The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, says the number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Africa has risen to over 16,800.
The UN’s health agency gave the update on its official twitter account @WHOAFRO on Thursday.
“Number of COVID-19 cases on the African continent rise to over 16,800, with 3,271 recoveries and 896 deaths.’’
The WHO figures may have been compiled on Wednesday and not latest from various countries on the continent as at Thursday.
The breakdown on the WHO African Region COVID-19 dashboard showed that South Africa, Algeria and Cameroon had continued to top the list of countries with the highest reported cases.
South Africa has 2,506 cases and 34 deaths followed by Algeria with 2,160 cases and 336 deaths, while Cameroon has 855 confirmed cases with 17 deaths.
According to WHO, South Sudan, Sao Tome and Principe, Burundi and Mauritania still remain countries with lowest confirmed cases in the region.
South Sudan and Sao Tome and Principe were the lowest confirmed cases, which had four cases each with zero death.
Burundi was second country with lowest confirmed cases with five reported cases and zero death.
Mauritania in the third category with lowest cases as the country had recorded seven confirmed cases with one death.
The global body confirmed that COVID-19 cases had risen to 373 confirmed cases with 11 deaths in Nigeria.
However, giving an update on Thursday, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, confirmed that a total of 407 people have been confirmed to have COVID-19 in Nigeria, 99 patients have been discharged and 12 deaths recorded.
In Jigawa State, the state government says worshippers for Friday congressional prayers in the state must wear facemasks and ensure two metre gap between one another to avoid the spread of Coronavirus.
Governor Muhammad Badaru said this on Thursday while speaking with newsmen shortly after a meeting with traditional leaders and members of the state Council of Ulama in Dutse.
Badaru said the meeting was held following the emergence of the COVID-19 in neighbouring Kano State.
“Seeing what is happening in Kano, we called our Emirs and Council of Ulama to review our strategies and see how best we can protect our people without causing too much hardship for them.
“The resolution is that for now, we will continue to observe Friday prayers, but with an agreement that we practise social distancing of at least two metres in our rows.
“It was also agreed that people will wear facemask or use their ‘Hiram’ (Turban) to cover their nose and mouth, and we will monitor compliance with the directive,” he said.
He said that the new policy would determine what measures to be taken during the forthcoming Ramadan fast.
“We’re looking at the possibility of allowing Tarawi prayers and Tafsir during the Ramadan fast, but we might not allow Tahajjud prayers and Itkaf.
“But it all depends on the circumstances between but now and Ramadan period; if the people were able to comply with the present directives of spacing in mosques and wearing facemask,” he said.
The governor, however, assured that the state’s Task Force on COVID-19 would provide enough water and soaps for worshipers to wash their hands while entering and coming out of the Mosques.
“This is the strategy we will apply for this Friday,” Badaru said.
The Osun State Government has warned private hospitals in the state against admitting or treating suspected or confirmed coronavirus patients.
Mrs Funke Egbemode, the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, made this known in a statement on Thursday, in Osogbo.
She said non-adherence to the directive would attract prosecution by the state government.
Egbemode said that the state government had accredited health facilities with required personnel to treat suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients in the state, at its isolation and care centres.
“The state government has reiterated that private hospitals across the state are not allowed to treat COVID-19 patients, whether suspected or confirmed.
“Testing and treatment are free in all government facilities,” she said.
The commissioner noted that attempt to treat COVID-19 patients in private facilities would only open the state to community infections and negate all the sacrifices people of the state had made so far.
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has extended the restrictions of movement order by one week as part of measures to contain the pandemic.
The extension of the restrictions of movement order is contained in a statement to newsmen by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, in Uyo on Thursday.
Ekuwem, however, said that the restriction of movement order in the state would be relaxed on Friday April 17, and Saturday April 18, respectively from 6a.m. to 1p.m. to enable residents restock foodstuff.
He urged residents to ensure total compliance in the already established guidelines to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
“Following the enforcement of the quarantine and restrictions of movement regulations 2020, which have caused some economic discomforts to citizens and residents of Akwa Ibom State.
“His Excellency the Governor, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, compassionate and sensitive to these discomforts, has directed as follows;
“The lockdown is extended by one week only.
The lockdown be responsibly and carefully lifted on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 April, 2020 from 6a.m. to 1p.m. of each day to enable Akwa Ibomites restock foodstuff and any prescribed medications.
“Lockdown will be enforced after 1p.m. on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 April, 2020.
“All preventive measures earlier announced by the Akwa Ibom State Government COVID-19 medical management team remain in force during and after the 7 hour respite on Friday April 17 and Saturday April 18, 2020.
“For the avoidance of doubt, these measures include; Social Distancing in all gatherings. Use of face masks while complying with social distancing.
“Frequent hand washing with running water and soap. Use of sanitisers at homes, entrance doors to homes, office buildings and churches.
“Only two passengers per tricycle with each passenger wearing a face mask. Only one person per row in minibuses with passengers wearing face masks.
“Measurement of body temperatures with infrared thermometers where available.
“Any citizen or resident whose body temperature is found to be 38 degrees Centigrade and above should be escorted from a safe distance to the nearest medical facility for assistance.
“The same applies to frequent coughing or sneezing and having difficulties in breathing,” Ekuwem said.
Ekuwem, who is also the Chairman, COVID-19 Committee, reminded residents that the lockdown enforcement includes Jumat services on Friday April 17 and Church services on Sunday April 19.
He said the State Government would continue to monitor and review the COVID-19 situation in the state, so as to respond speedily and appropriately to protect the health of its citizens.
Emmanuel on April 2 in a state broadcast announced restrictions of movement order for 14 days to enhance contact tracing which expires April 16 by 12 midnight.
The Enugu State Ministry of Health has discharged the second patient from Treatment and Isolation.
The Health Commissioner, Prof. Ik. E. Obi, announced it in a statement.
Recall that the NCDC had announced two cases of COVID 19 in Enugu who were in Isolation and receiving care.
On Wednesday, the Enugu State Ministry of Health announced that one patient had been discharged.
Two of them are now negative for the Corona virus and have been discharged.
“We encourage our people to continue to stay home, try not to touch your face without having washed your hands, maintain strict hand and respiratory hygiene, wear a facemask in line with the NCDC’s advisory and maintain physical distancing.
