Covid-19: Angola reports 49 new infections, 31 recoveries, two deaths

 Forty-nine new positive cases of covid-19 have been detected in the last 24 hours in Angola, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 2.015. 

 

 The figure was released Wednesday in Luanda by the secretary of State for Public Health, Franco Mufinda, who added that the country also recorded two deaths and 31 recoveries in the same period.

According to the official, who was delivering the usual covid-19 update briefing in the country, the infections include two of local transmission in northern Cabinda province.

Mufinda added that the ages of those infected range from eight to 73 years, including 31 males. The deaths are two people of 50 and 53 years of age.

Angola’s current covid-19 statistics show 2.015 infections, 92 deaths, 698 recoveries and 1.225 active patients.

Covid-19: Angola joins African "SAVING LIVES" campaign

 African countries, including Angola, will soon launch a campaign to protect borders, travel, economy and the schooling activity. 

Gathered virtually last Tuesday, the ministers of Health and Transport of the African Union Commission for Social Affairs, Infrastructure and Energy analyzed the premises of the campaign “Saving Lives, Economies and Livelihoods”, to be operational in the continent at this stage of the pandemic.

At the meeting, Angola was represented by the ministers of Transport, Ricardo D’Abreu, and of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, according to a note from the Transport sector to which ANGOP has had access.

The joint virtual ministerial meeting sought to obtain, among other results, a harmonized approach in outlining the coordination of the opening of borders (sea, air and land), recommendations on joint response initiatives, including global secure connectivity through facilitation of regional, maritime and logistical corridors, the restart and recovery of the African air transport sector, safe urban mobility and improved access to livelihoods in rural economies

Recommendations

The ministers recommended the improvement of surveillance against Covid-19 and the sharing of data, mechanisms, processes and technological applications, on the sharing of data in inter and intra-economic regions.

They also recommended that a coordinated approach be taken to develop test programmes in schools and to travel within the continent, to leverage school health programmes, using the "PACT" initiative approach to community risk assessment and management.

The joint virtual ministerial meeting is the result of a consultation process that has been underway since the beginning of this year.

It is carried out following the increase in globally confirmed Covid-19 cases and its rapid expansion and in response to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission who convened an emergency meeting of AU Health Ministers on February 22, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Until 18^th of August of this year, in Angola, 1,966 cases were registered, with 90 deaths, 667 recovered and 1,209 active.

About 93.7% of the cases are asymptomatic.

African Union suspends Mali

 The African Union (AU) suspended last Wednesday the Republic of Mali, following the military coup d'état in that country last Tuesday. 

 

The decision came out of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) meeting, the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a note.

Mali's suspension from African Union bodies is expected to last until the restoration of constitutional order.

The continental organization followed the measure announced by the Commonwealth of West African States (ECOWAS).

At last Wednesday's meeting, the PSC condemned the seizure of power by force, demanded the immediate restoration of constitutional order, the immediate release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Prime Minister Boubou Cissé, and arrested officials.

In the framework of the meeting, Nigeria and Ghana also argued that the military should be given some time before the PSC adopts these measures, a position that was not supported by the other members.

On Tuesday, Mali's elected President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, and his prime minister were arrested during a military-led riot and taken to an army base in Kati.

Hours later, the military forces that seized power, calling themselves the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, announced a "civil political transition" that would lead to general elections within a "reasonable time".

In the sequence, Ibrahim Keita informed, in the dawn of Tuesday, announced his resignation, that of the government and the dissolution of the parliament, in a declaration transmitted by the state television.

However, the military coup that forced President Ibrahim Keita's resignation and the fall of the government has been widely condemned by the international community and Mali's regional partners.