By Chris Bishop



The laboratory in the front line of fight against the deadly COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria’s remote northern state of Kano has closed down because the disease has struck down a number of its workers.



Kano – the hometown of Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote – has seen a spike in mystery deaths in recent as Nigeria battles the pandemic with scant resources. Former Nigerian aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode tweeted a claim that 150 people had died mysteriously in Kano recently; the official figures say Kano has only 59 cases of COVID-19, but the government health authorities say they will investigated the mystery death claim.



These concerns from Kano were raised with the World Health Organisation at its weekly webinar on Africa. Sani Aliyu, the coordinator for the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Abuja, said small teams were struggling, with little money, to test and track data.



“This week the laboratory in Kano was closed in an incident where one or two members acquired COVID-19. We had to disinfect the place and ensure that there are adequate controls for safety. It will take three or four days to reopen it,” says Aliyu &nbsp;



Whatever the outcome of the Kano investigation, officials in Nigeria are clear that the fight against COVID-19 is going to be a tough one.



Nigeria was the first African nation to report a case of COVID-19 and many in the country criticize the government for testing a mere 10,000 people out of a population of 200 million.”



“The truth is we have to work with what we have we did start from scratch the same as South Africa had. We have tested 5,000 people in the last week so we have increase the rate of testing incredibly. Once we have more equipment we will be able to do more tests across the country,” Chikwe Ihekweazu Director General for Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.



“People think of a dipstick test: Is it blue or red? But it is not, it is a very complicated level of extraction  and analysis that takes six to seven hours to complete. It is very complex I would rather go little bit slower and get it right than go at speed and make errors.”



WHO officials agree that more needs to be done to build up equipment and skills to fight the pandemic; when it broke out there were a mere 30 ventilators in Lagos – most at private hospitals – and 360 in the country. WHO officials said another 100 ventilators had been shipped into Nigeria over the last few weeks.



“Everything we do right now is, one, to help us solve the problem and, two, to make for a better tomorrow. We are building people, we are building institutions and we are building to last and we may not get a second chance to do this,” says Ihekweazu. Bold words, in the face of a brutal pandemic.

President Buhari to AfDB President Adesina: “I’ll stand by you”

Mystery deaths as Nigeria tries to hold back an avalanche of COVID-19

In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, media intelligence company Meltwater has been tracking some of the most talked about and reported topics on the virus around the world, as well as some of the stories that are not gaining as much media attention.



For more coverage on COVID-19 visit: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/</a>



The data report provided below has been compiled by Meltwater:



As COVID-19 continues to spread across the globe, and news and social media conversations on the current pandemic continue to rise, much of the information reported on has had to do with the rising number of confirmed cases, the number of deaths and preventive measures that countries have been implementing since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.



But did you know that since 1 January 2020 to date, there have been 26.1 million news articles, globally, reporting on the coronavirus, but just under 6 000 of those news articles are talking about a possible vaccine? As the global leader in media intelligence, Meltwater not only tracked the most reported on news and social media topics since the start of 2020, but also took a look into the 4 most under-reported on topics surrounding the coronavirus.



1. How the news is under-reporting on a vaccine



One of the first trending topics to emerge from the coronavirus was a vaccine, or lack thereof, and the potential&nbsp; of a vaccine being created. While governments around the world are working towards treatment for coronavirus, this news isn’t making as many headlines globally.



While the process of finding a vaccine began as many parts of the world started to go into self-quarantine, researchers across the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries have started the global race towards making a vaccine, with just over 7 000 news articles mentioning ‘research’ with ‘coronavirus’ and ‘vaccine’, indicating that there is a slightly higher interest in news media on the research that scientists are doing for a vaccine than the actual potential of one being created.



With the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation donating $100 million to help develop a vaccine, news articles are reporting more on this, with over 4 000 news articles already written between 1 March 2020 and 8 April 2020, in comparison to news articles that do not mention the foundation’s involvement.



Only on 16 March 2020 did ‘research’, ‘coronavirus’ and ‘vaccine’ gain more media exposure on in the news due to reporting on fake test kits and herbal treatments for the coronavirus.



<figure class="wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><ul class="blocks-gallery-grid"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="627" height="423" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-1.png" alt="" data-id="368605" data-full-url="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-1.png" data-link="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/?attachment_id=368605" class="wp-image-368605" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-1.png 627w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-1-300x202.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px" /></figure></li></ul><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption">Global News Media Exposure on ‘‘Coronavirus” and “Vaccine” (blue) and ‘‘Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation” and ‘Vaccine’’ (green) between 1 January 2020 and 8 April 2020</figcaption></figure>



One of the biggest themes to come out of news media mentions on the ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘vaccines’ is ‘people.’ ‘People’ refers to the impact on citizens of the world that a current lack of a vaccine has, but also what people should do while they wait for a vaccine. While some news articles are reporting that it could take between 12 and 18 months for a successful vaccine to be developed, the human impact in the interim could be devastating, especially from an economic standpoint.



<figure class="wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><ul class="blocks-gallery-grid"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="627" height="425" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-2.png" alt="" data-id="368607" data-full-url="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-2.png" data-link="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/?attachment_id=368607" class="wp-image-368607" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-2.png 627w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-2-300x203.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 627px) 100vw, 627px" /></figure></li></ul><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption">Global Trending Themes on ‘Coronavirus and Vaccine’ in News Media between 1 January 2020 and 8 April 2020</figcaption></figure>



‘AP Fact Check’ also emerged as a trending theme for news articles talking about the ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘vaccine’. This theme refers to the news articles that are debunking fake news around the coronavirus. Across the globe, there are only 532 news articles that have reported on this since the beginning of the year.



2. The silently positive social media response to a possible vaccine



On social media, there have been over 2 million mentions of ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘vaccine’ together, in comparison to the 223 million social media mentions of just the ‘Coronavirus’ since the start of the year. But when it comes to the general consensus around a vaccine for the Coronavirus, social media users don’t feel too positive or confident about it, as indicated by the data below. Between January and March, negative feelings have been growing for a vaccine, with 91% of social media mentions in March showing low confidence in the possibility of a vaccine, with social media posts referring to vaccine projects underway as well as better restrictions being a more feasible way of preventing the spread of the virus than a vaccine.



<figure class="wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><ul class="blocks-gallery-grid"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="624" height="420" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-3.png" alt="" data-id="368610" data-full-url="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-3.png" data-link="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/?attachment_id=368610" class="wp-image-368610" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-3.png 624w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-3-300x202.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px" /></figure></li></ul><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption">Global Sentiment Analysis, in Numbers, on ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Vaccine’ on Social Media</figcaption></figure>



The announcement, in March however, where the USA signed a $450 million deal with Johnson &amp; Johnson contributed to 94% of all social media mentions on ‘coronavirus’, ‘vaccine’ and ‘Johnson &amp; Johnson’ showing little confidence in the vaccine project.



<figure class="wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><ul class="blocks-gallery-grid"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="624" height="437" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-4.png" alt="" data-id="368611" data-full-url="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-4.png" data-link="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/?attachment_id=368611" class="wp-image-368611" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-4.png 624w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-4-300x210.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px" /></figure></li></ul><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption">Global Sentiment Analysis, in Numbers,  on ‘Coronavirus’, ‘Vaccine’ and ‘Johnson &amp; Johnson’ between 1 January 2020 and 8 April 2020</figcaption></figure>



But despite the overwhelming adversity of a vaccine for the Coronavirus, March was the month where social media posts were mostly positive, in comparison to January and February.  While there were over 63 000  positive social media posts about a vaccine, and ten times more were of a negative sentiment, social media users are still hopeful that one is possible and well on its way.



3. Number of recoveries is also under-reported by the media



As news and social media continues to talk about growing concerns and the impact that the coronavirus has had on society in terms of restricted border entry, travel bans and disruptions to the economy, there have been far less media mentions when it comes to the recoveries that have been made.



With 26.1 million news articles talking about the coronavirus across the globe, just over 5 000 of those news articles have mentioned ‘recoveries’ in relation to the virus. On social media, while 223 million mentions have been made on the coronavirus, just over 8 000 of those mentions talk about recoveries, compared to the social media mentions that include ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘death’.



<figure class="wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><ul class="blocks-gallery-grid"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="624" height="413" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-5.png" alt="" data-id="368614" data-full-url="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-5.png" data-link="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/?attachment_id=368614" class="wp-image-368614" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-5.png 624w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-5-300x199.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px" /></figure></li></ul><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption">Global Media Exposure on ‘‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Death’’ (blue) and ‘‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Recoveries’’ (green) between 1 January 2020 and 8 April 2020</figcaption></figure>



In the news, the USA remains as the number one country for reporting on coronavirus recoveries (53.81%). This is due to news articles reporting on the recoveries of influential people, such as singer, Pink, and actress, Linda Lusardi.



Nigeria and South Africa, respectively at 3.26% and 2,04%, are the top two countries in Africa to do the same, with Nigeria mainly reporting on the discharging of recovered patients, and South African news articles reported on the recovery of Patient Zero (the first person in the country to be infected with the virus) and Netball SA President, Cecilia Molokwane.



While social media mentions on the recovery cases have been few, the USA has been the number one country to engage in these conversations online (20.45%) and mentions not just recoveries from the virus, but how economies plan to recover from the pandemic. Nigeria is the number one African country to do so on social media (3.08%), with users sharing their experience of having the virus after recovering from it.



<figure class="wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><ul class="blocks-gallery-grid"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="624" height="441" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-6.png" alt="" data-id="368616" data-full-url="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-6.png" data-link="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/?attachment_id=368616" class="wp-image-368616" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-6.png 624w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-6-300x212.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px" /></figure></li></ul><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption">Global Heat Map of Social Media mentions for ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Recovery’ between 1 January 2020 and 8 April 2020</figcaption></figure>



4. The importance of masks as the real influencers is under-reported



The sale of masks has seen a large increase in the wake of the global pandemic. And while it has been talked about in the media as a preventative measure, few news articles talk about how face masks have become a symbol of health in these times.



As one of the trending themes to emerge from ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Recoveries’, ‘face masks’, ‘mask and gloves’ and ‘health mask hands’ refers to how these items, mainly associated with essential workers, are now playing a big part in preventing the spread of the virus among non-essential workers.



<figure class="wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><ul class="blocks-gallery-grid"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="557" height="384" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-7.png" alt="" data-id="368619" data-full-url="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-7.png" data-link="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/?attachment_id=368619" class="wp-image-368619" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-7.png 557w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-7-300x207.png 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Meltwater-7-218x150.png 218w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 557px) 100vw, 557px" /></figure></li></ul><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption">Global Trending Themes in News Media Mentions on ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Recoveries’ between 1 January 2020 and 8 April 2020</figcaption></figure>



While influencers and celebrities have taken to social media to share posts reacting to the Coronavirus and wearing masks, the top social media posters, by reach, to mention ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Recovery’ are ‘Kashmir Today’, a Facebook account providing updates on the Coronavirus to their online community, and ‘MyMeleTOP’ on Twitter, a Nigerian based account that wished Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson a speedy recovery after testing positive for the Coronavirus.



With seven out of ten people searching for details and information on the coronavirus on a daily basis, the online world has become a valuable source for updates on what is happening in the real world. While the attention around the coronavirus has grown significantly during 2020, other topics of interest have become whispers in the noise surrounding COVID19.



As researchers continue to look for a vaccine, and the world embraces face masks as a prominent symbol of prevention, the data behind the insights on what has been under-reported on in relation to the coronavirus does provide an opportunity to shed light on what news and social media may not.

The 4 most under-reported stories on the COVID-19 pandemic

By Chris Bishop



The holding back by President Donald Trump of US taxpayers’ money for the World Health Organisation will have a “significant impact” on its work in Africa at a time when the continent battles the COVID-19 outbreak with thin resources.



President Trump held back the money, which makes up about 15% of WHO funds, in protest against what he claimed was poor advice from the organisation in the early days of what is now a world pandemic.



Matshidiso Moeti, the regional director for Africa for WHO, said in a web briefing that the holding back of US taxpayers’ money would hurt a number of health projects in Africa including the highly successful campaign against polio.



“The impact will be quite significant,” says Moeti.



Billionaires Bill and Melinda Gates, who already fill 10 per cent of WHO’s coffers, says the Trump decision makes no sense and has upped their contribution by $150 million to help the continent fight COVID-19.



The South African government has also protested the President Trump decision and called on him to reconsider. &nbsp;



“It is alarming that this very regrettable decision is announced as this deadly virus strikes Africa and the poorest and most vulnerable states,” the South African government said in a statement on April 16.



Moeti said WHO was going to spent $300 million in the next six months fighting COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa and Algeria; a land mass with 47 countries and nearly a billion people. She said she hoped any shortfall in the money would be covered by the new cash injections like the one promised by Bill and Melinda Gates.



Money is likely to be a growing issue in Africa when its paralysed economies emerge from a lockdown that is going to cost millions their livelihood. On the economic, front, the WHO web briefing heard that a third of African workers were likely to lose their jobs and that the World Bank was predicting the first continental recession for 25 years. The African Union has asked the donors for a debt standstill.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti – WHO Regional Director for Africa

COVID-19: How Bill and Melinda Gates rode to the rescue for Africa after Trump pulled back the cash.

By Chris Bishop



As South Africa completed three weeks of lockdown the World Health Organisation hinted that the country is turning the tide against COVID-19. On the other side of the coin officials warn that the outbreak is only likely to peak, in Africa, in September.



Sub-Saharan Africa has around 17,000 cases and has suffered more than 900 deaths and the numbers increase every day, a weekly web briefing by WHO heard Thursday. South Africa has the most cases on the continent and along with Algeria and Cameroon it has half of the total.



&nbsp;South Africa, with its mobile testing, road blocks, complete shutdown and close tracking of contact tracing has been seen as the most aggressive, of the 47 nations in the region, in fighting the outbreak..



“I think South Africa is bending the curve.. .We think what they have done is starting to make an impact, but we have to continue to monitor it. They have taken a very aggressive attitude to testing” says Matshidiso Moeti, the regional director for Africa for WHO.



“Even before the outbreak, the South African government already had a public platform in place. It had carried out strong work in contact tracing a isolating and physical distancing. It too was early with closing schools, prohibiting sporting and social gatherings.”



Yet many other, less travelled, parts of the continent are likely to struggle with this. There were fears raised by journalists they it may be easier to carry out social distancing in an air-conditioned supermarket in Johannesburg, with hand sanitizer on tap, than it is in a teeming open-air market in Goma.



“The size of dwellings, the size of families, even the weather in many places is going to make it ery difficult. When people are going to outside markets, where we buy a lot of our food, it is very &nbsp;difficult to keep people apart , if you stay away from people you might disadvantage what you are going to earn for the day… People should be wearing masks when they go shopping. People should have sanitizers and soap,” says Moeti, who added that the outbreak was expected to peak in Africa in Semptember.



“I think it is a very good reminder that our response to COID 19 needs to be put in the context of many other issues.” &nbsp; South Africa has extended its 21-day lockdown for a further two weeks until the end of April.

SA “bending the curve” in the fight against COVID-19 – WHO

Report by Cory Stieg



People should be wearing cloth face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control said Friday.



These homemade masks should cover the nose and mouth and be worn whenever you’re in a community setting, like going to the supermarket or pharmacy. The CDC has a helpful guide for DIY-ing a mask with materials you’d have at home.



While surgical masks and N95 respirators should be saved for healthcare workers, the idea is that a simple cloth covering could prevent asymptomatic people from spreading the disease in situations where it’s hard to maintain social distance.



“These are not intended to prevent you from getting the virus, they are intended to prevent other people from getting the virus from you, Dr. Howard Forman, professor of management, public health, economics and radiology at Yale University and Yale School of Medicine, tells CNBC Make It. “If everybody takes that recommendation carefully, then you are clearly benefiting from the collective.”



But securing a mask is just one piece of the puzzle: For masks to be effective, they must be worn properly. Here’s the right way to use a cloth face covering during the COVID-19 pandemic, plus common pitfalls that could affect your safety:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Focus on the fit</h2>



Face coverings should be snug, but still comfortable, and cover your whole nose and mouth, and extend underneath your chin,&nbsp;according to the CDC. You should be able to breathe normally, but the sides of the mask should fit close to your face.



In truth, wearing a mask can be a little bit annoying, Forman says. Glasses-wearers may struggle with masks steaming up lenses, and it can make breathing somewhat uncomfortable or stuffy. (Kids under age 2 and people who have trouble breathing shouldn’t wear cloth face coverings, per the CDC.) 



If you’re feeling restricted or uncomfortable wearing a scarf over your face, you may want to consider making a mask. Here’s how the CDC suggests making a quick face covering using a scarf, bandana or towel and two rubber bands or hair elastics.



<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPx1yqvJgf4
</div></figure>



But you should “find a way to make it is as comfortable as possible,” Forman says.“If you choose not to wear it because it’s uncomfortable, you’re doing more harm,” he says.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Put it on carefully</h2>



Whether you’re using a homemade mask, scarf, bandana or surgical mask, “one of the most important steps before putting on or after taking off a face covering is to use appropriate hand hygiene, either by using hand sanitizer or washing your hands with soap and water,” Walley says.



The World Health Organization suggests that people first clean their hands before putting a mask on and check that there are no holes or tears in the fabric.



When putting on your face covering, use the ties to place it on your face and cover your face and mouth snugly, making sure you can breathe easily, Walley adds.&nbsp;If your mask has a nose bridge, hold it in place, then loop the ear bands over your ears.&nbsp;



A bandana, scarf or cloth covering should be applied with the same care.



And don’t touch the outside of the mask or cloth which could be contaminated.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Don’t touch the mask while wearing it</h2>



You shouldn’t be taking off, adjusting or moving your mask during your outing, says Forman.



“It is important to remember the outside of the mask is considered contaminated,”&nbsp;Dr. Susan Walley, professor at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, practicing at Children’s of Alabama, tells CNBC Make It.&nbsp;



A recent laboratory study found that the virus that causes COVID-19 could survive on a face mask for up to seven days.



That means, if you must take off your mask for a&nbsp;quick breather, or an itch, it’s important to practice good hand hygiene after touching the face covering.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Take it off carefully too</h2>



There’s some technique involved taking off a mask, especially if you’re a healthcare worker or taking care of someone who has COVID-19. The key is to avoid accidentally contaminating your hands or touching your face.



Be extra careful not to touch the front of your mask and your eyes, nose and mouth when removing your face covering, and wash your hands after handling your mask, according to the CDC.&nbsp;



Remember: Wearing a mask or cloth face covering doesn’t make you invincible. “There’s no question you could be getting viral particles on the outside of it,” Forman says.



The CDC recommends storing personal protective equipment in a paper bag, so you should do the same with your cloth face covering, Walley says.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wash your mask often</h2>



Currently, there are no strict guidelines about washing and sanitizing cloth face coverings and masks. According to the CDC, machine-washing your mask is enough to disinfect your cloth face covering.



You should wash it regularly, or after each time you wear it.It’s okay to re-wear a cloth face covering so long as it’s not soiled, Dr. William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland, told NBC’s “TODAY” on Monday. Similarly, if you don’t have immediate access to laundry, it’s reasonable to wait until the face covering is visibly soiled to wash it, Walley says. 



Any clothing or accessories that you wear have the potential to be contaminated, but right now experts don’t believe that the mechanism of transmission is so extreme that you need to be washing or changing your clothes multiple times a day, he says. The same is true for cloth masks and face coverings.



“If someone wanted to be aggressive and keep their clothes is as clean as they could be, I think they would want to do the same thing with a mask,” Forman says. For example, Dr. Daniel Griffin, an infectious diseases expert at Columbia University, told NPR you should wash your mask as often as you do your underwear. (To that end, you may want to have multiple masks so you can still stay protected while it’s in the wash.)



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Keep social distancing</h2>



Wearing a face covering is just one additional step that you can take to stop the spread of COVID-19, but it’s not a replacement for the other important prevention measures, such as washing your hands and social distancing.



Like the other measures, it’s important to do your part, Forman says. “Anything that reduces transmission at this moment has enormous benefit to the public,” he says.



This article was first published on CNBC Make It <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/09/how-to-use-and-clean-homemade-face-mask-to-prevent-covid19.html?__source=newsletter%7Cmakeit">https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/09/how-to-use-and-clean-homemade-face-mask-to-prevent-covid19.html?__source=newsletter%7Cmakeit</a> and is republished with its permission.



For more coverage on COVID-19 visit: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/</a>

Clarification on COVID-19 “hotspots” as SA moves to level 3 lockdown

Here’s how to use and clean your mask during the COVID-19 pandemic, the right way

The South African rand fell on Wednesday after a <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2020/04/14/sarb-cuts-rates-by-100-basis-points-to-record-low/">surprise repo rate cut</a> by the South African Reserve Bank, while broader emerging market risk assets retreated amid continued focus on the <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/coronavirus/2020/04/14/covid-19-sa-will-leave-no-stone-unturned-in-obtaining-funding-from-multilateral-institutions-to-assist-its-economy-finmin-mboweni/">coronavirus outbreak</a>.



The following statement is on behalf of Peregrine Treasury Solutions:



By Bianca Botes, Executive Director at Peregrine Treasury Solutions



15 April 2020: The rand is falling prey to a risk-off environment due to the dire outlook for the South African economy and has lost a massive 2.5% today.



The situation has been exacerbated by US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of funding from the World Health Organization (WHO) in the middle of a global pandemic.



The uncertainty regarding how long global lockdowns will endure is also adding fuel to the uncertainty in markets. On 13 April, for example, France extended its lockdown from 15 April to 11 May, on 14 April, India’s lockdown was extended to 3 May and there is widespread belief that the US will not be able to open its economy on 1 May, despite Trump’s claims that he can.



For more coverage on COVID-19 visit: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/</a>

ArcelorMittal South Africa fined R3.64 million over hydrogen sulfide emissions

South African rand plummets after surprise rate cut, market uncertainty

Chairperson of the African Union (AU) and President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed the union’s support for the <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/coronavirus/2020/04/09/covid-19-how-the-who-word-on-africa-could-influence-sa-big-lockdown-choice/">World Health Organization’s (WHO)</a> efforts to combat the global COVID-19 pandemic.



The AU furthermore commends all who have supported and pledged to support <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/news/2020/04/09/covid-19-drives-sub-saharan-africa-toward-first-recession-in-25-years-world-bank-report/">Africa’s response to COVID-19</a> by reinforcing healthcare systems and helping to mitigate the social and economic impact of the virus.



For more information, read the statement below:



DATE : WEDNESDAY, 08 APRIL 2020



AFRICAN UNION REAFFIRMS ITS UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO WHO



The Covid-19 pandemic is already the most serious health emergency in generations, and it is far from over. The Coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly changed our ways of life; impacted on the capacities of our health infrastructure and has disrupted the economic supply value chain with attendant negative impact on global economies. As the world grapples with the challenge of the Coronavirus, there is a need for solidarity, unity of purpose and better coordination to ensure that we are able to overcome this common enemy.



It is within this context, that the Chairperson of the African Union and President of the Republic of South Africa, HE Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirms his appreciation for the exceptional leadership of the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, from the very earliest stages of this unprecedented global health crisis.



The African Union has also commended the management of Dr Tedros in leading the global response to the pandemic.



Overall the AU recognises and appreciates the good work that has been undertaken by the WHO and notes with a sense of satisfaction the various initiatives and measures that are continuously undertaken by the organisation to mitigate the spread of the pandemic such as mobilising resources, sharing the real-time information and providing the technical and material support.



On a daily basis, the WHO has been an essential technical and scientific partner to the African Union and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), as we work to mitigate the pandemic which has now reached nearly every member state.



The African Union has seen Dr Tedros in action before when he and the world class WHO health experts led global efforts to fight against Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In appreciation of these efforts, the African Union extends its unwavering support to the WHO and its Director-General.



The AU calls upon international community to join hands to support the efforts of the DG and the entire WHO family as they lead global efforts to fight this pandemic. If there was a time for global unity, solidarity and cooperation, this is that time. Working together, we will be able to overcome this challenge.



While all our countries are facing daunting and frustrating tasks to contain the spread of the pandemic, we should avoid temptation to apportion blame to any individual, institution or any country at a time when we should all be working together. We should work together to confront our common enemy in the form of COVID-19; and we should not allow ourselves to be distracted by anything else. Our success against this pandemic will only be realised through collaboration, cooperation and most importantly through global solidarity.



The most potent weapon against Covid-19 remains international cooperation and solidarity, as we have seen around the world. The African Union has seen firsthand the groundswell of international cooperation since the onset of this pandemic and wishes to commend all who supported and have pledged to support Africa’s response to Covid-19 by reinforcing our health systems and helping to mitigate the social and economic impact. These partners include the G20, China, the United States, the European Union, the Jack Ma Foundation, among others.



The African Union extends its appreciation to all medical personnel who are in the forefront of the battlefield for their selflessness and diligence.



President Ramaphosa further calls on all African Union members and international partners to maintain and reinforce this international cooperation and collaboration in the difficult weeks and months ahead.



May we all continue, as a collective, to play our part to combat this pandemic with vigour and determination in order to return our lives to normalcy.



ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AND CHAIRPERSON OF AFRICAN UNION



For more coverage on COVID-19 visit: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/</a>

African Union reaffirms support for WHO amid COVID-19 pandemic

By Chris Bishop



African officials will today sketch out the victories and defeats of the continent‘s fight against COVID-19 in a webcast. It is likely that South African government officials will be listening in carefully ahead of what could be a crucial decision this weekend about the lockdown that has been causing chaos in the economy.



South Africa is due to come out of its 21-day lockdown at midnight on April 16. Sources close to President Cyril Ramaphosa say cabinet will meet this Easter weekend to debate whether to extend the lockdown. The union umbrella Cosatu believes that the lockdown will continue, but maybe with concessions to some parts of the economy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



The economic damage has already been done in most sectors. The South African Reserve Bank has warned that the lockdown could cause 370,000 people to lose their jobs and 1,600 businesses to go under.&nbsp;



Mining employs nearly half a million people and its mines have been largely idling under the lockdown under expensive care and maintenance, largely to stop them from flooding, in a closure likely to cost the industry more than a billion Rand-a-day in sales. Even if the lockdown is eased next week it will take many weeks for the mines to ramp back up to full production.



On a worldwide scale the World Trade Organization has warned that global trade is heading for its worst year in decades – worse than the slump at the height of the world financial crisis more than a decade ago. It warns of The World Trade Organisation warned that what it calls “ugly” declines in world trade that will cause painful consequences. It is forecasting a drop of between 13 and 32 per cent in global goods trade this year.



Roberto Azevedo, the director general of the WTO, also talked of a rapid rebound in world trade providing countries left their markets open, The Times in London reported.



All of this will have to be taken into account by the South African cabinet as it debates its way to the crucial decision this weekend.



Mastshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organisation Director for Africa, is expected to give details today of the fight against COVID-19. They will include the infection rate, the number of ventilators on the continent – last week officials said they didn’t know how many – and prospects for a vaccine. Moeti, born in South African and brought up in Botswana, has so far been the calm face of the fight against COVID-19 in Africa. As the weeks wear on her calm approach is likely to be tested.

COVID-19 –How the WHO word on Africa could influence SA big lockdown choice

A group of 165 past and present global leaders have come together to demand the creation of a G20 executive task force and an immediate global pledging conference to approve and co-ordinate a multi-billion dollar fund to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.



The following statement was issued by the Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown:



Media release



UNDER STRICT EMBARGO until Tuesday, April 7, 00.01 BST



GLOBAL LEADERS ISSUE G20 CALL TO ACTION URGING IMMEDIATE PLEDGING CONFERENCE AND TASK FORCE TO CO-ORDINATE WORLD RESPONSE TO COVID-19



 165 past and present leaders say to G20: approve now $8bn emergency global health funding to prevent second wave of coronavirus



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Debt interest payments of poorest countries should be waived now; global fiscal co-ordination essential to avoid recession becoming depression</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Warning that without rapid support, 1.2 million covid-19 deaths are possible in Africa and Asia’s poorest countries amid danger of igniting second round of disease in rest of the world</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Race for vaccine, cure, test kits, ventilators and protective equipment for health workers &#8211; open letter says &#8211; demands enhanced co-operation and concerted global push to increase capacity</li></ul>



A 165-strong international group including 92 former Presidents and Prime Ministers, along with current economic and health leaders in the developed and developing world have come together to demand the creation of a G20 executive task force and an immediate global pledging conference which would approve and co-ordinate a multi-billion dollar coronavirus fighting fund.



In an open letter addressed to G20 leaders the group &#8211; which wants both to speed up the search for a vaccine, cure and treatments and revive the global economy &#8211; urges global collaboration and commitment to funding ‘far beyond the current capacity of our existing international institutions’.



“The economic emergency will not be resolved until the health emergency is addressed: the health emergency will not end simply by conquering the disease in one country alone but by ensuring recovery from COVID-19 in all countries,” the statement says.



The plea is for agreement within days for:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>$8 billion to rapidly hasten the global effort for vaccines, cure and treatment;</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>$35 billion to support health systems, from ventilators to test kits and protective equipment for health workers;</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>And $150 billion for developing countries to fight the medical and economic crisis, prevent a second wave of the disease flowing back into countries as they come out of the first wave. This means waiving debt interest payments for the poorest countries, including $44billion due this year from Africa. A $500-$600billion issue of additional resources by the IMF in the form of special drawing rights is proposed.”</li></ul>



The letter also urges the co-ordination of fiscal stimuli to avoid a recession becoming a depression.



While welcoming the G20’s first communique on the Covid-19 crisis, the 165-strong group are pressing the G20 to speed up an action plan.



The group states: &#8220;All health systems – even the most sophisticated and best funded – are buckling under the pressures of the virus. Yet if we do nothing as the disease spreads in poorer African, Asian and Latin American cities which have little testing equipment, hardly any ventilators, and few medical supplies; and where social distancing and even washing hands are difficult to achieve, Covid-19 will persist there – and re-emerge to hit the rest of the world with further rounds that will prolong the crisis.



&#8220;World leaders must immediately agree to commit $8 billion – as set out by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board – to fill the most urgent gaps in the COVID-19 response. This includes $1billion this year for WHO, $3 billion for vaccines and $2.25 billion for therapeutics.



&#8220;Instead of each country, or state or province within it, competing for a share of the existing capacity, with the risk of rapidly-increasing prices, we should also be vastly increasing capacity by supporting the WHO in coordinating the global production and procurement of medical supplies, such as testing kits, personal protection equipment, and ITU technology to meet fully the worldwide demand. We will also need to stockpile and distribute essential equipment.



“$35 billion will be required, as highlighted by WHO, to support countries with weaker health systems and especially vulnerable populations, including the provision of vital medical supplies, surge support to the national health workforce (70% of whom in many countries are underpaid women) and strengthening national resilience and preparedness.



“According to WHO, almost 30% of countries have no COVID-19 national preparedness response plans and only half have a national infection prevention and control program. Health systems in lower income countries will struggle to cope; even the most optimistic estimates from Imperial College London suggest there will be 900,000 deaths in Asia and 300,000 in Africa.



&#8220;We propose convening a global pledging conference – its purpose supported by a G20 Executive Task Force &#8211; to commit resources to meeting these emergency global health needs.”



On the Global Economic outlook, the group propose a range of measures and state:



&#8220;Much has been done by national governments to counter the downward slide of their economies. But a global economic problem requires a global economic response. Our aim should be to prevent a liquidity crisis turning into a solvency crisis, and a global recession becoming a global depression. To ensure this, better coordinated fiscal, monetary, central bank, and anti-protectionist initiatives are needed. The ambitious fiscal stimuli of some countries will be all-the-more effective if more strongly complemented by all countries in a position to do so.



“The long term solution is a radical rethink of global public health and a refashioning – together with proper resourcing – of the entwined global health and financial architecture.



“The UN, the G20 and interested partners should work together to co-ordinate further action.”



For more coverage on COVID-19 visit: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/">https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/</a>

Global leaders issue G20 call to action to co-ordinate world response to COVID-19

By Irmgard Erasmus – Senior Financial Economist



Acutely aware of Ethiopia’s vulnerability to the health and
economic repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
urged “collective leadership and coordinated responses” to overcome the
challenges posed by the unprecedented shock. 



The Ethiopian leader has taken a dominant position in the campaign
for comprehensive stimulus packages and debt relief for the African continent,
stressing that “we are not prepared to overcome the virus on our health systems
and the long-term impact on our economies”. 



Echoing this concern, a consortium of African ministers of finance
emphasised in a communique dated April 1 that “urgent need” exists “for fiscal
stimulus to contain the crisis”.



On April 1, G20 leaders indicated that they are preparing a
response package for Africa that will include debt relief and financial aid.
The response package will incorporate “recent demands from President Cyril
Ramaphosa of South Africa and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia”, according
to Politico. 



This also came after the United Nations Economic Commission for
Africa (UNECA) again requested the “urgent and immediate release” of a $100bn
support package to aid domestic response actions in the fight against the
health and economic implications of the Covid-19 pandemic. 



While the ministers welcomed the IMF and World Bank’s call for
official bilateral creditors to “provide breathing space” to African countries,
the consortium believes that “such relief should be extended to countries
across the region and by other creditors during this exceptional period”. 



A comprehensive $100bn support package for Africa will be
formalised for discussion and presentation at the World Bank and IMF’s
stakeholders’ initiatives on April 15.



For the public sector, disbursements will be utilised for the
servicing of public sector debt and interest payments, including on sovereign
bonds, in order to create “immediate fiscal space and liquidity” for
governments to focus their attention on domestic fiscal stimulus needs amid the
crisis. 



The consortium proposes that the $44bn disbursement be pooled into
a global special purpose vehicle (SPV) to be used for external debt service
“for effective management purposes till economic recovery takes hold and
agreement can be reached with creditors”. The ministers stressed that this
measure would guard against default by countries. 



The ministers requested the IMF to raise Special Drawing Rights
(SDRs) availability over the next two to three years. The consortium believes
that it would service the debt relief SPV facility and provide crucial
liquidity support.



Ethiopia has already rescheduled debt servicing agreements with
“some major creditors”, which will alleviate hard currency liquidity demands.
By September 2019, public external debt stock stood at $26.8bn, or half of
total outstanding public debt. 



Public external debt comprised a 60:40 split between central
government and state-owned enterprises, according to official records. 



Public external debt servicing costs amounted to $548.4m during Q1
FY 2019/20 (the fiscal year commences on July 8), of which $457.2m was due to
SOE debt servicing. 



Ethiopia has been among the most vocal of African nations to
request debt waivers or debt relief – while African finance ministers called
for a $100bn stimulus package, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged G20 members to
provide $150bn under a proposed three-point action plan. The disbursal should
take the form of supplementary budgetary support, debt relief, and private
sector financing, according to the proposal. 



The prime minister furthermore urged G20 nations to support the
World Health Organisation (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) in strengthening public health delivery and emergency
preparedness.



Cognisant of the fragility of the private sector, especially as
small- and medium-sized enterprises account for over 70% of the private sector
in Africa, the consortium stressed that liquidity relief should be extended in
particular to service and tourism sectors. 



African finance ministers requested support from the G20, EU, and
all Development Finance institutions to support a proposal aimed at the
refinancing, rescheduling, and implementation of guarantee schemes and
liquidity facilities for the private sector. 



In particular, African airline companies require preservation and
protection “given their significant contribution to the GDP of Africa”.
Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to 80 destinations in light of the
pandemic. 



Demand for local flights, which are ongoing, dropped by at least
50% already. The airline estimates that it will lose at least $190m due to the
pandemic. 



The Ethiopian government has ordered the central bank to release
Etb15bn ($460m) to private banks as it ramped up its fight against the economic
spillover effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The liquidity injection will enable
the banking sector to extend debt relief and additional loan facilities to
customers. 



This came in addition to instructions to avail foreign currency to
importers, with priority given to importers of essential goods or the
manufacturing of essential goods. 



In March, the World Bank granted a $500m grant and loan facility
(split evenly) to Ethiopia in support of its reform programme. 



The prime minister voiced his gratitude to “the generosity of the
Ethiopian people” as local stakeholders contributed generously to the National
Resource Mobilisation Committee initiative.



NKC African Economics’ preliminary GDP forecast suggests that
Ethiopia will be hit particularly hard by coronavirus-related disruptions. 



Absent comprehensive external support, a sharp slump in private
sector demand and investment momentum threatens an unprecedented plunge in
economic growth this year to 1.1% – down from a pre-virus forecast of 7.1%. 



Crucially, the pandemic threatens to disrupt progress made under
the reform agenda towards policy overhaul, broad-based privatisation of state
assets, financial liberalisation, and the launch of a domestic bourse. 



An uncomfortable reliance on grant relief amid strained domestic
fiscal capacity threatens to bloom into full-blown crisis in the absence of
comprehensive external financial support.

Lion_of_Judah,_Addis_Ababa,_Ethiopia

Op-Ed: Ethiopia – Abiy leads African appeal for relief actions

By Chris Bishop



As the COVID-19 outbreak spreads across Africa, the World Health Organization says it doesn’t know how many ventilators it has to help patients gasp their way to recovery, but admits there is an “enormous gap” in supply. In a webcast briefing to journalists, from across Africa, WHO also warned it was too premature to say that the numerous lockdowns were turning the tide. “I believe it is too early say, the lockdown has been in place for a few days. I think the full infections and transmission picture will only show days from now. There has been backlog in testing in South Africa and we may see some dramatic increase when that backlog is cleared, “says Matshidiso Moete, the South African-born Botswana-raised WHO Regional Director for Africa, from her headquarters in Congo Brazzaville. “South Africa also has to confirm tests of samples from a number of countries around it. So we need to wait a while before coming to that conclusion.” As for ventilators, admitted that WHO did not know how many were in Africa, but we trying to find out by gathering information from as many countries across the continent. It was also encouraging African nations to share research and information in the search for a vaccine, that may only see the light of day towards the end of next year. “At the moment, we are trying to find out this information and we don’t have the actual number. What we can say, without any doubt, there is an enormous gap in the number ventilators needed in Africa,” says Moete. “There is a global shortage and lockdowns everywhere. We are trying to find out numbers and make projections. We are making a plan to help transportation to help procure ventilators and get them into countries with the necessary permission. ..It is an area of great challenges…one of the biggest challenges that more developed countries, with more resources, are facing.” Zebulon Yoti, a World Health Organization officer and veteran of the fight against Ebola, said global figures showed that between one and two per cent of COVID-19 patients need ventilators while 15% needed an ICU. Journalists also raised concerns that Africa did not have enough ICUs. One African myth dispelled during the briefing was the idea that people in countries with malaria were more somehow more immune to COVID-19. The question came from a journalist in Mozambique, a country with a big malaria problem, was this true? “No, I’m afraid not…Some of the countries seeing cases expand, like Nigeria and Senegal, have a malaria problem. So, I am afraid not.”

COVID-19 – “Enormous gap” in ventilators for Africa  – the worry is no one is sure how big.

By Dr Victor Oladokun, outgoing Director of Communication &amp; External Relations at the African Development Bank Group



Why
Africa Urgently Needs an Ubuntu Plan



Africa urgently needs a globally
coordinated Ubuntu Plan in response to COVID-19, a fiscal stimulus that
recognises our shared and connected humanity, as we find ourselves in the midst
of an unprecedented crisis.



The
world&#8217;s largest cities are eerily silent. One virus has disrupted the whole
world in a manner never seen before in history.



COVID-19,
a term that did not exist in our vocabulary a couple of months ago, has brought
virtually everything to a grinding halt. It&#8217;s a surreal almost cinematic scene.
Except that we are all living through it.&nbsp;




With governments balancing economies and
the welfare of their citizens, entire industries and institutional systems find
themselves fighting for survival in the midst of mandatory lockdowns. Food
supply chains, transportation networks, educational systems, governance and
judicial systems are either strained or barely functioning with medical
services being the worst hit.



Unlike
any other pandemic, COVID-19 will alter the way we live, work, and
socialise.&nbsp; The financial costs and the
economic devastation are already of epic proportions. This is why Africa in
particular urgently needs an Ubuntu Plan. A globally coordinated fiscal
stimulus plan that recognises our shared and connected humanity. 



The
case for an Ubuntu Plan



This
past week, America passed a 2 trillion Dollar stimulus package that will keep
markets operational, support Americans out of work, and help reduce Federal
Reserve lending rates. It is the largest bailout in the history of the United
States. European economies likewise have announced stimulus measures in excess
of 1 trillion Euros. Chinese factories are ramping up again, backed by a $344
billion stimulus package.



In
contrast, Africa&#8217;s economies are already buckling. Global demand for oil and
gas and commodity products &#8211; the mainstays of Africa&#8217;s leading economies &#8211; has
stalled. Revenues which were already overextended have dried up and small,
medium, and large enterprises are at risk of total collapse.



Last
Thursday, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
estimated that the pandemic could reduce the growth of the region&#8217;s gross
domestic product (GDP) from 3.2% to 1.8% in 2020. On 27th March, The Secretary
General of the UN Antonio Guterres said: “Africa is a continent with very
little capacity to respond and I am extremely worried that in those situations,
we might have millions of cases with millions of people dying”.



Lockdowns
are not equal



Even
though the United States, Europe and many parts of Asia are better suited
economically and infrastructurally to a lockdown, they are struggling to cope
with the burden of this sudden pandemic. A situation that will likely will be
worsened by the duration and unpredictability of the pandemic.



If
these societies are struggling, the impact on Africa is best imagined.



Prior
to the crisis, 41% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population lived on less than $1.90
a day which is very little to survive on. Seven out of ten persons (70%) in
Africa are in vulnerable and precarious forms of informal employment eking
their living on a daily basis. Lockdown, homeworking and teleconferencing is
therefore not an option. Family support systems from blue and white-collar
workers and the diaspora, are themselves under threat. Job losses will&nbsp; strain these critical informal support
systems to breaking points.



 In Africa, formal social safety nets rarely exist. Therefore, stockpiling food items for extended periods of isolation is out of consideration. Linked with this, Africa requires vast food supplies to meet the needs of the continent&#8217;s poorest who can barely afford a decent mmeal. 



Recent
cyclones, Kenneth and Idai, and a&nbsp;
plague of locusts, have already put considerable pressure on&nbsp; immediate food supplies for the continent.



Which
is why an Ubuntu Plan is now critical in order to cushion the harsh
social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. Such a plan
would include a fiscal stimulus package, the development of critical
infrastructure and support for the continent&#8217;s most vulnerable populations. 



The
fact is that in the 21st century, clean water supplies and access to
electricity are the stuff of dreams for millions of Africans. Globally, almost
800 million people are without access to clean water. Of these, 40% live in
sub-Saharan Africa.&nbsp; The simple act of
hand washing which the pandemic requires for prevention is still not possible
for millions. Linked with this, less than 58% of Africa&#8217;s population has access
to modern healthcare facilities. 



A
race against time



Africa
and its partners have already been striving hard to tackle the challenge of
eradicating poverty with measures such as the UN’s Sustainable Development
Goals, and the African Development Bank&#8217;s High5 strategy. 



The
COVID-19 pandemic however shines the spotlight on Africa’s&nbsp; poor healthcare delivery systems and
facilities and its vast challenges. Africa has one of the highest population
densities in the world. For people living in tens of thousands of informal
settlements, the idea of social distancing is inconceivable. Millions of
vulnerable low-income people live in cramped communal houses and rooms and
in&nbsp; areas that lack basic amenities,
especially water and sanitation. 



In
the short term, to effectively combat COVID-19, we urgently need self-testing
kits, personal protective equipment (PPEs), makeshift living spaces and
hospitals, recovery units and inexpensive easy-to-operate ventilators. 



The
World Health Organisation (WHO) has already issued a ten-point strategy that
calls for the creation of corridors on the continent to facilitate emergency
deployments and material shipments.&nbsp; The
plan also calls on governments and the private sector to help increase
supplies, medical equipment and care, and to strengthen surveillance and public
awareness, in order to prevent&nbsp;
continent-wide community transmission.



In
the short window available, global cooperation is imperative.



&nbsp;The African Union&#8217;s Vision Agenda 2063 and
action plan states among other things, that “We are part of the global drive
through the United Nations and other multilateral organisations to find
multi-lateral approaches to humanity’s most pressing concerns including human
security and peace, the eradication of poverty, hunger and disease &#8230;”&nbsp; 



Rethinking
the future



In
the mid to long term, we must urgently rethink social life, urban and rural
planning and our budgetary priorities, if life is to be preserved. We must&nbsp; decongest informal settlements rapidly and in
their place&nbsp; develop&nbsp; affordable housing that is suitable for
isolation&nbsp; and quarantine, in the event
of future pandemics.



There
is no better time for a globally coordinated Ubuntu Plan. To stop the
global spread of COVID-19 and its global devastation, it must be stopped in
Africa. The world must pay attention and lend a helping hand by strengthening
global cooperation, now more than ever before.&nbsp;




Ubuntu
&#8211; The preservation of human dignity, health, lives and wellbeing, demands
nothing less.

Victor

Op-Ed: Victor Oladokun on why Africa urgently needs an Ubuntu Plan

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Over the weekend the world saw DJs and musicians serenading and playing music for people in their homes via social media and between the #TogetherAtHome initiative by WHO and Global Citizen to well-known American hip hop DJ, DNice hosting a seven hour set on his Instagram live to over 100,000 people worldwide including influential leaders and celebrities alike such as Jennifer Lopez, P. Diddy, the Obamas, Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, and Facebook/Instagram owner himself, Mark Zuckerberg among others. This model that people are calling, &#8220;Club Quarantine&#8221; seems to be picking up. Managing Director of KGL FWD, Autumn Marie Faraj co-hosted a similar event herself called #RwandaLive, she joins CNBC Africa for more.

The rise of the social media “Quarantine Party”

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Over 90 per cent of malaria cases in 2018 were recorded in the African region according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In Rwanda, over 3 million people are infected by the disease and the country has launched a drive to use drones in spraying pesticides in mosquito breeding sites.

Rwanda is deploying this new weapon in fight against malaria

The severity and alarming levels of spread has prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. To discuss the impact on Nigeria&#8217;s economy is Femi Ojumu, Senior Partner at Femi Ojumu &amp; Co and Kyari Bukar.

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COVID-19 pandemic & impact on Nigeria

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Following the WHO report on the ongoing global coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Rwanda&#8217;s Health Ministry has recommended preventive measures to protect residents and visitors. Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, Director General of Rwanda Biomedical Centre mentions that the country estimates to use about FRw16 billion in the response in a period of 6 moths. He joins CNBC Africa for more.

Rwanda to spend FRw16bn in COVID-19 fight

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As of this morning, two deaths have been reported in Wuhan, the city at the center of the Corona Virus outbreak, but was the World Health Organization (WHO) right not to declare a global health emergency?

WHO

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Advertise With Us

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