Major African countries update regarding COVID 19 active cases and lockdown status as of May 15th:
- Confirmed cases = 72,391
- Number of deaths = 2,493
- Recoveries = 25,269
- Infected countries = 54
- Virus-free countries = 0
Nigeria- With a lockdown implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19, markets are only open thrice a week, for a few hours. The government has reportedly started to gradually ease lockdown measures in the capital city.
Senegal- In Senegal night-time curfews shortened and mosques are reopened, curfews will run from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am.
Algeria- Algeria will extend measures aimed at restricting movement by 15 days until May 29 to cope with rising cases of infections with the novel coronavirus
Angola- Lockdown extended till May 25, 2020.
Zambia- Zambia has closed its borders with Tanzania from May 11, 2020 and Zambia reopens gradually with safety measures.
Malawi- The High Court of Malawi blocked the plan of another 21 days stating its devastating impact on workers.
Detailed updates are as below:
NIGERIA
The Kano State government announced on Tuesday, May 12, a one-week extension of an ongoing lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus disease outbreak with immediate effect. Observance of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is changing for many people in Abuja, Nigeria amid the coronavirus pandemic. With a lockdown implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19, markets are only open thrice a week, for a few hours. Abuja has been under lockdown since March 30 and these restrictions have cost many people their jobs, leaving families struggling without an income. Nigeria’s airports remain closed except for emergency and essential flights, such as cargo transportation. A ban on domestic flights is in effect until Sunday, June 7.
(Active cases: 4971)
SENEGAL
Coronavirus restrictions will be eased in Senegal, President Macky Sall said late on Monday, with night-time curfews shortened and mosques reopened. He said the COVID-19 disease would continue to circulate for at least another three months even under the best-case scenario. Under the new rules, curfews will run from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am, shaving two hours off the current restrictions. Mosques will be reopened for prayers during the holy month of Ramadan, and churches will also be allowed to accept worshippers. Markets and businesses, which have only been allowed to open a few days a week during the lockdown, will now only need to be closed for a day’s cleaning each week. Restrictions imposed on public transport will also be eased, though schools will not begin reopening until next month.
(Active cases: 2103)
ALGERIA
Algeria will extend measures aimed at restricting movement by 15 days until May 29 to cope with rising cases of infections with the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerrad said on last Tuesday. The government last month decided to extend until May 14 restrictions on movement including a nationwide night curfew and closures of universities, schools and mosques. Public transport and air travel are still suspended.
(Active cases: 6253)
ANGOLA
On Friday, May 8, Angola’s National Assembly announced that the current nationwide state of emergency would be extended for another 15 days until Monday, May 25, in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease pandemic. This is the third time the government has extended the state of emergency since it was initially imposed on Friday, March 27. Public services can operate between 08:00 and 18:00 (local time), but only 50 percent of staff will be allowed to work. Public transportation is allowed to operate between 05:00 and 18:00 every day but is limited to 50 percent of seating capacity. Establishments including schools, restaurants, bars, libraries, leisure facilities, and places of worship will remain closed. All international flights to and from Angola have been suspended indefinitely since March 20.
(Active cases: 45)
ZAMBIA
The Zambian government announced the closure of its border with Tanzania from Monday, May 11 after the district recorded its highest single day increase of 76 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, May 9. Minister of Health stated that the Immigration staff at the border will also be retrained on how to deal with the entry of persons and goods. Earlier on Friday, May 8, President announced that the government will ease ongoing confinement measures, allowing certain businesses to reopen. Zambia has been placed under a partial lockdown since March 20. 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. Cross border public passenger services, railway passenger services, international flights and cross border cargo transportation are also suspended, although those carrying essential commodities will be allowed into the country. Students who are sitting for exams will return to class on Monday, June 1.
(Active cases: 446)
MALAWI
The government of Malawi wanted to impose another 21-day lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus. However, The High Court of Malawi blocked the plan because of the devastating impact it would have on workers who would lose their incomes. Malawi Health Minister had declared a 21-day lockdown that came into effect at midnight on April 18th and ran till midnight on May 9th. The Malawi Department of Civil Aviation announced that all international flights to and from Malawi will be suspended until further notice
(Active cases: 63)
UGANDA
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni on Monday relaxed restrictions on several non-essential businesses amid ongoing COVID-19 lockdown. Addressing the nation from the state house, Museveni praised his country for “successfully” limiting the spread of the disease. The lockdown has been in place for the last 45 days. “Since food and essential goods shops operate, there is need to let wholesale dealers to operate,” said Museveni. Hardware shops, garages, metal works, woodworks, insurance providers and about 30 lawyers should operate, he said. Uganda has suspended all its international flight until further notice.
(Active cases: 100)
KENYA
The government announced a partial lockdown on two virus hotspots, Eastleigh in Nairobi and Mombasa City. The 15-day measure took effect same day starting 7pm local time. Under the measure, there shall be no movement into and out of the places. All public places in the two areas are to be shutdown. Thirty-two citizens of Kenya stranded in Hyderabad (India) due to the lockdown were airlifted on Thursday, officials said. A special passenger relief flight of Indigo Airlines evacuated the Kenyan citizens to Mumbai, from where they will leave for their destination by a flight of Kenyan Airways.
(Active cases: 737)
ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia is reluctant to initiate a strict lockdown, which the World Health Organization recommends helping to slow down the spread of the virus. All operations that are now allowed per law must be conducted within strict limits of social distancing and observance of other COVID-19 prevention protocols. The state was also the first to get a testing center. Ethiopia is currently under a five-month state of emergency declared earlier this month to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights due to this pandemic.
(Active cases: 263)
MOROCCO
Morocco is to extend its national lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus until May 20. Lockdown measures imposed on March 20 mean people are only allowed to go out to buy food or medicine, and to staff some key jobs. 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: 6512)
RWANDA
Rwanda has loosened restrictions after 45 days of coronavirus lockdown, even though a nationwide night-time curfew will be enforced and movement in and out of the capital, Kigali, is prohibited. Roads in Kigali were busy again, in a city considered to be a hotspot for infections. People were seen adhering to mandatory wearing of face masks and social distancing.
(Active cases: 287)
SOUTH AFRICA
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced on April 22nd, a slight easing of the nationwide lockdown that has been in place since March 27. Starting from May 1st, the lockdown moved from the current level 5 to level 4, the wearing of face masks in public is mandatory under new regulations. Other measures under Level 4 includes a curfew from 20:00 to 05:00 (local time), a ban on travel across provincial borders without proof of employment or for other essential purposes, a limit of three people per private vehicle, and taxis must operate at 70 percent capacity or below. Restaurants are only allowed to provide delivery services and some retailers can reopen, including clothes shops, hardware stores, and wholesalers. The agricultural sector is permitted to resume full operations and mining can partially resume. Businesses resuming operations have to comply with certain health regulations, such as set workforce capacities, providing hand sanitizers, and ensuring social distance is maintained.
(Active cases: 12074)
GAMBIA
Gambia’s National Assembly voted on Friday, April 3, to extend the current State of Emergency for another 45 days. Under the State of Emergency, all bars, casinos, cinemas, event halls, gyms, night club, public swimming pools, and other non-essential businesses are closed. Restaurants are allowed to operate but only sell food for customers to take away. Additionally, all public gatherings, including open markets are suspended, along with school and university classes. Police officers will be deployed to enforce all regulations. All flights, except for medical cargo flights, are suspended since March 23, 2020.
(Active cases: 23)
GHANA
After three weeks, Ghana lifted the coronavirus lockdown in its two biggest cities, Accra and Kumasi on Monday April 20th. A lockdown of the two worst affected metropolitan areas had been in place since March 30, 2020. However, non-essential businesses are now allowed to open while wearing of masks. All vehicles undertaking intracity travel like trotros, taxis, and busses are advised to reduce their number of passengers to observe social-distancing, all businesses and supermarkets will be enforcing social distancing measures while schools will remain completely closed. President announced the extension of the closure of the country’s international borders till May 31, the measure also affects international commercial flights, which will not operate over this period. Citizens returning from abroad and foreign nationals with Ghanaian residence permits will be subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine period if they show symptoms of the virus. The domestic flights in Ghana resumed from May 1 with precautionary measures, such as safe distancing.
(Active cases: 5408)
TANZANIA
Unlike other countries, Tanzania has not opted for strict lockdown measures as President John Magufuli has announced that the country will not be closing its borders due to humanitarian concerns, as the closure would impact land-locked countries in the region dependent on its ports. Although mass gatherings at funerals, like weddings, have been banned. The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority has announced a suspension of all international passenger flights due to pandemic. Cargo flights are exempt from the suspension, but crew members will be quarantined at government facilities during their stay.
(Active cases: 509)
LIBYA
It has enforced a nationwide curfew from 2pm to 7am and prohibited intercity travel on April 23, that the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) curfew will be modified. The new curfew will be implemented on Monday, April 27, and will run from 18:00 to 06:00 (local time), and individuals will be permitted to operate vehicles, banned during the previous curfew. It is unclear as to how long the measure will remain in place.
(Active cases: 64)
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: 1219)
MOZAMBIQUE
President Felipe Nyusi announced a 30-day extension to the state of emergency until May 30, due to the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. All the international flights remain suspended until further notice.
(Active cases: 104)