The coronavirus pandemic has been confirmed in over 180 countries globally since it was first discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December 2019.
The World Health Organisation, WHO, has since declared it a pandemic due to its spread. All African countries except Lesotho have since recorded cases as governments roll out measures to combat the spread.
In this article, we will share the latest developments as authorities implement measures to contain the spread of the virus, especially on the African continent.
Major African stats: May 13 at 14:00 GMT
Confirmed cases = 69,707
Number of deaths = 2,399
Recoveries = 24,141
Infected countries = 54
Virus-free countries = 0
SUGGESTED READING: rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Africa II
Lesotho confirms index case
Comoros records first case
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Africa case increase worries experts
Mauritania virus-free
Tanzania MP infected
Zimbabwe quarantines UK returnees
Madagascar announces COVID-19 treatment
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Burundi voters locked out
Tanzanias three-days of prayer
Malawi imposes lockdown as presidents court hearing starts
Uganda speaker unveils COVID-19 combating spray
US joins Africa in fight against Chinese racism
AU appoints four-member international liaison team
Two prominent deaths
AU protests Chinese mistreatment of Africans
SUGGESTED READING: rolling coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Africa I
May 13: Lesotho confirms index case
Lesotho confirmed its index case of COVID-19 in a press release issued on May 13. The country becomes the last on the continent to record a case.
The statement signed by Director-General of Health Services said in part: The Ministry of Health informs the Basotho nation and the entire community living in Lesotho, that the country now has the first confirmed case of COVID-19.
On the 9th May, 2020, the Ministry conducted 81 (eighty one) tests for COVID-19 from travellers from South Africa and Saudi Arabia.
It said results that came back from South Africa on the 12th May 2020 indicated that Eighty people tested NEGATIVE for COVID-19 whiles ONE tested POSITIVE for COVID-19.
Till date, the country have obtained out 597 specimens which have been tested by South Africas National Institute of Communicable Diseases, NICD; 295 are negative and 301 are still pending results.
First case of coronavirus in the Comoros President confirms
Comoros announced its index case of the novel coronavirus this Thursday, April 30, 2020. The President of the Republic Azali Assoumani explained that the patient is a 50-year-old Franco-Comorian who has since been admitted to a hospital.
Borders are closed in Comoros while a curfew between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. is in effect. During this Ramadan period, the mosques are also closed but there is no full lockdown.
Azali Assoumani explained that contact tracing is being carried out. With this development, it leaves Lesotho as the sole African country without
