read more here.
Africa: The African Union (AU) has started an ambitious initiative to increase testing for coronavirus across the continent. The aim is to take the total number of tests done up to 10 million over the next two to three months. Read more here.
Africa: The WHO's Africa regional director Matshidiso Moeti said it was spreading beyond capital cities and that a lack of tests and other supplies was hampering responses. Read more here.
Africa: The World Health Organization reports the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating in Africa and moving from the continent’s large capital cities into the remote rural areas where it will be more difficult to contain the spread of the disease. Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate for a second time this year to a new low as risks to inflation remain benign and the outlook for economic growth is tilted toward the downside. Read more here.
Uganda: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is working on new assistance in Uganda to revamp COVID-19 prevention and case management in health facilities. Read more here.
Uganda: A total of 22 health care workers have so far tested positive for COVID-19, Uganda’s Ministry of Health said. Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda braces for major locust invasion. The country, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, has already faced three waves of the destructive insects’ invasion since this year started. The swarms have spread to 26 districts in the country. Read more here.
Togo: Togo lifts curfew and makes it compulsory for all to wear face masks. Read more here.
Kenya: The Kenyan government on Thursday, June 5th announced plans to develop safe home care services for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients and their contacts. Many hosptials are at capacity, and the government seeks to send home those who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta extended a ban on public gatherings for 30 days to curb the spread of coronavirus, barring entry and exit from the capital Nairobi and the counties of Mombasa and Mandera for a similar period. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya has a backlog of 6,000 samples as the country awaits arrival of testing kits ordered. Read more here.
Ghana: Seventy health workers in Ghana’s central region have tested positive for coronavirus, according to health authorities. Read more here.
Ghana: One person has died after most parts of Ghana's capital, Accra, flooded overnight following torrential rains on Monday. Read more here.

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Summary June 3

Uganda: Uganda will lose $1.6 billion a year in earnings from tourism as visitors stay away due to the impact of the coronavirus, President Yoweri Museveni said. Read more here.
Uganda: Ugandan medical workers say they lack adequate supplies of personal protective equipment for tackling COVID-19 and the risk of infection is making some reluctant to treat patients. Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has postponed the reopening of schools for final year students for one more month. Read more here.
Kenya: After record high water levels in Lake Victoria throughout May, climate experts are warning of above normal levels of rainfall in the already saturated region in the coming months. Read more here.
Kenya: Residents of a slum in Kenya’s capital have protested the death of a homeless man who they say was killed by police for violating a dusk-to-dawn curfew for the coronavirus. Read more here.
Kenya: Nine-year-old Stephen Wamukota used wood to suspend a jerrycan of water and create a pedal to be used to dispense water and soap and avoid contact. He had told his mother that the available hand-washing facilities in his hometown in western Kenya were exposing people to coronavirus through contact. Read more here.
Ghana: Ghana’s schools will reopen partly as the country gradually begins to reopen following a weeks-long shut down aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. Read more here.
Malawi: Some experts warn the initial response to COVID-19 in Malawi has worrying parallels to what played out with HIV, when a culture of denial, misinformation, electoral politics and other competing agendas undermined the fight. Read more here.
Malawi: As one way of easing COVID-19 restrictions, a presidential task force on COVID-19 has recommended to the president a possible reopening of all school institutions by July 13. Read more here.

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Summary June 1

Kenya: Kenya’s recent floods have ruined harvests in several rice production hubs - including Kisumu, Homa Bay and Busia counties - which together supply up to 40% of all rice grown in the country. Read more here.
Kenya: Plagued by alternating floods and droughts partly brought on by changing weather patterns, Kenya’s government plans to build several new dams in a bid to improve water security and management in the East African nation. Read more here.
Ghana: Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has announced measures to ease restrictions on public gatherings in the country. Under the new directives, church services and Muslim prayers can take place with 100 congregants at a time and for only one hour. Read more here.
Malawi: Most Malawians 'more scared of hunger than Covid-19'. Read more here.

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Summary May 28

Africa: There is a general consensus among those in charge of health policy on the continent that testing rates are woefully low, and this could be distorting our understanding of how far the virus has spread. Read more here.
Africa: The United Nations’ World Food Programme estimates the number of people globally classed as acutely food insecure will double this year to about 265 million as the pandemic batters economies. The majority of them are likely to be in Africa. Read more here.
Africa: From Brazil to Kenya, coronavirus widows lose their husbands and then their land. Read more here.
Africa: The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has called for a greater effort to counter coronavirus at a time when there is evidence it is increasingly being spread within the community in countries across the continent. Read more here.
Africa: The latest generation of swarms of locusts, feared to be as big as 400 times larger than the original swarms, are expected to hatch in June when crops are ready for harvest. Read more here.
Togo: WHO reported a confirmed yellow fever case in Mango village, Oti district, Savanes region in the northern part of Togo in late April. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya is rolling out voluntary public testing for the novel coronavirus in its biggest slum in Nairobi, where some residents say being declared virus-free boosts their chances of getting a job. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya has recorded a "staggering" number of new cases of coronavirus, Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe has said. Announcing the latest figures, he said that the number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus has risen by 123 to 1,471. Read more here.
Malawi: About 400 people have escaped from a coronavirus quarantine centre in Malawi's second largest city, Blantyre, after complaining about its poor state. Read more here.
Ghana: Ghana MPs want parliament to close over virus fears. Some lawmakers have proposed the introduction of virtual parliamentary proceedings as a stop-gap measure. Read more here.

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Summary May 26

Africa: The World Health Organization (WHO) is worried that Africa could face a "silent epidemic" if its leaders do not prioritise testing of coronavirus, an official is quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. Read more here.
Kenya: Researchers in Kenya are calling for 400 volunteers to take part in a trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine pioneered by the University of Oxford. Read more here.
Uganda: The authorities in Uganda have arrested seven lorry drivers out of 25 others who escaped from coronavirus testing centres on the country's border with Kenya. Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda is to begin easing lockdown restrictions on Tuesday with private cars expected back on roads and shops and restaurants reopening in many areas. But everyone must continue to wear face masks in public. Read more here.

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Summary May 25

Uganda: People with albinism in Uganda say they are at increased risk of skin cancer because they are unable to buy sunscreen due to the coronavirus lockdown. Travel restrictions prevent them from travelling to the capital, Kampala, to buy the cream that protects their skin. Read more here.
Ghana: All health-care workers Will receive a 50% raise on top of income tax waivers. Read more here.

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Daily Summary May 22

Africa: African countries are at risk of having undetected coronavirus outbreaks due to low testing rates, according to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda's health minister has revised downwards the country's total number of coronavirus cases following President Yoweri Museveni's directive to expunge all foreign drivers from the tally. Read more here.
Uganda: Police in Uganda's capital, Kampala, have closed shops that had not installed wash-points, the New Vision newspaper reports. Read more here.
Kenya: At least 13 Kenyans have died from cholera since the onset of the current rains in the country. Read more here.
Kenya: As Kenya emerges from coronavirus lockdown, officials are rationing the amount of food and alcohol customers can order — to keep the crowds manageable and sober. Read more here.

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Daily Summary May 19

Africa: Nigeria is only one of several places in Africa where a relatively low official case count bears no resemblance to what health workers and residents say they are seeing on the ground. Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has said the government will distribute free masks to all citizens aged above six-years-old before lifting coronavirus containment measures. Read more here.

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Daily Summary May 18

Africa: Record floods have devastated East Africa this rainy season with almost half a million people displaced. Read more here.
Uganda: Villagers who have lost everything are sheltering in makeshift camps where food, bedding and water are in short supply. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday banned movement across the country’s borders with Tanzania and Somalia to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. Read more here.
Kenya: Mass testing for the novel coronavirus is under way in the worst affected areas of Kenya. But many are reluctant to be checked, for fear of being forced into quarantine. There is also a stigma attached to the virus and the disease it causes, known as COVID-19. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya is experiencing its worst locust invasion for 70 years. The Covid-19 pandemic is exacerbating the problem. After hampering efforts to bring the locusts under control, the health crisis has the potential to stir conflict. Read more here.

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Daily Summary May 14

Kenya: East Africa has suffered devastating floods after heavy rain in recent weeks, with Kenya particularly badly affected. Since March, almost 200 people have lost their lives to overflowing rivers and mudslides, while 40,000 have been displaced from their homes. Read more here.
Kenya: Locusts crossed into Kenya from Somalia and Ethiopia at the end of 2019 and have so far infested 26 Kenyan counties. As the eggs they have laid hatch, food experts have warned a second wave of young locusts will further destroy crops and vegetation, intensifying hunger and environmental damage. Read more here.
Kenya: Heavy rains swept away the main water pipes running through forests in the Aberdare mountain range north of Kenya's capital a week ago. Soon after that, the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company shut down a treatment plant feeding the city. Read more here.
Ghana: A 21-day lockdown of Ghana’s biggest cities became financially unbearable for most of the population, a concern that gave the government little choice when it lifted the restrictions last month, said Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta. Read more here.
Ghana: A single worker at a fish factory in Ghana infected 533 co-workers with coronavirus in an incident that now accounts for roughly 11 per cent of the west African country’s total recorded infections. Read more here.

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Daily Summary May 13

Africa: Sub-Saharan Africa AIDS deaths could double due to COVID-19. More than 500,000 could die if the provision of healthcare to HIV sufferers is disrupted during pandemic, UN says. Read more here.
Africa: The UN has warned that the economic downturn due to the pandemic could wipe out the gains of the last four years. Its assessment of global prospects says that more than 30 million people are likely to fall into extreme poverty this year, mainly in Africa. Read more here.
Africa: East African heads of state have agreed to use digital trackers for cargo lorry drivers as part of measures to help curb the spread of coronavirus in the region. Read more here.
Malawi: Amid health worker protests over poor pay and lack of PPE, public fear of virus leads to doctors and nurses being shunned and evicted. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya's health authorities have announced that all patients being admitted to hospitals will have to be tested for coronavirus. Read more here.
Kenya: Nurses and individuals are being shunned and targeted over COVID-19 fears. Read more here.
Togo: Togo reported an outbreak of African swine fever in a farm northwest of the capital Lome, where 44 pigs have died of the disease since April 18. Read more here.

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Daily Summary May 11

Africa: Kenya and Uganda were hit by power blackouts on Saturday. Power has largely been restored to Kenya, while Uganda is load sharing while it restores power fully. Read more here.
Africa: Health experts warn that efforts to contain the virus are being undermined by misinformation, including from some African leaders. Watch more here.
Uganda: Flooding washed away roads, bridges and a hospital in Uganda as torrential rain across East Africa compounded problems for governments struggling to respond to the new coronavirus. Read more here.
Uganda: Record water levels in Lake Victoria forced authorities in Uganda to ration power over the weekend until Monday. Heavy rains have risen the water level to its highest since 1964. Read more here.
Kenya: With the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic in Kenya, the government has appealed for the public’s trust — that invisible but essential component on which any public health intervention relies. But decades of policies that disadvantage the poor have eroded any chance of gaining that trust in the city’s slums. Read more here.
Kenya: More than 57,000 people have been displaced in western Kenya due to ongoing heavy rains. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya has released 7,000 inmates in a bid to decongest prisons since coronavirus pandemic hit the country. Read more here.
Ghana: More than 500 workers at an industrial facility in Ghana have tested positive for the coronavirus. Read more here.
Ghana: Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo has extended the ban on public gatherings until the end of the month as the country's coronavirus cases continue to rise. Read more here.

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Daily Summary May 8

Africa: The WHO has warned that 190,000 people could die in Africa in just one year due to the virus. Further estimates point to the outbreak lasting a few years. Read more here.
Africa: The United Nations’ World Food Programme has warned that the world faces “mega-famines'' if funds are not rapidly channeled towards the world’s most fragile countries. Read more here.
Africa: Drones are playing a larger role in the battle against COVID-19 helping with medical deliveries in Ghana for instance. Read more here.
Uganda: The country has reversed a decision previously banning second-hand garments and footwear. Read more here.
‍Togo: The country is set to carry out random large-scale testing of 5,000 people. Read more here.
Kenya: Distrust of the government is growing during these difficult times. With low turnout rates for testing, read more here on how people are reacting to the stringent measures put in place.
Kenya: Protests have taken place in Nairobi due to the demolition of informal houses in the Kariobangi area. Read more here.

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Daily Summary May 7

Africa: Today, Africa has carried out around 685 COVID-19 tests per million people. For comparison, European countries have carried out around 23,000 per million people. Given that cases in Africa have jumped by 38% in the last week, those numbers are worrisome. Read more here.
Uganda: In western Uganda, a river burst its banks causing people to flee for safety to the town of Kasese. At the nearby Kilembe hospital, rescuers are trying to reach the trapped patients and take them to a church. Read more here.
Kenya: The interior ministry has ordered the evacuation of people in flood-prone areas. Read more here.
Kenya: The government has agreed to cover costs of quarantine centres. Low turnouts for testing have been blamed on fears of having to pay for expensive quarantine centres. Read more here.
Kenya: Students at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology in Kenya have begun voluntarily making personal protection equipment to help in the fight against coronavirus. Read more here.
Kenya: Questions about how money has been used to fight coronavirus in Kenya have been raised. Read more here.

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Daily Summary May 6

Africa: African Union official Raila Odinga said the pandemic was like "a third world war without the bombs". The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has said 48,022 people have been infected with Covid-19 in Africa. That number includes 1,878 deaths and 16,019 recoveries. Read more here.
Africa: More than two-thirds of people surveyed in 20 African countries said they would run out of food and water if they had to stay at home for 14 days. According to a survey, lowest-income households in Africa are expected to run out of food and money in less than a week. Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda began to loosen one of Africa’s strictest anti-coronavirus lockdowns on Tuesday after President Yoweri Museveni declared the infection “tamed.” Read more here.
Uganda: The Ugandan government on Wednesday urged the public not to relax efforts in combatting HIV/AIDS despite all energies being targeted towards fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.
Kenya: Floods and landslides caused by heavy rain in Kenya have killed nearly 200 people, displaced 100,000 and strained critical infrastructure. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya's government has identified two areas - one in the capital, Nairobi, and one in the coastal city of Mombasa - that will be shut off for 15 days to try and contain the spread of coronavirus. Read more here.
Ghana: Ghana has adopted "pool testing" of samples to maximise the use of coronavirus test kits that are in short supply globally. Read more here.

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Daily Summary May 5

Africa: WHO Africa has warned people to not use untested remedies. Read more here.‍
Uganda: The country has restricted the numbers of lawyers who can work under lockdown. Ugandans must wear face masks in public. These face masks must be made from washable and reusable cloth that is manufactured locally. Warehouses, wholesale shops, garages, and insurance firms may also now reopen. Read more here.
Kenya: Thousands are now homeless after a slum in Nairobi was demolished. Despite stringent measures in place to ensure Kenyans stay home during the pandemic, residents explained they had received no notice to leave before the demolition occurred. Read more here.
Kenya: Researchers are waiting approval to conduct clinical trials on three drugs for treatment of COVID-19. The researchers are to conduct trials on Remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, and Lopinavir/ritonavir. Read more here.

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Daily Summary May 4

Africa: In Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, floods have forced many to abandon their homes. As a consequence of the rising waters, there is an increased chance of waterborne diseases such as malaria. Read more here.
Africa: The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that there are large gaps in testing rates across the continent. Countries like Ghana, Mauritius, and Djibouti have high rates of testing per capita than others. Read more here on how other countries are responding.
Uganda: Ugandans have donated $6m to help the government provide cars and medical supplies to fight the pandemic. Read more here.
Kenya: A mass testing campaign has received a low turnout. Some people have spoken of their fears of showing symptoms during the test forcing them to go and pay for a stay at a quarantine centre. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenyan nurses have threatened to strike over a coronavirus risk allowance. Read more here.
Malawi: The UN has stated that the impact of coronavirus on Malawi could be ‘disastrously high’. Given that COVID-19 is dangerous to those with underlying health conditions, the fact that Malawi has a large number of people living with HIV/AIDS is very concerning. Initiatives have been spreading the message about the importance of hygiene. Read more here.
Malawi: The IMF has approved a $91 million loan in order to help the country fund a balance of payment deficits due to the pandemic. Read more here.

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Daily Summary May 3

Togo: Togo’s ministry of health has announced that the National Institute of Hygiene (INH) will set up an office in Kara (412 km north of Lomé) to better manage the COVID-19 outbreak. Read more here.
Kenya: A study has shown that Kenyan health workers have been forced to reuse their personal protective equipment (PPE) with only 17.8% saying they were supplied with equipment regularly. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenyan hotel owners are offered a subsidized rate of $20 per COVID-19 test. In order to reopen, it is mandatory for hotels to test their employees. Read more here.
Kenya: More than 1,800 families have been left without shelter as heavy rainfall triggers flooding in parts of western Kenya. Read more here.
Malawi: In Malawi, one of the world’s poorest countries, with a fragile health system, the UN is bracing for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which, it is feared, could be severe. Read more here.
Ghana: As Accra and Kumasi’s markets and shops reopen, government defends decision to partially lift coronavirus restrictions, arguing that the country’s early lockdown allowed it to assess Ghana’s needs, and that it bought the authorities time to boost health infrastructure, testing capacity, and pinpoint where the outbreaks were. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 30

Africa: Save The Children has stated that the Horn of Africa is facing an unprecedented triple threat due to the coronavirus pandemic, locust swarms, and flooding. Read more here.
Africa: The WHO is concerned at how coronavirus is spreading throughout communities in West Africa. As of now, Sub-Saharan Africa has around 23,800 cases and 900 deaths. Read more here. ‍
Uganda: Across Uganda, health care workers are taking extraordinary measures to get to work, commuting by foot, bicycle and in at least one case by canoe. Read more here.
Togo: The World Bank has approved $8.1 million to help Togo fight against COVID-19. Read more here.
Kenya: Having lost work due to the pandemic, a Kenyan woman made headlines after resorting to boiling stones for her children to distract them from a lack of food. Read more here.
Kenya: A senate committee has warned that 47 local authorities are not equipped to handle the current pandemic. Read more here.
Kenya: According to the World Bank, Kenya’s GDP growth is set to plunge to 1.5% in 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic. Read more here.
Kenya: Entry into two refugee camps, Dadaab and Kakuma, hosting around 400,000 people has been banned. Read more here.
Ghana: Reports show that cases of coronavirus have increased in Ghana by 24% in a few days. This spike occurred 10 days after Ghana’s three-week lockdown in Accra and Kumasi. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 29

Africa: The WHO has warned that the pandemic might disrupt anti-malaria programs which could mean that malaria-related deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa could double. Read more here about how leaders can take preventative measures. Visit the WHO here for more in-depth information.
Malawi: The president has announced an emergency cash transfer program for the country’s poorest. The program will serve 172,000 households which will each receive a monthly payment of roughly $50 through mobile money transfers. Read more here.
Uganda: All truck drivers crossing into Uganda will be banned from carrying passengers, sleeping in hotels, or in other people’s homes as a way to prevent the spread of the virus. Read more here.
Tanzania: The government has been heavily criticized over their lack of communication surrounding the virus. Read more here. ‍
Ghana: Domestic flights will resume again over the weekend. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 28

Africa: One billion people could be infected by the virus says the International Rescue Committee. Read more here.
Africa: Many countries are struggling on how to both protect their citizens from the virus but also not harm them through the harsh lockdowns. Read more here about how countries like Uganda and Uganda are approaching the issue of hunger.
Africa: The United Nations food agency has warned that the number of people who risk going hungry in East Africa could double in the next three months as a result of coronavirus. Read more here.
Africa: The United Nations Human Rights Office has warned that countries should not use excessive force when tackling the coronavirus pandemic with countries like Kenya and Uganda known to have used repressive measures to enforce restrictions. As of now, 27 human right organisations have written an open letter to the Kenyan government in a plea to end punishment of curfew offenders by sending them to quarantine centers. Read more here.
Uganda: The country aims to test 20,000 people within a week for the virus ahead of the lockdown ending May 4. Read more here.
Uganda: The health minister has actively denied repatriating a total of 14 truck drivers after they tested positive for coronavirus. Read more here.
Togo: France will aid Togo’s response with 3 million Euros. Read more here.
Togo: An emergency plan has been launched to support the agricultural sector. Read more here.
Kenya: Tailback grows to 40km between the Kenyan and Ugandan border due to truck drivers awaiting mandatory coronavirus testing. Read more here.
Malawi: The Malawi High Court has stopped the government implementing a lockdown for the second time. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 27

Africa: Countries in Africa are taking different approaches to tackling the pandemic. Read more here about how lockdowns are being used differently across the continent.
Africa: The UN has set up a regional knowledge hub for information and resources on the pandemic in Africa in its fight against COVID-19. Read more here. x
Uganda: The president has pardoned 833 prisoners to avoid overcrowding in prisons during the current pandemic. Read more here.
Uganda: UNFPA Uganda is supporting certain districts with fuel vouchers for ambulances to transport mothers to health facilities and ensure safe births during the pandemic. Read more here.
Kenya: The government has mandated that schools are to remain closed for an additional month. Additionally, officials have urged Kenyans to monitor for symptoms of malaria which are similar to those of COVID-19. They have reminded citizens that malaria testing and treatment is available and free in government health facilities. Read more here.
Kenya: There are long tailbacks at the Kenya-Uganda border due to mandatory testing of long-distance truck drivers. Read more here.
Kenya: Restaurants have been allowed to reopen but several guidelines must be met such as testing of all workers before opening. Restaurants are also not allowed to offer buffets and seating arrangements should allow for social distancing. Read more here.
Ghana: President Akufo-Addo has hinted that his government will begin the construction of 88 hospitals in the country. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 24

Africa: Estimates show that only a fifth of the food in Africa is eaten by families that grow it. As it stands, the poorest rural households still depend on buying nearly half their food to meet their needs. Read more here on how the pandemic is affecting food supplies on the continent.
Malawi: Across Malawi, nurses are on strike in protest due to poor working conditions and lack of safety equipment. As a result, operations in public hospitals have been paralyzed while nurses demand the hiring of more health workers as well as increased health insurance allowances. Read more here.
Ghana: 8,000 police officers on duty in coronavirus hotspots will be tested for the virus. Read more here.
Uganda: Cross-border truck drivers have accounted for most of the new cases reported in Uganda. As a result, the president has advised drivers to avoid contact with each other. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 23

Africa: Cases in Africa jump by 43 % in a week reports an increasingly worried WHO. Read more here.
Africa: Rwanda’s president has said that it could take Africa a “generation or more” to recover from the impact of coronavirus. Read more here.
Africa: The WHO has warned that in Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of deaths caused by malaria could double to 769,000 this year as prevention efforts have been affected by coronavirus. Read more here.
Africa: Warnings issued as heavy rains lash East Africa. More than 20 people have been killed by flash floods since the weekend in western Kenya. Dozens of others are missing. Read more here.
Kenya: Two people who escaped from a quarantine centre have been arrested at a bar. Read more here.
Kenya: In a slum in Nairobi, hungry crowds caused a stampede after a recent giveaway of flour and cooking oil killing two people. Read more here.
Malawi: A coronavirus fund set up by President Peter Mutharika has attracted criticism over how it is being managed. Malawi has 33 confirmed cases of coronavirus and three deaths. Read more here.
Malawi: Health workers say they are presumed to carry the virus, shunned in public, refused access to public transport, and even evicted from rented homes. Read more here.
Ghana: It is now mandatory to wear face masks when in public in the capital of Accra. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 22

Africa: Migrant workers are in a tough spot and no longer able to send as much money back home due to the current pandemic. As a result, Africa is expected to lose about $37B in remittances. Read more here.
Togo: Markets will now need to operate between 8 am and 4pm in certain prefectures. Read more here. ‍
Togo: All medical personnel are required to wear a face mask. Read more here.
Kenya: The government is on the lookout for Kenyans who were filmed escaping a coronavirus quarantine center. The news comes after reports of quarantine centers being of poor living conditions due to poor hygiene and overcrowding. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 21

Africa: According to the UN, the world risks ‘biblical’ famines due to the ongoing pandemic. With East Africa already facing severe food shortages due to drought as well as one of the worst locust infestations in decades, experts are alarmed. Read more here.
Uganda: As movement is restricted in the country, many women and children are left in a vulnerable position in regards to accessing healthcare. Read more here.
Uganda: Uganda has confirmed two new cases of Covid-19, including a Burundian refugee who is said to have arrived into the country through Tanzania. Though Uganda closed its borders a month ago, it is difficult to police all entry points, as many tend to be informal crossings through village paths. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 20

‍Africa: Ventilators are some of the most important equipment for saving lives during this pandemic. Unfortunately, according to the WHO, there are as little as 2,000 ventilators across 41 countries in Africa. In many of these, there are even less anesthesiologists with some reports stating that there is but one per 100,000 people. Read more here on how countries are responding. ‍
Malawi: Public anger increases toward the government for failing to provide healthcare workers with personal protective equipment (PPE). Read more here. ‍
Togo: Nearly 60% of Covid-19 cases (or 45 people) have now recovered. Read more here. ‍
Kenya: For many, a visit to a quarantine centre is a source of fear due to poor hygiene conditions and concerns over costs. Read more here. ‍
Kenya: The EU has mobilized EUR 1.8 million to support access to water in public places, market centres, health institutions, police stations, military barracks, as well as prisons in Kenya. Read more here. ‍
Ghana: The country has lifted its lockdown after enhanced testing. As it stands, citizens are urged to wear face masks while out in public, social gatherings are banned, and schools are still closed. Read more here.
Ghana: Drones are being increasingly used to test people living outside of large cities. Read more here.
Uganda: A cargo truck driver who tested positive for COVID-19 in Uganda has been connected to 33 suspected cases that have now been isolated. Read more here.
Togo: In Grand Lomé, market sellers are being sensitized about using e-payment tools to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya's Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe has confirmed 12 new coronavirus cases in the country, five of them involving hotel workers. Read more here.
Malawi: The World Bank has approved a total of $37 Million in support for the COVID-19 response in Malawi including $7 Million in immediate funding. Read more here.
Malawi: Health workers in Blantyre have protested due to their lack of protective gear. Read more here.
Malawi: Malawi’s lockdown has been delayed by at least 7 days after a court challenge was brought against the government by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition. Traders in the Limbe area have been protesting about the lockdown due to the effect it will have on their ability to earn income. Read more here.
Ghana: COVID-19 is set to have serious effects on Ghana’s health system and educational system. It is also predicted to affect the safety of children and women as well as the economy. Given the country’s poor sanitation and water systems, there are concerns over current hygiene practices. The UN country team has taken extensive measures to assist with the pandemic. UNICEF has already started to procure and distribute critical hygiene and prevention items (such as soap, hand sanitisers, chlorine, masks, water dispensers, etc…). Read more here.‍

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Daily Summary April 17

Africa: WHO has warned that Africa could be the next epicenter of coronavirus. UN officials say it is likely that because of the pandemic, 300,000 people in Africa will be killed and 30 million people will fall into poverty. With cases rising sharply in the past week, concern is growing. Read more here.
Africa: The UN says it is likely the coronavirus pandemic will kill at least 300,000 people in Africa and push nearly 30 million into poverty. Read more here.
Africa: The African continent is getting ready to minimize losses as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The IMF is encouraging countries and partners to spend more on health and provide social transfers for people with livelihoods affected. Read more here.
Africa: The World Bank has spoken of an upcoming food security crisis on the continent due to the virus. With lockdowns affecting 33 out of 54 nations, farmers are increasingly blocked from bringing food to markets. Read more here.
Africa: The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights has advocated for governments to focus on human rights in their fight against coronavirus. As the pandemic worsens, experts speak of a crucial need for people-centered interventions. Read more here.
Africa: Experts are increasingly concerned over the growing health crisis in sub-Saharan Africa. Read more here.
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Daily Summary April 16

Africa: When it comes to preventing the spread of the virus, lockdowns may not be the most effective strategy across Africa. The importance of talking to communities is critical to providing contextual knowledge on how to best prevent the spread locally. Read more here.
Africa: G20 has suspended debt payments owed to them by some of the poorest countries in the world. Read more here.
Africa: The World Bank has said that coronavirus in Africa will disrupt trade, cause the falling of commodity exports, reduce the amount of investment coming from abroad, and lead to economic problems because of lockdowns and restrictions. Read more here.
Togo: The government has assured that the upcoming academic year for primary and secondary education will not be canceled due to coronavirus. Read more here. ‍
Togo: Cuba has sent 11 doctors to Togo to help fight COVID-19. Read more here.
Kenya: There are 40,000 testing kits to aid in the country’s “track-test-and-isolate” policy. A mass testing drive has been announced. Read more here.
Kenya: Hunger is a serious concern in Nairobi. In one of the city's biggest slums, Kibera, hundreds participated in a stampede during an aid distribution run by opposition leader, Raila Odinga. Read more about how hunger is affecting Kenya and other countries here.
Malawi: The government has promised to prioritize the safety of its health workers through the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic. Read more here.
Malawi: Nurses in Malawi have gone on strike after the government failed to hire more health workers, local media report. Read more here.
Ghana: Mortuaries in Ghana are congested as families shun private burials that have been necessitated by the ban on social gatherings aimed at controlling the spread of coronavirus. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 15

Africa: 'Will we die of hunger?’: how COVID-19 lockdowns imperil street children. For millions of young people, coronavirus restrictions have made access to food, water and shelter even more precarious. Read more here.
Africa: Africa’s scientists have had to pick testing over genome sequencing for a coronavirus vaccine, which may lead to the ‘Rotaviruses Vaccine Problem’. Read more here.
Uganda: A Ugandan trader has said she contracted malaria days after a directive issued for them to sleep at the markets during the ongoing lockdown. Read more here.
Togo: Togo launches a grant program. Any informal worker aged 18 or older whose revenue has been affected by the crisis and who can prove their identity with a valid voting card will receive a state grant worth at least 30% of the minimum wage. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya confirms eight new COVID-19 cases, total rises to 216. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya’s farmers and produce dealers are looking to social media and farm-based sales to bridge the production and market gaps in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.
Malawi: Malawi’s Health Minister Jappie Mhango has declared a 21-day lockdown in the country to curb the spread of coronavirus. The lockdown will commence at midnight on 18 April and end at midnight on 9 May. Read more here.
Ghana: Ghana’s total Coronavirus (COVID-19) case count has sharply risen to six hundred and thirty-six (636). Read more here.
Ghana: Ghana launches app to track suspected cases. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 14

Africa: The International Monetary Fund has approved immediate debt service relief for 19 African countries (such as Malawi, Togo, Burkina Faso, Chad, Central African Republic, and Mozambique). Read more here. ‍
Uganda: Uganda is bolstering measures to contain a second wave of desert locusts amid the fight against COVID-19. Read more here. ‍
Kenya: The country has continued to carry out strict measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus. As of now, the government has pushed for fast burials within 24 hours for those who have died because of the virus. Raids at pubs have been carried out and a Kenyan MP has been arrested for defying the bar shutdown order. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya braces itself for a difficult second month given the high numbers of cases and deaths it has experienced during its first month of the pandemic. For many countries, the peak has been reached within the second month or 45 days after the first case. Read more here.
Ghana: The IMF Executive Board has approved a US$1 billion disbursement under the Rapid Credit Facility to help Ghana throughout the pandemic. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 13

Africa: The African Union has created a team of special envoys dedicated to gathering international support to help the continent in its response to coronavirus. Read more here. ‍
Africa: Having confirmed 10,000 reported cases and 500 deaths across the continent, fear is growing that Africa could become the next epicenter. As it stands, many countries are struggling to raise their testing capacity. Read more here.
Uganda: The country’s confirmed cases rise to 54, with 4 patients recently discharged from hospital. Read more here.
Uganda: Market traders in Uganda have been told to sleep by their stalls to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Read more here.
Togo: The country has confirmed 76 cases with 3 deaths. Read more here.
Kenya: The government is set to pilot a cash transfer program to allow elderly and vulnerable populations the ability to buy food safely during the pandemic. Read more here.
Kenya: Visits to refugee camps are now banned and the government is currently working with UNHCR to create more quarantine centers for refugees. Read more here.
Malawi: The country has recorded its second confirmed death. Read more here.
Ghana: The country has confirmed 566 cases with 8 deaths. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 10

Africa: Major health organizations have advised that frequent hand washing is one of the best ways to stem the spread of the virus. With 40% of the world’s population lacking access to hand-washing facilities in the home, this advice can be incredibly hard to follow. Immediate and more long-term solutions exist to increase water supplies ranging from installing simple two-bucked hand-washing stations all the way to considering long-term investment into clean water access and sanitation. Read more here.
Africa: As it stands, the United States currently has 172,000 ventilators- a number that is already too low for the country. In contrast, Sierra Leone has 13 ventilators. South Sudan has only four. The shockingly low number of ventilators and ICU beds across Africa are alarming. Read more here. ‍
Africa: The pandemic will likely push Sub-Saharan Africa to its first recession in the past 25 years. Read more here.
Kenya: 5 more people have tested positive for COVID-19, raising the total number of cases to 189. Read more here. ‍
Kenya: The government has developed a protocol for the safe disposal of coronavirus waste in an attempt to prevent further infection. Kenyans have also been urged to wear face masks whenever in public. Read more here.
‍Uganda: Out of 53 confirmed cases, 3 people have now tested negative after treatment. Read more here. ‍
‍Uganda: In Uganda, the national budget on health had decreased from 9.2% to 8.9% between 2019 and 2020. In the wake of the pandemic, African leaders are increasingly forced to reconsider their existing healthcare systems with machines like ventilators not commonplace in many African countries. Read more here. ‍
Ghana: The WHO has reported that Ghana along with Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Nigeria, have expanded their national testing to multiple labs. This means that there will likely be a more decentralized and efficient system for dealing with the pandemic. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 9, 2020

Africa: Several African countries such as Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa, have been accused of using violent methods to enforce measures preventing the spread of coronavirus. Read more here.
Africa: Four African countries, namely Rwanda, Madagascar, Togo, and Sierra Leone, have received IMF loans to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Without additional donor grants – as opposed to loans – the pandemic in countries such as Rwanda, Madagascar, Togo and Sierra Leone can only mean one thing: millions of lives are at risk from both the disease and eventually hunger. Read more here.
Africa: The World Bank is projecting that sub-Saharan Africa will go into recession for the first time in a quarter a century as the Covid-19 pandemic disrupts economies. Read more here.
Uganda: Exercising in public and the movement of motorcycle taxis has now been banned in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Read more here.
Uganda: The president has shared a video of himself working out as a way to encourage others to exercise at home. Read more here.
Togo: Togo renews collaboration with Ghana to fight against COVID-19. Read more here.
Kenya: For the past two weeks, the National Council on Administration of Justice has reported a spike in sexual offences in many parts of the country. The harsh restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 have made it harder for victims of sexual violence to report abuse as well as seek help. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 8, 2020

Ghana: Cases surge to 313. Read more here.
Uganda: UNDP has collaborated with Zoom and other ICT gadgets to allow for virtual government business continuity during the pandemic which will affect several ministries, departments, and agencies. Read more here.
Uganda: Fears are growing for a possible coronavirus outbreak in refugee settlements. Read more here.
Togo: The President of Togo Faure Gnassingbé has announced that there will be no water and electricity bills for the next three months. Read more here.
Kenya: Parliament scheduled for today has been canceled due to the travel ban on movement in and out of Nairobi. Read more here.
Malawi: Malawi records its first COVID-19 death. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 7, 2020

Ghana: Africa’s debt crisis will likely hold the continent back in the face of the pandemic. For countries such as Ghana, limited domestic savings and large external debts have already put the country at risk of default. Read more here.
Ghana: The pandemic has revealed some of the regional, social, and economic equalities within the country's educational system. Read more here.
Kenya: Movement between Kenya’s worst hit regions has been banned-including the capital of Nairobi. Read more here.
Tanzania: UNESCO has launched a communication campaign in partnership with national efforts and the UN to fight against coronavirus spread. The goal is to provide resources for education, distance learning, as well as access to accurate information. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 6, 2020

Malawi: The president and all government ministers are to take a 10% pay cut for three months in order to help raise funds for the pandemic. Read more here.
Uganda: Students have created a “hands-free” washing aid in order to promote safe hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic. The device can be fitted on to any water container and works through sensors and a solar battery-powered controller. Read more here.
Ghana: The government has pledged to pay water bills for the next three months in response to the global pandemic. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya has imposed a three-week ban on movement in and out of four main coronavirus "infected areas", including the capital, Nairobi. Read more here.
Kenya: A six-year-old child has died of coronavirus complications, and experts warn Nairobi’s crowded slums could be breeding grounds for the virus. The health ministry has projected that the country’s coronavirus load could rise 5,000 cases by the end of April. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 3, 2020

Uganda: Police in Kampala have held 165 people for “defying” the dusk-to-dawn curfew originally imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Read more here.
Tanzania: Tanzania has extended visas for 3 months for foreigners stuck within the country due to the pandemic. Read more here. ‍
Malawi: Malawi has confirmed its first three cases of coronavirus. Read more here. ‍
Malawi: With the ability to test only 20 people per day and the availability of 25 intensive care unit beds and seven ventilators for the country, concern is growing for the ability of the Malawian healthcare system to cope with the burden of coronavirus. Read more here. ‍
South Sudan: South Sudan, among other African nations, is particularly at risk of disruption in grain supplies. Experts state that the pandemic will threaten food reserves in import-reliant countries. Read more here.

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Daily Summary April 2, 2020

Kenya: Demand for clean water is increasingly on the rise in Kenya due to WHO instructions urging people to wash their hands regularly. In rural Kenya, water is often sourced from rainwater storage tanks which can have unpredictable reserves due to rainfall. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya and other African governments and tech giants such as Facebook and WhatsApp are teaming up to fight misinformation about COVID-19. Read more here.
Kenya: Kenya has approved the use of chloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, for the treatment of COVID-19. Read more here.
Togo: Togo declares state of emergency over the virus and established curfew. For French speakers, read more here.
Malawi: Although Malawi has no registered cases, the government has assured that it is conducting tests. For French speakers, read more here.

Daily Summary March 31, 2020

Uganda to begin a two-week lockdown starting today
Ethiopia has postponed its general election due to coronavirus
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), conflict-hit regions in Africa could see their healthcare system collapse due to the pandemic
Tanzania has confirmed its first death due to coronavirus

Daily Summary March 30, 2020

The impact of coronavirus on informal labourers in Kenya is expected to be high given that they represent 83.6% of the total workforce. To help cushion the blow to the economy, the government has introduced stimulus measures such as reducing value-added tax and corporation tax. Read more here…
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female president, led Liberia during the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak. She describes her thoughts regarding the current situation and encourages global unity. Read more here…
Ugandan authorities have charged a pastor accused of telling his congregation that coronavirus does not exist in Africa. Read more here…
Ghana has issued a two-week lockdown starting today for Accra, Tema, and Kumasi. As a result, there has been a mass movement of people out of those cities over the weekend. Read more here…

Daily Summary March 26, 2020

The East African Community (EAC) to head a Regional Coordination Committee overseeing mobile testing centers.
Ghana has confirmed 3 deaths out of 54 reported coronavirus cases.
In Uganda, the president has declared a ban on public transport across the country affecting the incomes of the country’s most vulnerable.
In Kenya, a 66-year old man is the first person to die of coronavirus.

To read more:

Daily Summary March 25, 2020

Uganda has a total of 14 confirmed cases of coronavirus including the case of one 8-month old baby.
In Kenya, one person has recovered from coronavirus after undergoing treatment.
Africa has increasingly turned to mobile payments as a way to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
MTN Uganda- the country’s largest telecom firm- has eliminated some of the charges on its mobile money platform to encourage the use of mobile money as opposed to cash.

To read more:

Daily Summary March 24, 2020

Ethiopia is currently seeking debt relief and emergency budgetary support to help their response to coronavirus.
Uganda has 8 new cases of coronavirus.
Sierra Leone declares a 12-month state of emergency.
Despite having no confirmed cases, Malawi’s president has declared a national disaster, shutting schools and colleges, as well as restricting public gatherings.
Women and girls face additional risk factors during the pandemic either through heightened exposure as healthcare and social service personnel or through a lack of autonomy and access to health services.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the healthcare workforce will face additional pressures in the coming months with only 30% believing they had a sufficient inventory of personal protective equipment.

To read more:

Daily Summary March 23, 2020

Ghana reports two COVID-19 death and 27 confirmed cases
Ghana has currently closed most of its borders amidst growing concern for its economy
In Tanzania, major cities have seen shortages of masks and hand sanitizers, schools have been closed, and conferences canceled.
In informal settlements, regular hand washing is difficult to ensure. The UN-Habitat is looking at the impact of the coronavirus disease in places like the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya.
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To read more:

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Daily Summary March 20, 2020

Flattening the COVID-19 curve will be helped through the dissemination of accurate information such as frequent and thorough hand washing.

To read more:

With simple, fact-informed hygiene measures, Africa can slow COVID-10 spread.

Daily Summary March 19, 2020

The United Nations and the Kenyan government are working closely together to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The United Nations Country Team in Kenya will offer communications support to the Ministry of Health.

To read more:

UN, an ‘ally’ in Kenya in fight against COVID-10: a UN Resident Coordinator Blog.

Daily Summary March 18, 2020

Elections set for July in Malawi may be disrupted due to ongoing pandemic.
Malawi has declared a State of Disaster and banned large gatherings.

To read more:

Malawi: Coronavirus May Disrupt Malawi Fresh Elections.

Daily Summary March 16, 2020

Kenya has introduced tighter restrictions in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus
The largest mobile phone operator in Kenya, Safaricom, has eliminated fees for mobile money transactions below 1,000 shillings to promote cashless payments.
Kenya is currently in a partial lockdown with schools closed and travel restrictions.

To read more:

Coronavirus: Kenya introduces tight restrictions

Daily Summary March 14, 2020

The WHO has stated that local transmission remains low in Africa for people with no travel history.
The low numbers of COVID-19 infections on the African continent have confused experts with some citing tropical climate as a possible reason.
Africa has been stringent about screening at its airports and ports of entry with a pre-existing infrastructure in place due to the outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

To read more:

Africa v. Coronavirus: A challenge for the continent.

COVID-19 Response

April 6, 2020

COVID-19 Africa Updates

Coronavirus is a real and urgent threat to the world, and especially the African continent. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Africa will likely be the next epicenter of the pandemic likely resulting in the death of 300,000 people and poverty for 30 million.

Resources:

Prevention is Critical:

If you are curious how we are responding to this crisis, learn more here.

For future updates, we encourage you to follow the BBC Africa News Updates here and the Coronavirus In Africa Tracker here.

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