Africa News of Thursday, 21 May 2020Source: reuters.comSouth Africa scientists say up to 50,000 coronavirus deaths possibleFile photoSouth Africa could see up to 50,000 coronavirus deaths and as many as 3 million infections by the end of the year as the southern hemisphere winter leads to a higher rate of infection, scientific models showed on Thursday. However scientists and statisticians hired by the health ministry to model the spread of the disease said the country could see between 35,000 and 50,000 coronavirus deaths by November. “We haven’t really crushed the curve,” said one of the experts, Harry Moultrie, in a presentation shown on television. One of models showed the lockdown had reduced the rate of infection by 60%, and that since the beginning of May, when lockdown restrictions were eased, that had fallen to 30%.] “With the lockdown we were creating a physical barrier that prevents the virus from moving,” said Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize.

Source: GhanaWeb May 21, 2020 10:30 UTC