Concerns as churches, mosques reopen in Lagos

Lagos Central Mosque reopened for prayers Friday, after Nigeria's ban on religious gatherings to curb the spread of the coronavirus was lifted.

"We see (the mosque opening) as an opportunity to be able to supplicate to Him, so that the pandemic shall be taken off completely from our land," said Muslim worshipper Shakiru Gafar.

Nigeria is among the five countries that account for up 75% of Africa's confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The reported case count across the continent has surpassed 1 million, but global health experts say the true toll is likely several times higher, reflecting the gaping lack of testing for the continent's 1.3 billion people.

While experts say infection tolls in richer nations can be significant undercounts, large numbers of undetected cases are a greater danger for Africa, with many of the world's weakest health systems. More than 22,000 people have died of COVID-19.

The World Health Organization calls the milestone a "pivotal point" for Africa as infections in several countries are surging.

The virus has spread beyond major cities "into distant hinterlands" where few health resources exist and reaching care could take days.