DR Congo reports new Ebola death, just days before declaring end of epidemic

KINSHASA, April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The first person to contract Ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo in more than 50 days has died, the government said, ending hopes that the second worst outbreak of the disease in history might be over. The Central African country planned to declare an end…

Covid-19: Morocco orders public to put on face mask

RABAT, April 12 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Moroccans have been ordered to wear facial masks in a desperate attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The order was given by the Kingdom to enforce a national state of health emergency. “We are extremely happy and proud today to tell you that…

Covid-19: Libyan coronavirus hospital closes amid attacks

TRIPOLI, April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Libya’s UN-backed government says it has suspended activity at one of the main hospitals hospitals in the capital, Tripoli, which has been repeatedly targeted in bombardments. The health authorities said the al-Khadra hospital was hit again on Thursday – the third such strike in a…

Covid-19: China must step up on Africa debt relief – Ghana’s Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta ACCRA, April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — China must do more to help ease the debt burden of African countries facing economic calamity as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has said.Though Africa accounts for just a fraction of global cases of the disease,…

Covid-19: In parts of Africa, police are accused of excess force amid lockdowns

Soldiers patrol the streets in Alexandra township, South Africa KINSHASA, April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Days after DR Congo announced emergency restrictions to curb the new coronavirus, a police video started circulating online showing an officer in the capital beating a taxi driver for violating a one-passenger limit. The driver pleads…

Russia: Prison ablaze in Angarsk Siberia after inmates riot

The prison engulfed by flames ANGARSK (Siberia, Russia), April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A fire has engulfed large parts of a prison in Russia’s Siberia region following a riot by inmates who accused guards of mistreating them. The area around the high-security Penal Colony No 15 in Angarsk has been sealed…

Covid-19: US death toll passes 20,000, highest in world as Easter opens in lockdown

WASHINGTON, April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US death toll in the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak topped 20,000 on Saturday, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. The outbreak has now claimed the lives of at least 20,071 people in the US, which also leads the world in the number…

Covid-19: Flight with passengers from infected cruise ship takes off for Australia

MONTEVIDEO, April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 100 Australians and New Zealanders left Uruguay aboard a specially chartered flight after two weeks stranded aboard a virus-infected cruise ship, Montevideo’s Carrasco airport said in the early hours of Saturday. Of 217 people aboard the Greg Mortimer liner, 128 had tested positive…

Covid-19: French to be allowed outside to adopt a pet

PARIS, April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France has decided to allow people outside to adopt a pet from animal shelters, despite strict home confinement measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The interior ministry announced that “tolerance will be granted”for the mercy missions after a call from the Animal ProtectionSociety (SPA). The…

Covid-19: Eight more patients die in Moscow-crisis center

MOSCOW, April 12 (NNN-TASS) — Eight more coronavirus patients have died in Moscow. Three of them suffered from diabetes, Moscow’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said. “Eight coronavirus-positive patients have died from pneumonia in Moscow. All had concurrent diseases. Three of them suffered from diabetes,” the center said. According to the center,…