AFRICA

ECOWAS appoints President Buhari to lead battle against coronavirus

ECOWAS leaders on Thursday appointed President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the battle against the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the sub-region. Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, confirmed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the end of the extraordinary …

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LIVE | President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the nation at 20:30

The President will address the nation at 20:30 #COVID19 | President @CyrilRamaphosa will address the nation this evening, Thursday 23 April 2020, at 20h30, on measures the country continues to undertake to contain the spread of the #coronavirus #Day28ofLockdown pic.twitter.com/E2FoJHhzay — Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) April 23, 2020

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The way out for coronavirus – T.B. Joshua speaks again!

Nigerian Prophet, T.B. Joshua, has once again spoken about the controversies surrounding the spread of COVID-19 and the extreme measures implemented by leaders worldwide to contain it. Taking to his Facebook page, the controversial Man of God said “Coronavirus is an issue of the governments; its real origins have to do with mistakes …

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NHIS in trouble for donating over GHC250,000 into COVID Fund

The National Health Insurance Scheme has become a subject for scrutiny amongst concerned stakeholders and a section of Ghanaians for willingly, without any pressure at all, donating a staggering GHC250,000 ($43,242) into the COVID-19 Trust Fund. This gesture comes off as a mere act of benevolence from the health insurance providers in …

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89 South African police arrested for flouting lockdown orders

Scores of government officials, including 89 police officers, have been arrested for flouting South Africa’s coronavirus regulations, many of them for selling confiscated liquor, the police minister said on Wednesday. “Altogether 131 people including officials, councillors, health officials, correctional services, have been arrested,” Police Minister Bheki Cele told the media …

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SA records 3 635 COVID-19 cases, 65 deaths

South Africa has 3 635 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, announced on Wednesday. This is an increase of 170 cases from the previous night. In a statement, Mkhize confirmed that seven more COVID-19 related deaths had been recorded, bringing the total number to 65. Five of the deaths …

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South Africa to deploy 70,000 more troops to enforce lockdown

More than 70,000 extra troops will be deployed in South Africa to help enforce a lockdown intended to stop the spread of conronavirus, national broadcaster SABC says. Opposition leader John Steenhusien has tweeted a letter that President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote to parliament saying that he had decided to deploy an …

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SA minister pleads guilty to breaking lockdown

South Africa’s Communication Minister Stella Ndabeni has admitted to failing to follow the lockdown rules and has paid a 1,000 rand ($53;£42) fine as ordered by the senior magistrate in the Tshwane district court. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Phindi Mjonondwane said the minister’s court case proves that all citizens are …

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120 recoveries as Ghana’s coronavirus cases rise to 1154

Ghana’s coronavirus case count has increased to 1,154 with 120 recoveries, according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS). This was disclosed by the Director-General at the GHS, Dr. Patrick Aboagye at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, April 22. The development means that 112 new cases and 21 recoveries …

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72-hour plan to nab cop killers

Police in Gauteng have launched the 72-hour Activation Plan to find the suspects behind the killing of a Sebokeng-based Detective Sergeant. National Police Commissioner, General Khehla Sitole, has assigned the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner to immediately mobilise the 72-hour plan. According to a police report, at about 7:10pm, the police official …

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Maamobi hospital staff fight supervisor for selling PPE to them

Medical staff at the Maamobi General Hospital are angry at their supervisor for selling Personal Protective Equipment to them. Health workers at the facility can only access the PPE after paying 5 cedis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The facility has recorded COVID-19 cases with some health workers …

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One COVID-19 patient on ventilator – Akufo Addo

The health condition of one coronavirus patient on admission in Ghana has deteriorated with the patient put on a ventilator, President Akufo Addo has disclosed. Out of the official figure of 1042 positive cases, nine persons have died. Addressing the leadership of churches at the seat of government, Jubilee House, …

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South Africa coronavirus lockdown: Is the alcohol ban working?

The ban on the sale and transportation of alcohol during the coronavirus lockdown in South Africa has emptied hospital beds, ruined businesses, provoked violence and political disputes, and has led to a surge of interest in pineapples, writes the BBC’s Andrew Harding from Johannesburg. The idea was simple. Ban all …

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No more money for SAA, government tells unions

South African Airways can no longer depend on financial support from government, the Pravin Gordhan-led Department of Public Enterprises said on Tuesday evening. During a meeting with unions representing workers at the troubled airline, the state was not in a position to provide more capital and that all parties need …

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Man electrocuted while trying to fix faulty transformer fuse

A man identified as Yakubu Alhassan, was electrocuted in Anagada community, a surburb in  Abuja while trying to fix a faulty fuse in a transformer. The residents said the deceased popularly known as Yakubu NEPA was a staff of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) but the company’s Public Relations …

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Police officers arrested for buying alcohol during lockdown

The ban on alcohol has been giving South Africans chest pains, and it appears even the police officers are trying to get their hands on some booze. In an official statement released on Monday, April 20, the SAPS confirmed that five police officers working at the Namahadi Police Station in …

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Nigeria apologises for ‘mistakes’ at president’s aide burial

The Nigerian government has apologised for “mistakes” made during the burial of President Muhammadu Buhari’s chief of staff, Abba Kyari, who died from coronavirus. This is after people were pictured in huddles around the grave site on 18 April, not observing strict rules on mass gatherings, social distancing or personal …

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Mali counts votes held amid coronavirus pandemic

Vote counting began on Monday in Mali as polling stations closed in the final round of legislative elections held on Sunday April 19. The vote was held amid the coronavirus pandemic with the aim to revive confidence in the country’s embattled governance institutions despite a bloody terrorist conflict. Sunday’s vote …

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Ramaphosa to address the nation on COVID-19 relief measures

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on Tuesday to announce additional economic and social relief measures that form part of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The President’s address will communicate resolutions made from recent deliberations at Cabinet, the National Coronavirus Command Council, the President’s Coordinating Council and the National Economic …

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