Raissa's Blog - Best of Sports, Culture, and Entertainment

As of Wednesday, April 1, Johns Hopkins University data shows that only five of Africa's 54 countries have reported no coronavirus cases, these are: Comoros, Lesotho, Sao Tome and Principe, Malawi and South Sudan. Egypt became the first African country to report a coronavirus case in February, and 49 of Africa's 54 countries have since then reported cases.  The virus has claimed more than 200 lives on the continent, including the lives of political figures like Somalia's former Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein and the former president of the Republic of Congo, Jacques Joachim Yhombi-Opango. At least 5,820 coronavirus cases and 441 recoveries have been confirmed on the continent.  South Africa has the highest number of coronavirus cases - 1,353, followed by Algeria with 716, Egypt with 710, Morocco with 638, Tunisia with 394, Burkina Faso with 261 and Cameroon with 233.

Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mokgweetsi Masisi of Zimbabwe and Botswana respectively defied their travel bans to attend the inauguration of Namibian President, Hage Geingob. Angola had closed its air, land and sea borders during the week, while Botswana suspended international travel by all government employees. Zimbabwe's President Mnangagwa had announced a national disaster even before Zimbabwe's first coronavirus case was confirmed on Friday. Botswana has the highest number of coronavirus cases in West Africa - 64 cases. The confirmed cases include its ministers of foreign affairs, mines, education, and the interior. Cameroon has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Central Africa, with 40 cases.

The CHAN (African Nations Championship) 2020 football tournament slated to hold in Cameroon from April 4th to April 25th has been postponed due to the growing coronavirus pandemic. The CHAN local organizing committee met today, Tuesday, March 17th, and in accordance with the authorities of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, decided to suspend the competition. The organizing committee is yet to communicate a new date.  "Despite the relatively low rate of COVID-19 spread on the continent compared to other parts of the world, it is difficult to predict its evolution," was it said in a Confederation of African Football (CAF) statement. "The restrictive and precautionary measures taken by various governments to prevent the spread of the virus has made it increasingly difficult for people to move from one place to another. "Given these challenges, and in order to avoid risking the health of players, officials, partners, and fans, CAF in consultation wi...

On Saturday March 15th, four more African countries confirmed their first coronaviruses cases. These are Mauritania, Rwanda, Seychelles and Central African Republic. This takes the tally of infected African countries to 23 from 19 on Friday. Cameroon, via its Minister of Health Manaouda Malache, has confirmed a third coronavirus case - a citizen living in Italy who passed through Paris and arrived Cameroon on March 7. South Africa experienced a 60% surge in its coronavirus cases from 24 on Friday to 38 on Saturday. The country's Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize in a statement said South Africa President Cyril Ramphosa has called for an urgent cabinet meeting on Sunday that will "explore ways of intensifying the country's response to this outbreak." Mauritius, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Madagascar and Kenya have announced stricter control measures such as closing schools and universities, halting flights and banning public gatherings. Madagascar President Hery Ra...