The total number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in Africa increased on Wednesday to 16,509 cases. Of these cases, 3,301 recoveries and 879 deaths have been confirmed, according to the latest Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) figures.
South Africa has recorded the highest number of infections on the continent, with 2,415 cases, followed by Egypt, which has confirmed 2,350 cases at the time of writing. It is Algeria, however, which has confirmed the highest number of deaths from the coronavirus, registering 326.
Many countries across the continent have gone into lockdown, with others enforcing tight measures to curb the spread of the virus.
On Wednesday, Malawi declared a 21-day lockdown across the country starting at midnight on 18 April. The lockdown, which is scheduled to come to an end at midnight on 9 May, is part of Malawi’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus. To date, it has confirmed a total of 16 coronavirus cases, including two deaths.
In Kenya, the authorities announced that anyone found in public without a mask will be fined 20,000 Kenyan shillings ($190) or face a six-month jail term. The authorities said that citizens have had sufficient time to purchase face masks.
In the meantime, Zimbabwe has announced a national plan for mass testing to examine at least 33,000 suspected coronavirus cases by the end of April. The country has confirmed 18 cases and three deaths so far. It had previously announced a partial lockdown.
