Africa increasingly affected by the new coronavirus. Certainly to a lesser extent than in the countries across the Atlantic, but the continent has more experience of COVID -19 while six countries are now contaminated.

In this article which will be regularly updated, we will give you an update on the situation on the evolution of the disease in Africa, and how the States organize themselves to face it.

African Basketball League kickoff postponed

The inaugural season of the African Basketball League ( BAL ), which was due to start on March 13 in Dakar, has been postponed to a later date due to the spread of the coronavirus, announced Tuesday the NBA, partner of this new competition.

“Following the recommendation of the Senegalese government, concerning the escalation of health problems linked to the coronavirus, the inaugural season of BAL is postponed,” said its president, Amadou Gallo Fall, quoted in the NBA press release.

“I am disappointed that we are not able to kick off this historic league as planned, but we look forward to the much-anticipated launch of BAL at a later date,” he added, without give more precision.

This announcement comes the day after Senegal confirmed its first case of infection with the new coronavirus.

Morocco: Cycling Tour and Grand Prix of Rabat canceled

The 2020 Morocco Cycling Tour, originally scheduled for April 9-18, has just been canceled by the Federation due to the coronavirus. This decision comes 24 hours after the announcement of the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Morocco.

It is said to be linked to the security measures put in place by the local authorities, which recommend the restriction of large demonstrations and mass gatherings. The reason why, the Judo Grand Prix of Rabat, which was to take place from March 6 to 8 in the capital of Morocco, was simply canceled.

Senegal hit again

Senegal confirmed on Tuesday the second case of coronavirus, on an 80-year-old Frenchman who arrived on Saturday in this West African country. He is an 80-year-old French resident living in Sarcelles, a Parisian suburb, who arrived in Senegal on February 29, 2020, ”said the Ministry of Health in a press release.

The patient’s condition, followed by the infectious diseases department of Fann hospital in Dakar, is “stable” and “all arrangements have been made to identify the contact persons and ensure their care”, according to the ministry…

Reported events

In Senegal, the Minister of the Interior decided Tuesday “to postpone until further notice” a three-day cultural event, planned from March 6 in the commune of Linguère (north), of which he is the mayor.

The report is intended to “deal with the spread of the recently registered coronavirus in Senegal,” the minister announced on Twitter. The event was to include a concert by the very popular Wally Seck, a wrestling gala, a popular sport in Senegal, and a day of popular clean-up.

It is the first official report of an event since the announcement of the coronavirus on the continent.

Elsewhere in Nigeria, parliament unanimously approved a two-week leave for all of its elected officials on Tuesday to guarantee their “safety” from the coronavirus, a case of which was reported last week in Lagos.

Morocco, last country affected

The Cherifian kingdom announced on the evening of Monday its first case of coronavirus virus. He is a Moroccan national who recently returned from Italy. After analyzes at the Pasteur-Morocco Institute, the man was confirmed as carrying the virus.

Although his state of health “is stable and does not cause concern”, reassured the head of the Moroccan government Saad Eddine El Othmani, who gave a press conference in the evening of Monday with the Minister of Health Khalid Ait Taleb.

Tunisia in the loop

Also on Monday, Tunisia also announced its first case of the new coronavirus. It is the first confirmed case in the country. “Tunisia has registered the first case,” said Tunisian Minister of Health, Abdellatif Mekki, adding that it is a Tunisian, “a forties in his 40s by the Italian Sea”, the third most affected by virus contamination after China and South Korea.

“We are going to take health and human measures concerning the family of the patient and the people on board the boat,” said Mekki, who took office on Friday. Some 254 people were on board the boat that arrived in Tunisia on February 27, the minister said on local radio.

The authorities, he said, asked the passengers in the boat to isolate themselves and alert the emergency services in case of symptoms, which the patient did, allowing the first case to be detected.

Most affected North Africa

Along with Morocco and Tunisia, North Africa is becoming the African region most affected by the virus. The first cases on the continent had as a reminder been detected in Egypt, then in Algeria. On the morning of Monday, Egypt had also announced the second case of coronavirus. Announcements that come to hurt the economy of these countries while the tourist season opens there, especially in Tunisia or even in Egypt.

Sub-Saharan Africa in slow motion, not without risk

After Nigeria, Senegal became the second country in sub-Saharan Africa to experience COVID -19 on Monday. Dakar recorded a first confirmed case while Lagos faced it as of Friday.

A megalopolis of more than 20 million inhabitants, Lagos worries with the arrival of the new coronavirus within its walls. Nigeria is considered to be very vulnerable to viral spread due to its weak health system and high population density.

Communication as the main weapon of struggle

With the scale of the epidemic now affecting no less than 70 countries around the world, African states have taken steps to contain the disease as best as possible. Already, at international airports in several countries, strict controls are ensured in order to detect suspicious cases.

Analysis and treatment centers – at least 30 – have hatched as the disease has flourished. Finally, communication campaigns have been launched in order to inform the populations on the safest ways to avoid contamination. On social networks, on the websites of ministries of health, toll-free numbers, as well as educational messages about the disease, are disseminated.