South Africa's virus cases jump; Mali, Guinea-Bissau get 1st

HARARE, ZIMBABWE -- Zimbabwe's public hospital doctors and nurses went on strike Wednesday over a lack of protective gear as the coronavirus begins to spread in a country whose health system has almost collapsed. It's the latest blow to a nation where some patients' families are asked to provide such basics as gloves and clean water.

"Right now we are exposed and no one seems to care," said Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association president, Tawanda Zvakada. The president of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association, Enock Dongo, confirmed nurses' participation. Zimbabwe has three cases of COVID-19 and recorded its first death this week.

Neighbouring South Africa's coronavirus cases jumped to 709, its health minister said, as the country with Africa's most cases prepared to go into lockdown Friday. Dog-walking is barred, police said, along with running and alcohol sales. Borders are closed to human traffic.

South Africa's police minister, Bheki Cele, said two people with the coronavirus have been charged with attempted murder because they didn't obey orders to isolate themselves.

Cases across Africa are now well above 2,400. Forty-six of the continent's 54 countries have the virus with Mali, Libya and Guinea-Bissau the latest to confirm their first.

In western Kenya, riot police fired tear gas after traders resisted attempts to close a crowded market in Kisumu to help curb the virus' spread. The country has 25 cases and on Wednesday imposed a curfew, as did South Sudan.

"Our government keeps telling us to stay indoors yet we don't have money to eat," said one trader in Kisumu, Joash Okoth Abute. "There are only a few people with money and many without money, so I am pleading with the government to ensure all Kenyans are secure. Help us."

As cases rose to 68 in Ghana, some people debated imposing a lockdown. "What are we going to eat?" asked Ali Seidu, a driver in the capital, Accra. Civil servant Abraham Ofei disagreed: "If they do not do it early, by the time they decide it will be too late."

Some African leaders scolded citizens for not adhering to prevention measures.

"Countrymen and women, I have gone 'round the city and I have seen for myself that many among us are not taking this COVID-19 seriously," Zambian President Edgar Lungu said in Lusaka. "I have seen multitudes patronizing bars or freely hugging and shaking hands at funerals, contrary to health advice." The country has 12 cases.

In Uganda, an eight-month-old baby was among the latest cases. That country barred public transport for two weeks. Eritrea barred all passenger flights for two weeks as its cases rose to four.

Sierra Leone declared a year-long state of emergency despite not having a case. And Congo closed its borders. The sprawling nation has one of Africa's weakest health systems and has been battling another global health emergency, an Ebola virus outbreak.

As more African countries impose restrictions on gatherings and travel, many informal workers suffer. Ethiopia's government in a proposal to the Group of 20 major industrialized nations has said Africa needs a $150 billion emergency financing package because "COVID-19 poses an existential threat to the economies of African countries."

South Africa has an unemployment rate of 29% and the lockdown will hit workers hard. But authorities fear what will happen if the virus sweeps through crowded low-income communities and public transport.

Teeming prisons are another worry across Africa. Ethiopia's state broadcaster EBC cited the attorney general as saying more than 4,000 prisoners with minor offences or children will be released.

African countries that have not recorded cases are Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Burundi, Malawi, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho and Sao Tome and Principe, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some have the most fragile health systems on the continent.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

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Francis Kokutse in Accra, Ghana; Baba Ahmed in Bamako, Mali; Elias Meseret in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Noel Sichalwe in Lusaka, Zambia contributed.