South Africa continues to suffer a blow from the novel coronavirus as daily new cases soar and the public's trust on the current administration diminishes through time.
South Africa Tops 500,000 Cases
On Sunday, South Africa passed the 500,000 mark in confirmed coronavirus cases amid a slumping economy and political backlash. The national infection toll now stands at 511,485, while the death toll has reached 8,366.
Aside from mounting cases in what is supposed to be the most industrialized African nation, the South African government is also in disarray. Multiple officials have been either cut from their positions or suspended due to accusations of graft and corruption.
The weakened state of the country's healthcare system has also become a topic of debate among global health authorities as the country lacks adequate protective equipment and critical medical supplies.
Gauteng and Pretoria in Center of Rising Cases
The capital of Pretoria has been experiencing a concentration of daily new infections, local health authorities noted, while the financial hub of Gauteng has also seen a surge in cases over the past several weeks.
For South African health authorities, it is unlikely that the country will reach its peak this month, indicating a further hike in new infections over the coming weeks.
Analysts said the resurgence of cases can be linked to lockdown and quarantine easing in many South African towns. It is also worth noting that before the easing was implemented, strict lockdowns in April and May somehow helped slow the virus.
FCT Hard Hit in Nigeria
The Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria accounted for over 100 new COVID-19 cases logged in the country on Sunday. Of the 386 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, the FCT accounted for 130 infections.
Lagos is the second-hardest-hit town in the country, accounting for 65 of the new cases. Ondo recorded 37 new cases, while Osun logged 29 new infections, and Plateau accounted for 23 of the country's total cases on Sunday.
Nigeria now has a total of 43,841 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 888 deaths linked to the novel coronavirus.
Kenya Logs Nearly 700 New Cases
On Sunday, the Kenyan health ministry reported a sharp increase of 690 new coronavirus cases, bringing the national infection toll to 22,053.
The news came one day after the country resumed international flights despite a surge in new infections across the region. Kenya Airways said it has been observing proper health and safety protocols.
Health authorities have previously warned of the consequences that come with early resumption of international and local flights in the country and other African nations.
Ghana Tops 37,000 Total Cases
Meanwhile in Ghana, there were 787 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday, as confirmed by the Ghana Health Service (GHS). The national infection toll now stands at 37,014.
Unlike other African countries, Ghana is considered one of the few nations in the region that recorded a high number of recoveries over the past few weeks. As of Sunday, there are only 3,467 active cases in the country.
On the other hand, the economic impact of COVID-19 continues to be a problem for the Ghanaian government as incomes have been on a decline since the outbreak.
