From top politicians – former presidents, prime ministers and lawmakers, to entertainment icons and top sportsmen, the virus has left in its wake prominent casualties who could hardly get the send-off they would have been accorded in “normal times.”

Somalia COVID-19 stats: May 11 at 7:00 GMT:

Confirmed cases = 1054

Number of deaths = 51

Recoveries = 118

May 2: Nigerien minister succumbs to virus

Coronavirus caused the death of Niger’s minister of employment and labour, Mohamed Ben Omar, public television announced Monday after several media outlets had linked his death to the virus.

READ MORE – Niger Labour Minister dies from virus

April 28: Revered Kenyan Bishop dies in Italy

Media in Kenya earlier this week reported the death of a former Catholic Bishop who died of COVID-19 in the Italian city of Turin.

Major African stats: May 1 at 7:00 GMT:

Confirmed cases = 38,825

Number of deaths = 1,634

Recoveries = 12,543

Infected countries = 51

Virus-free countries = 1 (Lesotho)

April 18: Sékou Kourouma: Guinea’s chief of staff succumbs

Guinea recorded a second high-profile death from COVID-19 within a 24-hour period after that of elections body head Amadou Salif Kebe was announced on Friday, April 17.

BBC report

April 12: Khalif Mumin: Top Somalia regional official

Somalia lost a regional official to COVID-19 on Sunday, April 12.