You are watching Africa 54, your daily news and feature magazine-style program, from the Voice of America. Host Esther Githui-Ewart and a team of correspondents zero in on the big stories making news on the continent and around the world with context and analysis.
Top Stories:
The World Health Organization issues a strong warning, advising nations to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic is under control before reopening. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says that countries should also have surveillance systems in place to be able to detect and manage any resurgence of cases and ensure that their health systems can cope with a possible resurgence after reopening.
Senegal reopens mosques and churches Tuesday, eased other restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus outbreak following an announcement by President Macky Sall. The move came despite Senegal registering 177 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni says it doesn’t make sense to hold a presidential election set for early next year if the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, signaling for the first time a possible postponement. Museveni told Uganda’s NBS Television that it would be “madness” to hold a vote.
Worldwide, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases is about 4.2 million. The global death tally is more than 286,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
As many businesses reopen across Nigeria, workers are adjusting to the new reality created by the COVID-19 pandemic, including shorter work hours, pay cuts, and higher unemployment. Nigerian authorities expect the jobless rate this year to hit one-in-three while the International Monetary Fund says the economy will shrink by 3.4 percent.
COVID-19 lockdowns are saving lives, but ruining livelihoods for millions of workers across Africa. Africa 54's Paul Ndiho via skype spoke to Paul Orajiaka, chief executive officer of Auldon Toys, a leading manufacturer of African themed toys. Orajika has made his mark selling and manufacturing toys in perhaps one of the largest and busiest open-air markets in Africa called Idumota, located on Lagos Island. He explains how COVID-19 has affected his business.
A54 Health: The World Health Organization has warned malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa could dramatically rise due to border restrictions and disruptions caused by the global pandemic of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Africa 54 health correspondent Linord Moudou spoke via Skype to Valentina Buj, Global Malaria and Health Partnerships advisor at UNICEF and asked about the impact of COVID-19 on malaria control.
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