South Africa's COVID-19 cases surpass half a million

[rooster59]

South Africa's COVID-19 cases surpass half a million

 

FILE PHOTO: A Stranded commuter walks at a deserted Baragwanath taxi rank during a protest by the South African minibus taxi operators against the government's financial relief package to the taxi industry, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown, in Soweto, South Africa, June 22, 2020. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

 

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's confirmed cases of COVID-19 have crossed half a million, its health ministry said on Saturday, while cases in Africa as a whole approached a million.

 

Africa's most industrialised nation recorded 10,107 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, pushing the total to 503,290, the ministry said.

 

Just over 3 million people have so far been tested for the virus in South Africa, which confirmed its first case five months ago, and 8,153 deaths have been recorded. Africa has recorded 934,558 cases, 19,752 deaths and 585,567 recoveries, according to a Reuters tally.

 

South Africa imposed a nationwide lockdown at the end of March to curb the spread of the virus, but it has now eased many restrictions to boost economic activity - as have other countries across the continent, a large chunk of whose populations are poor and face hunger.

 

"The lockdown succeeded in delaying the spread of the virus by more than two months, preventing a sudden and uncontrolled increase in infections in late March," South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a separate statement.

 

As restrictions have eased, infections have spiked over the last two months.

 

However, the daily increase in infections appears to be stabilising, particularly in the worst-hit Western Cape, Gauteng and Eastern Cape provinces, Ramaphosa added.

 

The World Health Organisation's top emergencies expert Mike Ryan last week warned that South Africa's experience was a precursor for what was likely to happen across the continent.

 

The difficulty - if not outright impossibility - of socially distancing in Africa's poor, tightly packed urban areas, has also been an enabler for the spread of the virus.

 

Cases in South Africa, which has the fifth highest total in the world, have overwhelmed an already stretched healthcare system.

 

That presents a cautionary tale to the other African countries, whose health services are for the most part even more stretched.

 

During August, the National Ventilator Project will deliver 20,000 locally-produced, non-invasive ventilators to where they are most needed, Ramaphosa said, as the government continues to mobilise additional facilities, equipment and personnel in provinces still experiencing an increase in infections.

 

(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Paul Simao)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-02

 

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[4reaL]

No words, they were ravaged by waves of HIV infections and Covid will 

run through most of sub-Saharan Africa as well. 

[Tounge Thaied]

Stop testing... problem solved. 

[Scott]

Troll post removed. 

 

[Bender Rodriguez]

I am surprised there are not more cases in india as people living close together is disgusting conditions 

[jossthaifarang]

The government of South Africa is already bankrupt. So it wants high numbers, because then they get more relief funds. Funds which are not being used to help the people but rather to help themselves, when all is said and done and the country is completely wrecked then they will run off with the funds which they have siphoned off. Just like Mogabe done with Zimbabwe.

 

I'll bet those numbers are largely exaggerated...

[Geordieabroad]

No doubt they'll soon be demanding aid $$$$ from the racist white countries

[jossthaifarang]

On 8/2/2020 at 8:19 PM, Geordieabroad said:

No doubt they'll soon be demanding aid $$$$ from the racist white countries

They already have, they will ask for more soon..

[Cryingdick]

On 8/2/2020 at 3:15 AM, Bender Rodriguez said:

I am surprised there are not more cases in india as people living close together is disgusting conditions 

 

Thailand as well especially how people put their hands in every dish while eating. 

[JohnnyNJoy]

That is quite a bit of infected. Hopefully they get things in order over there. 

 

On 8/2/2020 at 3:15 AM, Bender Rodriguez said:

I am surprised there are not more cases in india as people living close together is disgusting conditions 

Same. But, how often do people travel to India compared to other countries? Maybe they have less due to travel. But then again, I don't know the numbers for most countries. 

[Cryingdick]

17 minutes ago, JohnnyNJoy said:

That is quite a bit of infected. Hopefully they get things in order over there. 

 

Same. But, how often do people travel to India compared to other countries? Maybe they have less due to travel. But then again, I don't know the numbers for most countries. 

 

Taj Mahal is a pretty major tourist destination. The numbers that visit India aren't small.