It’s been a strange couple weeks, and I know I’m not alone in this strange feeling of isolation.
As we all stare at our respective screens and count the days until this collective trial ends, fear and panic seem as touchable as pieces of clothes on our bodies.
But it’s precisely in these moments, where nothing is within my control, that I have trained myself to simply look up.
Note: Your girl has been insanely busy this month with moving to a new city and starting a new job. Because of that, this edition of the Masayet Newsletter will be much condensed. Please keep an eye out for the regular version of the newsletter next month.
Coronavirus Tracker for Africa:
As of today, there are 4,861 confirmed coronavirus cases throughout Africa, with the majority found in South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia. If you’re interested in keeping up with Covid-19 developments on the continent, check out African Argument’s tracker with data input from the World Health Organization, John Hopkins University, and nCoV Africa.
Snapshots of how east and west African countries are dealing with the pandemic:
Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari announced Sunday that the country will have a two-week lockdown in three major areas, including Lagos, Abuja, and Ogun. There have been 111 confirmed cases of the virus in the country’s economic hub, Lagos. In the Conversation, Doyin Odubanjo makes the case the biggest threat to managing the pandemic in the nation is panic, politics, and indecision.
In Kenya, the country’s police dispersed crowds with tear gas before a national curfew, to slow down the spread of the virus, was imposed. See the video captured by Reuters here.
A lockdown in Ghana’s two biggest cities, - the capital, Accra, and Kumasi - will take effect today. Ghanians living in these cities will still be allowed to make essential trips to stores, Kwasi Asiedu reports for Quartz Africa.
Ivory Coast and Senegal declared states of emergency last Monday and put national curfews and travel restrictions on their populations to combat the outbreak.
Mali’s Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced a national curfew last Wednesday to limit the spread of the virus.
Ethiopia’s President, Sahle-Work Zewde, announced Wednesday that she granted pardon to more than 4,000 prisoners in an effort to contain the spread of the virus. The country is also debating extending it’s much-anticipated elections scheduled to be held later this year. As of today, the East African nation has 22 confirmed cases.
Malawi does not have a confirmed coronavirus case, but that hasn’t stopped the country’s President, Peter Mutharika, from putting in measures to close all schools, colleges, and large gatherings.
Song of the month:
Since everything for this edition is different, the music will be as well!
Here is “This Close” by Steffany Gretzinger:
Wash your hands, but don’t be scared.
See you next month,
Haleluya