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A8 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 19 March 2020
Africa should 'prepare for the worst' with virus, WHO says

By CARA ANNA nounced restrictions on
Associated Press the entry of travelers from
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Af- countries with more than
rica should "prepare for the 1,000 coronavirus cases, in-
worst" as the coronavirus cluding China and the U.S.,
begins to spread locally, and suspended visas on ar-
the World Health Organiza- rival for their citizens.
tion's director-general said Nigeria has had eight cas-
Wednesday, while South es of the virus, all in peo-
Africa became the conti- ple recently arrived from
nent's new focus of con- abroad — one of the lat-
cern as cases nearly dou- est a 6-week-old baby. The
bled to 116 from two days country said one of the new
before. patients, an American, had
South Africa's health minis- entered via a land border,
ter, Zweli Mkhize, this week a first.
called that kind of rate Three other African nations
"explosive" in the country announced their first virus
with the most cases in sub- cases: Gambia, Zambia
Saharan Africa. Fourteen of and Djibouti. Thirty-three
the latest cases were from of Africa's 54 countries
local transmission — and six now have cases, with a to-
were in children under 10. A Somali man wears a surgical mask and gloves on the street after after the government an- tal of at least 529 midday
Though the pandemic is in nounced the closure of schools and universities and banned large gatherings, following the an- Wednesday.
nouncement on Monday of the country's first case of the new coronavirus, in the capital Mogadi-
its early days on the conti- shu, Somalia Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Somalia, which an-
nent, health experts have Associated Press nounced its first case this
warned that even facilities week, closed schools and
in Africa's richest nation to self-isolate or take time to limit contact. Elsewhere obtained by The Associ- universities for two weeks
could be overwhelmed by off work," said public health in the store a shopper de- ated Press said the man and warned against public
the virus' spread. expert Dr. Atiya Mosam, terminedly filled a card- was returning home from gatherings as the country
"I think Africa should wake who also worried about the board box with "anti-germ" a night out Wednesday with one of Africa's weak-
up. My continent should large population without soap, and hand sanitizer when a group of youth est health systems tries to
wake up," said WHO chief clean water or sanitation or was out of stock despite approached and "took stop the virus' spread.
Tedros Adhanom Ghe- vulnerable from HIV or tu- calls to stop panic buying. advantage of his drunken- "This is really a very scary
breyesus, who comes from berculosis. Also Wednesday, sub-Sa- ness." moment," said Hassan Kafi,
Ethiopia. Others asked how a per- haran Africa saw its sec- In Ethiopia, the U.S. Embas- a medical student in the
Crowded conditions in son can self-quarantine in ond death from COVID-19, sy noted a rise in anti-for- capital, Mogadishu. The
poor areas could lead to a crowded slum. The con- in Burkina Faso, which has eigner sentiment after cas- country has suffered from
even faster transmission, ex- tinent has several of the one of the continent's high- es emerged there. "Reports nearly three decades of
perts say. Countless South world's fastest-growing cit- est number of cases but indicate that foreigners conflict.
Africans continue to pack ies. has not imposed measures have been attacked with Uganda, which has no cas-
into commuter trains and Despite widespread calls such as closing borders or stones, denied transporta- es, banned travel to the
minivan taxis. But the an- for "social distancing," a ca- banning religious services. tion services, being spat on, worst-affected countries.
nual pilgrimage of the Zion shier at a popular pharma- Sudan previously reported chased on foot, and been It also suspended religious
Christian Church, which at- cy in Johannesburg con- a death. accused of being infected gatherings and restricted
tracts about 3 million peo- fided that some custom- In Kenya, police said a man with COVID-19," a security the number of people at
ple, was cancelled. ers found it rude when she accused of having the alert said. weddings to 10 in a coun-
"We have low-income suggested they swipe their coronavirus was beaten Africa's most populous try known for mass ceremo-
workers who cannot afford payment cards themselves to death. A police report country, Nigeria, an- nies. q

Canada announces massive aid package amid pandemic

By ROB GILLIES groceries and pay the rent. that of your neighbors," isolating after his wife, So- top public-health doctor,
Associated Press Up to $82 billion Canadian Trudeau said. "Not whether phie Gregoire Trudeau, said to expect the virus to
TORONTO (AP) — Cana- (US$56.4 billion) is being you're going to lose your tested positive for the virus stick around for a long time.
dian Prime Minister Justin spent. The money is about job. Not whether you're go- after returning from a trip British Columbia and the
Trudeau said Wednesday 3% of Canada's gross do- ing to run out of money for to London. Trudeau said city of Vancouver declared
his government is deferring mestic product. things like groceries and she is OK, but is experienc- a state of emergency and
tax payments until August, Trudeau said he will pro- medication." ing flu-like symptoms and Vancouver Mayor Kenne-
providing a wage subsidy vide employers of small The prime minister said headaches. He said he dy Stewart threatened to
for small businesses and businesses with a tempo- those who have filed their and his three children are take action if panic buying
pausing student loan pay- rary wage subsidy equal taxes and find out that they not showing symptoms. continues.
ments as part of massive to 10% of the salary paid to owe money will have un- Ontario Health Minister "We have seen empty
stimulus package to limit employees for a period of til August to pay. There will Christine Elliott said young- shelves and panic shop-
economic damage from three months. He said that also be six-month, interest- er people, in their 30s, are ping in the last few days.
the coronavirus pandemic. will encourage employers free moratorium on their becoming seriously ill from This is unacceptable," Stew-
Trudeau said the govern- to keep staff on the payroll. Canada Student Loans as the virus, needing ventila- art said.
ment is focused on mak- "No matter who you are or well as other measures. tors. Elliott said they're see- He said all public serving
ing sure Canadians have what you do, this is a time Trudeau made the an- ing that in Ontario and also businesses will close except
the money they need to when you should be fo- nouncement outside his New York. those who can offer take-
support their families, buy cused on your health and residence, where he is self Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's out and delivery.q