Coronavirus updates As it happens (2020-08-05)

Aug 6, 2020

Facebook, Twitter Penalise Trump For Harmful COVID-19 Misinformation

Facebook and Twitter have penalised US Donald Trump and his campaign for posts in which the president claimed children were “almost immune” to coronavirus.

Facebook deleted the post – a clip from an interview Mr Trump gave to Fox News – saying it contained “harmful COVID misinformation”.

Aug 6, 2020

Ghana Covid-19 Cases Near 40,000

Ghana has recorded 567 new COVID-19 cases.

This pushes the case count to 39,642.

Aug 6, 2020

Ghanaians Told To Segregate Their Waste To Curb COVID-19 Pandemic

The National Commission for Civic Education has reiterated calls for Ghanaians to separate their household wastes as a step towards curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

It cautioned that individuals involved in waste disposal must use the right PPEs and dispose of them apparently and timeously to avoid being infected with other diseases.

Aug 6, 2020

World Mask Week Is A Global Movement To Inspire More People To Wear Face Coverings To Help Stop The Spread Of COVID-19

August 6, 2020, Johannesburg—Goodbye Malaria has joined forces with the Pandemic Action Network, CDC Foundation and partners in support of World Mask Week, August 7-14, 2020.

Community masking is critical to stop the spread of COVID-19. And until we have vaccines or medicines to fight COVID-19, mask-wearing is one of the best tools we have – particularly when paired with social distancing, handwashing, testing, and tracing.

Aug 6, 2020

Arikana Chihombori-Quao At 63: Africans Must Unite In Fight Against White Supremacy, COVID-19

Former AU Ambassador and President of ADDI (African Diaspora Development Institute) movement H.E Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao, MD, marks another birthday today August 6th, 2020.

In this direction, she is calling on all Africans to stay united amidst the tension, injustice against the black race, and the global coronavirus pandemic.

Aug 5, 2020

COVID-19 Cannot Stop The Completion Of Tema-Mpakadan Rail Project--Contractor Assures

The contractor working on the Tema-Mpakadan Rail Project has assured President Nana Akufo-Addo that the project will be completed on schedule even though the COVID-19 pandemic is still around.

AFCONS Infrastructure Limited is the company working on the Tema-Mpakadan rail project.

Aug 5, 2020

Coronavirus Won't Delay Tema-Mpakadan Rail Project – Akufo-Addo Assured

MANAGEMENT OF AFCONS Infrastructure Limited has given President Akufo-Addo the strongest of assurances that the coronavirus pandemic will not delay the completion of the Tema-Mpakadan Rail Project.

AFCONS Infrastructure Limited is the company working on the Tema-Mpakadan rail project.

President Akufo-Addo inspecting the Tema-Mpakadan rail project

Aug 5, 2020

More French workers demand a share of Macron's Covid-19 bonus

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday a €1,000 bonus for carers who assist elderly and handicapped people in their homes. This rankled with unions representing security workers who on Wednesday protested in Lyon to show their anger over being left out of the bonus scheme.

On a visit to Toulon, in southern France on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron admitted that employees who help fragile and elderly patients at home had been largely overlooked in the Covid-19 crisis and deserved a 'Covid bonus' of €1,000.

POOL/AFP

Aug 5, 2020

South Africa’s health workers hit hard by Covid, but hotspots cooling down

South Arica's healthcare workers have been hit hard by Covid-19 as some 24,000 medical employees have contracted the coronavirus and 181of them have died since March, according to Health Minister Zweli Mkwize at a news conference this Wednesday.

Health worker unions have criticised the government's response to providing personal protective wear, such as masks.

AFP

Aug 5, 2020

Covid-19: Anti-maskers mock French government call for mandatory mask-wearing

In France, an anti-mask movement has emerged, insisting that wearing a face covering to prevent the spread of Covid-19 is inefficient and an infringement on their personal freedom. This comes as authorities in several more cities decreed masks mandatory in all public spaces.

Anti-maskers are gradually building a following in France, and elsewhere in the world, with videos, photos and petitions on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

REUTERS - CHARLES PLATIAU

Aug 5, 2020

Kenya’s New Coronavirus Strain Kill Hundreds Of Camels

A mysterious ailment that has been killing hundreds of camels in northeastern Kenya for some months now has been established as a strain of coronavirus, according to health officials in the Marsabit County of northern Kenya.

Health officials in Marsabit told reporters the coronavirus in camels poses no major risk to humans but has killed over 200 camels, warning that the number is probably higher as most cases have gone unreported.

Aug 5, 2020

Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy Team Up Against Covid-19

Ghana's two leading Dancehall artistes, Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy have accepted to feature in the maiden “Asaase Sound Clash”, as they join forces to battle the deadly Coronavirus.

The highly anticipated lyrical battle would see the two acts battle it out for bragging rights in a virtual event themed “A Clash To Crush COVID”.

Aug 5, 2020

Covid-19: Eight More Die; Death Toll Now 199

Eight new COVID-19 deaths have been recorded in Ghana.

This raises the death toll to 199.

Aug 5, 2020

Covid-19 Cases Rise To 39,075

The country has recorded 574 new cases of covid-19.

This pushes the case count to 39,075.

Aug 5, 2020

Gomoa Central: Breach Of Social Distancing Protocols Hindering COVID-19 Fight

Gomoa Central DCE, Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo has said that his major challenge towards the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the District is Social Distancing.

"The Assembly is doing everything within its power to ensure that all Covid-19 protocols are fully observed but some people are becoming adamant

Aug 5, 2020

Coronavirus infects 24,000 South African health workers

Some 24,000 health workers in South Africa have contracted coronavirus, 181 of whom have died, since the pandemic hit the country in March, the health minister announced on Wednesday.

South Africa is the hardest-hit country in Africa with at least 521,318 infections diagnosed so far, accounting for more than half the continent's cases.

On the front line: More than 24,000 health workers in South Africa have been infected by coronavirus. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP)

Aug 4, 2020

COVID-19: SWEDEC Donates PPEs To Basic Schools In Mampong Municipal

Asante Mampong, July 20, 2020 - Strategic Way-Policy and Economic Development Centre (SWEDEC), a non-governmental organization, on Wednesday donated Personal Protective items to five (5) Junior High Schools in the Mampong Municipality to help pupils and teachers fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The beneficiary schools were Aframano JHS, Bunuso JHS, Nyamebekyere JHS, Kwame-Krom JHS, and Woraso M/A JHS

Aug 4, 2020

France could face a runaway spread of Covid-19, science council warns

France could see a runaway spread of coronavirus, "at any moment" the government's COVID-19 scientific council warned on Tuesday as official data showed the first rise in intensive care patients since April. This in part due to reduced vigilance in terms of social distancing and mask-wearing.

In its seventh opinion prepared for the government on the handling of Covid-19, the council warned "the virus has recently been circulating more actively, with an increased loss of distancing and barrier measures" since France emerged from a strict two-month lockdown in May.

DENIS CHARLET / AFP

Aug 4, 2020

Troops called in to enforce tougher Covid-19 lockdown in Australian state

The Australian state of Victoria says it will impose heavier fines on residents who flout Covid-19 lockdown rules, which have now been extended until September in the state capital Melbourne as the authorities attempt to tackle an alarming rise in the number of cases.

Residents of Melbourne, Australia's second biggest city, are living under curfew. Since Sunday, only trips to or from work are permitted between 20:00 and 5AM.

AFP