Mozambican prisoners released by South Africa counted for almost half of new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday – Fitch Solutions

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Mozambican prisoners released by South Africa counted for almost half of new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday – Fitch Solutions

12:39 CAT | 17 Jul 2020

File photo: Lusa

Consultancy Fitch Solutions noted today that, of the 884 tests for COVID-19 performed by Mozambique on Tuesday, 49 tested positive and, of these, 23 were from Mozambicans who returned from South Africa.

“There have already been tests on 41,745 people, with 884 of these tests being reported on the 14th, and of the 49 positive tests, 23 represent Mozambicans returning from South Africa, tested at the Ressano Garcia border post,” an analysis sent to investors reads.

“Most of these Mozambicans are prisoners released from South African prisons, following the authorities’ attempt to alleviate overcrowded prisons,” the note explains.

ALSO READ: Mozambique: Another 49 coronavrus cases, many among returnees from South Africa – AIM report

The Fitch Solutions analysts write that “Mozambique’s Current Health Expenditure (CHE) per Capita is US$23.50, significantly lower than the sub-Saharan Africa average of US$83.00”. “Health systems are not equipped with an adequate number of doctors, nurses, hospital beds and ventilators to deal with the widespread spread of Covid-19.”

In the last 24 hours, Africa has recorded an additional 247 deaths, bringing to 14,044 the cumulative fatalities due to Covid-19 from the more than 644,000 cases on the continent, latest figures reveal.

According to the African Union’s Disease Control and Prevention Centre (Africa CDC), the number of infected people rose on Thursday to 644,205, up 18,503 over Wednesday’s figure, with the number of recoveries standing at 334,547, up by 17,812.

Southern Africa accounts for the largest number of cases (321,951) and reports 4,659 deaths, the vast majority concentrated in South Africa, the country with the most infections and the most deaths on the entire continent, with 311,049 cases and 4,453 fatalities.

Mozambique had registered, by Thursday (July 16), 1,330 infected and nine deaths.

Africa’s first Covid-19 case emerged in Egypt on 14 February, and Nigeria was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to register cases of infection on 28 February.

The Covid-19 pandemic has already claimed more than 585,000 lives and infected more than 13.6 million people in 196 countries and territories, according to a report by the French agency AFP.

The disease is transmitted by a new coronavirus detected in late December in Wuhan, a city in central China.

Source: Lusa