- Confirmed cases = 209,380
- Number of deaths = 5,689
- Recoveries = 95,084
- Active cases = 108,5607
Vande Bharat Mission: Stranded Indians start returning from Africa: India is gearing up for the third phase of Vande Bharat mission. Phase 3 of this repatriation drive covers around 17 African countries — Air India will operate flights from Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Seychelles and South Africa and charter services for Djibouti, Sudan, Morocco, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana and Sierra Leone.
Today, an Air India repatriation flight is serving the Nairobi-Mumbai-Delhi sector under phase 2 of Vande Bharat Mission.
Nigeria- The governor of the Nigerian state of Niger announced Tuesday an easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on banks, markets as well as other business activities.
Uganda- Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has announced new measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 as it plans the reopening of the country’s Entebbe International Airport. Only humanitarian, evacuation and cargo flights are allowed.
Kenya- The airline has yet to give an indication which regional and continental destinations will be first out of the starting blocks and when long haul operations might resume, and information is expected next week.
Morocco- Morocco’s government was expected to further ease lockdown measures in the North African country from Wednesday while extending the public health state of emergency, according to informed sources at the interior ministry.
Ghana- With effect from Friday 5th June, Ghana has reopened.
Gambia- The Gambia’s public health emergency in response to the coronavirus has been extended by 21 days until July 1.
Detailed updates are as below:
NIGERIA
The governor of the Nigerian state of Niger announced Tuesday an easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on banks, markets as well as other business activities, local media reported.
A ban on the movement of commercial motorcycle operators will remain in place, according to the local media. Governor Abubakar Bello also announced an easing of intra-state travel, the Ripples Nigeria website reported. The restriction on movement will be imposed from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. local time, while the movement of petroleum products, agricultural produce, manufactured goods as well as essential services are allowed. The virus tally in the West African country stands at 12,801 with 361 deaths and 4,040 recoveries, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The initial six-week lockdown which ended June 1 has been replaced with a second phase four-week lockdown from June 2 – 29 by the COVID-19 Presidential Taskforce. New regulations include a ban on more than 20 people outside of workplace gatherings, managed access to markets and locations of economic activity, mandatory use of face masks and mandatory provision of sanitizers and hand washing facilities in public. Conditional relaxation of restriction on places of worship was also announced. Isolation of residents with underlying medical conditions and a ban on inter-state travel will continue except for movement of agricultural produce, petroleum products, manufactured goods and essential services.
(Active cases: 11.516)
UGANDA
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has announced new measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 as it plans the reopening of the country’s Entebbe International Airport. Only humanitarian, evacuation and cargo flights are allowed. The government has not announced when the airport would be opened but it has started easing the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. Public and private transport, shops, restaurants and hotels are all reopened. Public gatherings, worship centers and schools remain closed, and a night curfew is still in place. While the country is easing the restrictions, Covid-19 cases are increasing and the national tally is 657, including 118 recoveries. No death has been registered, according to figures from the Ministry of Health.
(Active cases: 665)
KENYA
The East African country recorded a further 127 virus cases from a test pool of 2,247 samples over the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 2,989. The cumulative number of recoveries stands at 873. It is currently under lockdown, but the government has relaxed the dusk-to-dawn curfew after relative success against the outbreak. President Uhuru Kenyatta on June 6 extended the curfew by 30 days but shifted the time from 7 p.m. – 5 a.m. (1600GMT – 0200GMT) to 9 p.m. – 4 a.m. (1800GMT – 0100GMT), enabling Kenyans to work for a full day. He also extended the travel ban in worst-affected towns. Kenya Airways plans to resume passenger flights. While domestic airlines in Kenya like Safari link, Air Kenya and even Kenya Airways subsidiary Jambo jet will remain on the ground until the movement restrictions in and out of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi counties remain in place, according to transport cabinet secretary James Macharia. The airline has yet to give an indication which regional and continental destinations will be first out of the starting blocks and when long haul operations might resume, and information is expected next week.
(Active cases: 3094)
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa had more than a quarter of the reported cases and was seeing high numbers of confirmed cases and deaths in Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces and Western Cape was looking similar to recent outbreaks in Europe and the US. South Africa’s government has been praised for its early and decisive imposition of a lockdown, but the easing of restrictions in June has been accompanied by a rise in infections.
South Africa has reopened from Monday, June 1, as President announced that restrictions will be eased from level four to level three of a five-level system from Monday, places of worship allows up to 50 worshippers. With the relaxation of lockdown restrictions, the current nighttime curfew is also be lifted and schools have reopened gradually with voluntary attendance. Retail, wholesale, and spaza shops can reopen, and the sale of alcohol is permitted for home consumption. Additionally, limitations on outdoor exercise is lifted and all construction work is also allowed to resume. However, social gatherings, inter-provincial travel, and the sale of tobacco products remain prohibited, and the wearing of face masks in public is compulsory. Private vehicles are limited to three occupants and taxis operate below 70 percent capacity. Restaurants are only allowed to provide delivery services. The agricultural sector is permitted to resume full operations, and mining has partially resumed. Businesses resuming operations must comply with certain health regulations, such as set workforce capacities, providing hand sanitizers, and ensuring social distance is maintained.
International travel is suspended indefinitely. Indian Nationals who have been stranded in South Africa will have opportunity to fly back home as India announced that as part of the Vande Bharat Mission’s Phase 3 Air India is planning a flight from Johannesburg to Delhi and Mumbai on June 18, subject to approval from the government or South Africa.
(Active cases: 58568)
GHANA
Ghana is West Africa’s most impacted nation behind Nigeria. President Akufo-Addo in his tenth address announced that whiles borders remained closed, some categories of academic institutions are allowed to resume, religious places can also reopen with strict conditions and the observance of health protocols. Social gatherings -weddings, funerals etc. – are to be allowed under certain conditions. As the 2020 polls loom, even political activity is allowed to be undertaken.
From Friday, June 5, schools have reopened for final year students, and conferences, weddings, burials, non-contact sport, and political activities, all with less than 100 participants, are permitted to resume. Also, Faith-based organizations allowed to start communal worship, effective Friday, June 5, amid social distancing and hygiene protocols, all schools, both private and public remain closed. Only final year students access those facilities. Each student, teacher and non-teaching staff will be provided with reusable face mask by the Ministry of Education prior to reopening for final year students. Festivals, sporting events, nightclubs, cinemas, and political rallies will remain banned, and the closure of Ghana’s borders has been extended indefinitely.
All vehicles undertaking intra-city travel must reduce their number of passengers to observe social-distancing measures. It is mandatory for all individuals to wear face masks in public in the Greater Accra Region and in Cape Coast Metropolis.
(Active cases: 10358)
MOROCCO
Morocco’s government was expected to further ease lockdown measures in the North African country from Wednesday while extending the public health state of emergency, according to informed sources at the interior ministry. Schools, mosques, non-essential shops, and all entertainment venues have been closed. Morocco has made wearing masks mandatory, with those who fail to do so at risk of being fined or jailed. Morocco suspended day all international passenger flights to and from its airports as a protective measure against the spread of coronavirus.
(Active cases: 8508)
SENEGAL
The Government of Senegal extended the current State of Emergency through July 2, Under the new rules, curfews will run from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am, shaving two hours off the current restrictions. Mosques and churches may open subject to certain conditions and consultation with Government authorities. Schools will remain closed until further notice. On May 30, the Government of Senegal extended the suspension of all international air travel (with limited exceptions) through June 30, 2020. Land borders are closed. Delta Airlines will operate a repatriation flight from Dakar (DSS) to New York (JFK) on June 12, 2020. This is a special commercial repatriation flight for U.S. citizens and residents.
(Active cases: 4640)
ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia’s confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 1,486 after 142 new COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed on Wednesday, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health said. This is so far the highest daily increase in the Horn of Africa country. The Ethiopian government has instituted a wide range of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. In April, the Ethiopian House of People’s Representatives announced a five-month state of emergency to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights due to this pandemic.
(Active cases: 2506)
RWANDA
Rwanda says it will announce new restrictions on containing the coronavirus Tuesday, a stark reversal of the country’s plan days ago to ease restrictions, including motor vehicle travel throughout the country. Rwanda’s latest move is linked to the east African country’s first recorded death from the coronavirus and a surge in cases over the weekend. Public transport in Rusizi and Rubavu districts remains closed. Borders remain closed. Rwanda also decided to continue restrictions on motor vehicle travel between provinces and the City of Kigali in an effort to protect the public from the spread of the virus.
(Active cases: 476)
ZAMBIA
Local media portals have reported that Zambia’s health minister has tested positive for COVID-19. Dr. Chitalu Chilufya becomes the second cabinet member to be infected. The border town with Tanzania continues to record more cases of the virus. It remains the most impacted town with a tally that far outstrips the capital Lusaka. The partial lockdown is in place since May 8 with confinement measures, allowing certain businesses to reopen. Cinemas, restaurants, and gyms will be allowed to resume operations, and authorities are considering reopening hotels and lodges. However, bars remain closed and it is mandatory to wear face masks in public places. Public gatherings of more than 50 people are banned, and authorities have advised citizens to avoid all nonessential foreign travel.
(Active cases: 1200)
ANGOLA
Citizens are urged to stay at home where possible, but some commercial activities are allowed to resume, under certain health conditions. Permitted capacities in workplaces will gradually increase in incremental phases between May 26 and July 27. Restaurants are allowed to reopen at lunchtime between Monday and Saturday and until 22:30 from June 8. Establishments must ensure diners are spaced two meters (6 ft) apart, tables are limited to four people, and the restaurant is under 50 percent capacity. Markets and street vendors can operate between 06:00 and 15:00(local time), with buyers and sellers required to wear face masks and maintain social distance. Informal markets with a large concentration of people are prohibited. Hotels may reopen but temperature checks will be mandatory at the entrance and stringent cleaning policies must be adhered to. Nightlife establishments remain closed until further regulations are approved.
Recreational, cultural, and leisure activities will resume in three phases. From June 8, museums, theaters, monuments, exhibitions, fairs, and art galleries are operating. Libraries will reopen on July 13, and cinemas from July 31. In all cases rooms will be limited to 50 percent capacity, face masks will be mandatory, and social distance must be maintained.
All commercial flights to and from Angola have been suspended indefinitely since March 20 and Angola’s borders remain closed. However, under the new state of calamity Angolan nationals and foreign residents can now return, subject to medical checks.
(Active cases: 118)
GAMBIA
President Adama Barrow announced on Wednesday, June 10, that The Gambia’s public health emergency in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been extended by 21 days until July 1. The move follows the easing of some COVID-19 restrictions on June 4, with religious services allowed to resume with social distancing measures in place, and markets authorized to open between 06:00 and 18:00 (local time).
All flights in and out of The Gambia, apart from medical and air freight operations, were suspended on March 23. The land border with Senegal has also been closed except to essential supplies and security personnel. Restrictions have been placed on public transport and passengers in private vehicles are limited to no more than half capacity. Vehicles carrying commercial goods are only allowed to have one passenger in the cabin. Ferries and commercial boats can only operate between the hours of 06:00 and 19:00 daily.
(Active cases: 28)
MOZAMBIQUE
The Mozambican Government announced a continuation of the Level-3 State of Emergency until June 30. Some of the measures include use of face masks in all public places, on public and private communal transport, and in any gathering of people, continued closure of all schools, prohibition of cultural, recreational, and sports activities in public spaces, closure of entertainment establishments, including museums, theaters, libraries, bars, pools, and gyms, closure of all beaches for leisure activities with the exception of physical fitness activities, suspension of religious services and celebrations in all places of worship, reduction of workforce to 1/3 present at work place with turnover of teams every 15 days, continued business at markets from 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. subject to recommendation of competent health authorities and implementation of prevention and control measures within the markets.
Mozambique’s civil aviation authority has suspended international passenger flights until further notice.
(Active cases: 489)
TANZANIA
On Sunday, June 7, officials in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar eased measures restricting international travel to the island following a two-month suspension implemented as a precaution to limit the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Arrivals must have proof of valid international health-insurance, wear face masks at all times, and observe social distancing measures during their stay. Arrivals are subject to temperature checks at their point of entry.
Tanzanian authorities previously lifted restrictions on international travelers in mid-May. All scheduled and unscheduled flights are free to arrive and depart and the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for those arriving into the country has been removed. Only those who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be placed in quarantine unless they have proof of a negative test.
Social distancing measures remain in place, including a ban on public gatherings, the closure of schools, and the suspension of sporting events. The majority of bars, restaurants, and hotels have closed voluntarily, although many restaurants are offering takeaway services.
(Active cases: 509)
MALAWI
Malawi was one of the last countries in the world to announce its first case of Covid-19. But ever since, it has been embroiled in a constitutional row about a lockdown the government wants to impose to tackle the pandemic. The High Court took the unprecedented step of blocking the government’s plans who wanted to impose another 21 days lockdown after May 9th until more had been done to help those worst affected. Now, President Peter Mutharika has announced an emergency cash transfer program for the poorest people in what is one of the world’s poorest countries. The government will target 172,000 households, who will receive a monthly payment equivalent to almost $50 (£40) through mobile money transfer from Friday. The Malawi Department of Civil Aviation announced that all international flights to and from Malawi will be suspended until further notice.
(Active cases: 481)
LIBYA
The internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli announced that the ongoing curfew will remain in place for at least another ten days as of Thursday, May 28, due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The curfew hours will not be modified, running from 18:00 to 06:00 (local time). Further, unconfirmed reports suggest that Sabha is going on a full curfew for seven days and movement in and out will be prohibited after a cluster of 20 cases was reported in the area.
Border crossings and ports of entry within GNA-controlled territory were closed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj on March 16. However, Libyan nationals who were stranded abroad could return in May. All mosques, schools, restaurants, wedding halls, parks, and shops also remain closed as a precaution.
(Active cases: 393)
SOMALIA
On Monday, April 13, General Abdi Hassan Mohamed Hajar, Somali commander of police, announced that a nighttime curfew would be implemented in Mogadishu for an indefinite period from Wednesday, April 15 to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The nightly curfew will be in effect between 20:00 and 05:00 (local time). Also, all international flights to and from Somalia are indefinitely suspended.
(Active cases: 2513)