African countries step up measures over coronavirus

ISTANBUL

The new coronavirus known as COVID-19 has so far spread to 26 African countries, and many suspended flights to China, Europe, the U.S. and South Korea as part of measures to fight the virus.

As the number of coronavirus cases rose in African countries, Kenya, Djibouti, Ghana, South Africa, Gabon, Senegal, Ethiopia and Mauritania have restricted travel to countries where the virus has spread and also suspended schools.

The novel coronavirus was first seen in the North African countries in the continent and spread fast to other regions, mostly via infected passengers coming from Europe.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa rose to 61 at the weekend, 126 cases in Egypt, 48 in Algeria, 28 in Morocco and 24 in Senegal.

In African countries, where the health care systems are inadequate, the spread of the virus has caused great concern and many events such as meetings, conferences and concerts have been canceled.

Health workers in African countries started to inform the public to stem the spread of the virus.

The number of people who died from coronavirus in Egypt is two, four in Algeria, one in Morocco and one in Sudan.

According to Worldometer, a website that compiles new case numbers, the numbers of confirmed cases in African countries are as follows:

Egypt 126, Algeria 48, Tunis 20, Nigeria 2, Senegal 24, Morocco 28, South Africa 61, Cameroon 4, Togo 1, Burkina Faso 7, Democratic Republic of Congo 2, Guinea 1, Ivory Coast 1, Ghana 6, Gabon 1, Kenya 3, Ethiopia 4, Eswatini 1, Sudan 1, Mauritania 1, Equatorial Guinea 1, Rwanda 5, Namibia 2, Congo 1, Seychelles 3 and Central African Republic 1.

COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China last December, and has spread to at least 146 countries and territories.

The global death toll is now over 6,500, with more than 164,000 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization, which has declared the outbreak a pandemic.

* Writing by Burak Dag in Ankara.