For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Covid-19 is threatening fragile health systems in Africa, Government relaxes some regulations amid lockdown and, UN agency keeps Africa food aid flowing amid coronavirus

 

Covid-19 is threatening fragile health systems in Africa

As the number of coronavirus cases increases across Africa, it continues to threaten the already fragile health systems on the continent.

World Health Organisation Africa regional director Dr Matshidiso Moeti said infections were increasingly spreading not only between African countries but within different localities in the hardest-hit countries.

The continent has over 6 000 cases.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has seen cases spread to eastern regions that have been battling an Ebola outbreak.

While South Africa has implemented a nationwide lockdown, cases have spread to every province.

 

Government relaxes some regulations amid lockdown

The South African Government has apologised to citizens for the effects of the 21-day national lock down regulations put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus, and has eased some of the regulations.

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said travelling between provinces and districts has been relaxed for people who wish to attend funerals but the number of people allowed to attend the funeral is still capped at 50.

Among the relaxed regulations, informal traders and tuck shops are also allowed to trade but need permission from their ward councillors to travel to buy their supplies.

The Department of Health will also trace the contacts of those people who are Covid-19 positive using their recent geolocations with the assistance of the Communications Department.

 

UN agency keeps Africa food aid flowing amid coronavirus

The United Nations food agency has negotiated a humanitarian corridor to keep food aid flowing in southern Africa after many countries shut their borders to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Up to 45-million people in southern Africa face hunger following a devastating drought and two cyclones last year.

Lola Castro, World Food Programme director for southern Africa, said South Africa had agreed to let vessels carrying food aid land on its shores and move it to countries like Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana and Namibia, which face food shortages.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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