Tunisia, Senegal, Egypt and Algeria confirm cases of coronavirus

Tunisia, Senegal, Egypt and Algeria have all confirmed new cases of
coronavirus, bringing the total number of those infected with the deadly
disease to five in Africa.

In a statement shared on the Facebook page of Egypt’s health
ministry, it was gathered that the foreigner who tested positive for the
new coronavirus strain was taken to an isolation hospital and is
currently receiving necessary medical care. The North African country is
also taking strict preventive measures regarding those who were in
contact with the person.

Algeria on the other hand announced its first coronavirus case, an
Italian national who arrived in the country on February 17. He was later
flown home to Italy which has almost 1,700 cases.

Tunisia’s health Minister, Abdelatif el-Maki in a press conference on
Monday March 2 announced the country’s first case of coronavirus. The
Tunisian man who came in from Italy, tested positive for the flu-like
virus.

Senegal’s Minister of Health, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr who confirmed the
country’s first coronavirus case, said the French national arrived the
country last week. He further disclosed that he is under observation at
an Institute in Dakar.

The patient has however been in contact with his wife and two
children, the minister said. It was not clear how many other people had
also been in contact with him. Authorities are in the process of tracing
the other passengers on the Air Senegal flight.

As of Monday, there have been over 89,000 cases of the virus
globally, the majority in China. Outside of China, the deadly disease
has been confirmed in 66 countries, with more than 8,800 cases and 130
deaths. Globally, the illness has killed over 3,000 people.