Major African stats: May 9 as of 7:00 GMT:

Confirmed cases = 57,844

Number of deaths = 2,154

Recoveries = 19,133

Infected countries = 53

Virus-free countries = 1 (Lesotho)

SUGGESTED READING: rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Africa II

Africa could risk case, death explosion – WHO warns

Comoros records first case

SUGGESTED READING: rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Africa I

Africa risks explosion of cases, deaths

The coronavirus could “smolder” in Africa for years and take a high death toll across the continent, the World Health Organization has warned.

More than 52,000 confirmed infections and 2,074 virus-related deaths have been reported by African countries, according to figures released Friday (May 8) by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The South African president is also current chairperson of the African Union, AU; he is leading Africa’s most impacted country and the continent’s effort to get international support to fight the pandemic.

Africa dangerously behind in global race for virus gear

As Africa braces for a surge in coronavirus cases, its countries are dangerously behind in the global race for scarce medical equipment.

AP

Some major developments to read about below are as follows:

US support for Kenya, South Africa; Africa’s equipment crunch

Africa case increase worries experts

Mauritania virus-free

Tanzania MP infected

Zimbabwe quarantines UK returnees

Madagascar announces COVID-19 treatment

Africa will suffer Trump’s WHO move

Burundi voters locked out

Tanzania’s three-days of prayer

Malawi imposes lockdown as president’s court hearing starts

Uganda speaker unveils COVID-19 combating spray

US joins Africa in fight against Chinese racism

AU appoints four-member international liaison team

Two prominent deaths

AU protests Chinese mistreatment of Africans

April 23: Africa’s 43% jump in virus cases in 1 week worries experts

Africa registered a 43% jump in reported COVID-19 cases in the last week, highlighting a warning from the World Health Organization that the continent of 1.3 billion could become the next epicenter of the global outbreak.

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