Africa has continued to see a rise in the number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, with over 30,525 across the continent now infected and 1,377 fatalities. The number of recoveries have also increased to 9,151, according to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics.
At time of writing, South Africa reported the continent’s highest number of infections, confirming a total of 4,361 cases, with 86 confirmed deaths. Egypt follows close behind with 4,319 confirmed cases and 307 deaths. It is Algeria, however, that has recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 419 confirmed deaths so far.
Despite topping the list of recorded fatalities, Algeria’s authorities have started to ease the restrictions imposed in the fight against the virus. Shops across the country will now be allowed to reopen in order to decrease the economic impacts of the coronavirus.
South Africa’s health system is now so overburdened due to the case load, it has accepted help from 216 Cuban healthcare workers to the counry to help in combating the pandemic. In return, South Africa has itself sent medical supplies to Cuba on board the same plane that delivered the doctors to Johannesburg.
A senior South African Treasury official said on Saturday that his country is seeking $4.99bn in aid to help it in the combat the pandemic. South Africa is also planning to reopen its agriculture sector and allow the resumption of some manufacturing and retail work to refresh the economy.
Meanwhile, authorities in Nigeria are planning to enforce the compulsory wearing of face masks in public as the country’s number of cases increased to 1,182 cases and 35 deaths.
