African countries have been told to prepare for the worst by the head of the World Health Organization (WHO).
In all, 16 deaths have been reported: Six in Egypt, six in Algeria, two in Morocco, one in Sudan and one in Burkina Faso.
Africa has been the least affected continent, but health experts warn that strained public health systems could become quickly overwhelmed.
The head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is quoted by AFP news agency saying, “Africa should wake up… in other countries, we have seen how the virus actually accelerates after a certain tipping point.”
Burkina Faso announced the first death in West Africa on Wednesday – a 62-year-old diabetic woman. The authorities say the patient was Rose Marie Compaoré, a vice-president in the national assembly.
In South Africa, recorded cases rose sharply to 116 cases on Wednesday, most of them involving people who had been in Europe. The number includes 14 local transmissions.
Kenya’s Religious Leaders Suspend Worship
Meanwhile, religious leaders in Kenya have suspended worship in some churches and mosques after the country confirmed seven coronavirus cases.
The Presbyterian Church of East Africa, All Saints’ Cathedral of Anglican Church, Christ is the Answer Ministries, Kenya Assemblies of God and the Nairobi Chapel have suspended congregational worship.
All the five churches said they would live stream Sunday services on social media platforms.
The Presbyterian Church and Anglican Church urged congregants to cancel upcoming weddings or opt for short ceremonies with less people in attendance.
Church-related meetings have also been stopped in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive that banned all public gatherings as a precaution to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The Jamia Mosque in the capital, Nairobi, announced that it was stopping all congregational prayers.
The mosque’s leadership said it was monitoring the situation and would advise faithful:
Chad Bans International Flights, Shuts Borders
All international flights to and from Chad are to be suspended for two weeks, starting from midnight on Thursday.
Cargo planes would still be allowed to enter the country, the government said in a statement.
Chad is also closing its land borders with Sudan and the Central African Republic after both reported cases of coronavirus.
However, Chad’s borders with Cameroon and Nigeria would remain open, despite the fact that they have also reported cases of the virus.
Gatherings of more than 50 people have also been banned in Chad.
To date, Chad has not recorded any cases of coronavirus.
