Epidemics Tracker

Dakar, Senegal | AFP |  The task of introducing a vaccine for the coronavirus faces an uphill struggle in Africa, where a flood of online misinformation is feeding on mistrust of Western medical research. Across the continent, Facebook, WhatsApp and other platforms have been swamped by messaging that characterises vaccine research …

Algiers, Algeria | AFP |  North Africans say they are missing the taste of Ramadan, as coronavirus restrictions deprive them of traditional mealtime gatherings, evening outings and beloved sweets during the Muslim holy month. “It’s not the usual Ramadan,” said one woman shopping in Ariana, near the capital Tunis, looking desperately …

Kampala, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  Uganda has 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19, after two samples tested positive today. The two cases are truck drivers from Kenya who entered the country via the Malaba border crossing in Eastern Uganda. The drivers are of Kenyan and Eritrean nationalities. The two drivers were …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Public health experts have said decisions into tackling the coronavirus (COVID-19) are largely based on fear than scientific evidence. The experts revealed that because of this, it could continue keeping the country under unnecessary lock in some areas with nothing much to yield. Speaking …

Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | An assessment is underway in Arua Municipality to establish the level of need for food aid and other assistance arising out of the COVID-19 lockdown. The assessment led by the Assistant Town Clerk comes a month after reports that a sizeable number of residents …

  Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | As of April 01, Letshego Uganda rolled out a repayment holiday facility to its borrowers in response to the negative impact caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Officials said on May 05 that the repayment holiday involves giving a customer a three month moratorium- meaning …

Masaka, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  The rite to ordination into priesthood is one of the key ceremonies the Catholic Church performs with great sanctity as Christians welcome new clergy into the spiritual vocation.  However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has put in balance, the possibility of having this year’s …

Moroto, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  Two officials from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development-IGAD attached to East Africa have been quarantined in Moroto district. The two allegedly arrived in the country by road from Kenya through Nakabaat border post in Moroto district. They reportedly tried to sneak into Uganda on Monday …

Washington, United States | AFP |  “It’s so good to hear your voice.” “I was worried about you.” “What would you like to do today?” What sounds like ordinary banter between friends is in fact from a chatbot created with artificial intelligence. The custom-designed chatbots in this case come from California-based …

Cairo, Egypt | AFP |  Egypt’s economy had just started to recover after years of political turmoil and militant attacks when the coronavirus crisis hit, impacting especially its vital tourism sector. Now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government has loosened a strict curfew for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in an …