London, June 2, 2020 (AltAfrica)-Egypt has become the first African country to record over one thousand death from coronavirus. The latest figures is 1005 after the government reports new 46 fatalities on Monday.

On Monday the ministry of health announced a further 1,399 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections to 26,384

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The health ministry added that 410 patients fully recovered and were discharged from isolation hospitals and quarantine facilities. The total number of recoveries from the highly contagious virus now stands at 6,297.

The number of patients whose PCR test results have turned from positive to negative, including complete recoveries, has now reached 7,149, ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said.

Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Monday Egypt is expected to witness a surge in the number of coronavirus patients in the next two weeks and may reach 100,000 cases

In South Africa, official recorded deaths stands at 705 with 22 more deaths, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Monday. 

South Africa’s confirmed Covid-19 cases have risen to 34 357 with nearly 17 000 people recovering from the virus.  

The minister said more than 742 000 tests had now been conducted since March, with more than 17 000 tests being conducted in the past 24 hours. 

In Nigeria, the Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC), has confirmed 299 death, and 416 new COVID-19 cases, increasing the total number of infections in the country to 10,578.

According to the NCDC, as at 11:53pm 1st of June 2020, there are 10,578 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria with 3,122 discharges and 299 deaths.

Rwanda reverses plan to ease lock down

Rwanda has reversed its planned easing of coronavirus restrictions on Monday, after recording the first death from the virus and a rise in new cases.

Travel between provinces, including movement in and out of the capital, Kigali, was scheduled to resume on 1 June after more than two months.

Motorcycle taxi operators, estimated to number about 50,000, were also set to return to the roads.

But in a tweet, the prime minister’s office announced that “further measures will be announced on 2 June”.

Rwanda has so far reported 370 cases, 256 recoveries and one death.

Ghana eases restrictions on religious gatherings

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has announced measures to ease restrictions on public gatherings in the country. Under the new directives, church services and Muslim prayers can take place with 100 congregants at a time and for only one hour.

Social-distancing rules and mandatory wearing of masks must also be enforced

The directives take effect from Friday.

The restrictions were imposed two months ago to stop the spread of coronavirus.

In a televised address, President Akufo-Addo said the decision to ease restrictions on selected public gatherings was based on their risk profile, social and economic impact and the country’s ability to respond to a major outbreak.

Schools will be reopened for final year students only.

Conferences, weddings, burials, non-contact sport and political activities with a limited number of 100 participants will also be allowed.

But festivals, sporting events, nightclubs, cinemas and political rallies remain banned.

According to President Akufo-Addo, arrangements will be made to evacuate Ghanaians stranded abroad, but they will undergo mandatory quarantine and testing. Meanwhile, Ghana’s borders remain closed indefinitely.

Ghana was the first African country to ease lockdown. The country has so far recorded 8,060 confirmed cases and 36 deaths.

31 prison inmates in Kenya test positive to coronavirus

Thirty-one Kenyan prisoners have been transferred to health facilities in the capital, Nairobi, after testing positive for coronavirus.

They were among 59 other inmates who underwent mass testing after completing 21 days in quarantine where they had been admitted after court appearances.

Prisons Commissioner General Wycliffe Ogallo said they had “taken preventive measures to stop the spread of the virus within the 129 correctional facilities across the country”.

The government recently released 11,000 prisoners held for minor offences to prevent the spread of the virus in prisons.

Tanzanian high schools reopen after coronavirus lockdown

Some students in Tanzania are heading back to high schools and colleges for the first time in about two months, but will have to follow strict guidelines to ensure their safety from coronavirus.

The school calendar was interrupted in March following the outbreak of the virus.

Amid, what the government says is a decline in infections, colleges are reopening and final-year school students can return to school.

President John Magufuli has said he will consider reopening schools for younger pupils if the infection rate continues to decline.

Faustine Bee, the vice-chancellor of Dodoma University, said students have been told to wear face mask, wash hands and maintain social distance

Sierra Leone records high Covid-19 recoveries

Despite increasing number of new Covid-19 cases and amidst dwindling public trust in the system, the latest figures in Sierra Leone show a high recovery rate compared to the number of infections.

Figures released by the National Covid-19 Emergency Operation Center (NACOVERC) on Sunday show that 52 percent of those who were put under treatment recovered. The number represents 454 people out of a total 861 who tested positive for the coronavirus disease.

A total of 6,442 tests have been done so far, according to NACOVERC. 

Officials say the statistics are a sign that the system is working, and citizens should trust it.

#COVID19: update in Africa (As of 1 June 2020, 6 pm East Africa Time)
54 African Union Member States reporting 147,874 cases, 4,230 deaths, and 62,103 recoveries.
More information at https://t.co/vEZ4eupedf#COVID19 #FactsNotFear #AfricaResponds pic.twitter.com/tsJ7mAlio0

— Africa CDC (@AfricaCDC) June 1, 2020

As of 1 June 2020, 6 pm East Africa Time) 54 African Union Member States reporting 147,874 cases, 4,230 deaths, and 62,103 recoveries.