Facebook is expanding its Coronavirus Information Center to 17 more countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The Information Centers form part of Facebook’s effort to help the global fight against COVID-19 by providing people with the latest news and information from trusted health authorities as well as resources and tips to stay healthy and support their family and community.
Also Read: Covid-19: The world’s largest critical care unit unveiled in London.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information Center is featured at the top of News Feed, that provides a central place for people to keep informed about the Coronavirus. It includes real-time updates from national health authorities and global organisations such as the World Health Organization, as well as helpful articles, videos and posts about social distancing and preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Facebook users can opt in to follow the center to get notifications and see updates in their News Feed from official government health authorities.
The center has already launched in South Africa, it will now be expanded to the following new sub – Saharan African markets:
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Chad
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Kenya
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
- Togo
Facebook’s Head of Public Policy, Africa, Kojo Boakye comments about the expansion; “We’ve built the information centers, in collaboration with national health partners, to ensure that people can get access to information from trusted health sources. The launch of the COVID-19 Information Center on Facebook in more than 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa aligns with our commitment to making accurate, timely information about the pandemic accessible to all communities.”
Also Read: Places in the world with no case of the Covid-19.
There are now 1.5 million known coronavirus cases worldwide. According to Africa News, In Africa, there’s Coronavirus in 52 African countries, 11,400+ cases, 574 deaths, 1,405 recoveries.
Major stats as at April 9
Confirmed cases = 11,440
Number of deaths = 574
Recoveries = 1,405
Infected countries = 52
Virus-free countries = 2
Countries in alphabetical order
Algeria – 1,572
Angola – 19
Benin – 26
Botswana – 6
Burkina Faso – 414
Burundi – 3
Cameroon – 730
Cape Verde – 7
Central African Republic – 8
Chad – 10
Comoros – 0
Congo-Brazzaville – 45
DR Congo – 180
Djibouti – 135
Egypt – 1,560
Equatorial Guinea – 18
Eritrea – 33
Eswatini – 12
Ethiopia – 55
Gabon – 34
(The) Gambia – 4
Ghana – 313
Guinea – 164
Guinea-Bissau – 33
Ivory Coast – 384
Kenya – 179
Lesotho – 0
Liberia – 31
Libya – 21
Madagascar – 93
Malawi – 8
Mali – 59
Mauritania – 6
Mauritius – 273
Morocco – 1,275
Mozambique – 17
Namibia – 16
Niger – 342
Nigeria- 276
Rwanda – 110
Sao Tome and Principe – 4
Senegal – 244
Seychelles – 11
Sierra Leone – 7
Somalia – 12
South Africa – 1,845
South Sudan – 2
Sudan – 14
Tanzania – 25
Togo – 70
Tunisia – 628
Uganda – 53
Zambia – 39
Zimbabwe – 11