05-01-2020, 05:00 PM
Comoros confirms first COVID-19 case as Lesotho remains the only country in Africa without CoronavirusÂ
Comoros has announced its first confirmed COVID-19 case, as Lesotho remains the only country in Africa without Coronavirus.
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"On this day of April 30, 2020, the government declares the first case of COVID-19 on the Comoros," President Azali Assoumani said during an address to the nation on Thursday evening.Â
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The case involves a man in his 50s who came into contact with a French-Comorian national with recent travel history to France.
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"The patient's medical condition is gradually improving," Azali assured, adding that his contacts were being traced. Â
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Borders are closed in Comoros while a curfew between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. is in effect. But Assoumani said he is yet to impose a full lockdown because most of the population lives off informal work.
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"At this stage of the pandemic, we cannot afford to adopt measures that could lead to social and economic drama," he added.
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The president also confirmed that contact tracing is being carried out. But a healthcare worker who did not wish to give her name told AFP news agency the announcement came "rather late".
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"Only one positive case? The president is funny. The [real] number is much higher," she said.
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The new development leaves Lesotho as the sole African country without a confirmed case of Coronavirus.
Comoros has announced its first confirmed COVID-19 case, as Lesotho remains the only country in Africa without Coronavirus.
Â
"On this day of April 30, 2020, the government declares the first case of COVID-19 on the Comoros," President Azali Assoumani said during an address to the nation on Thursday evening.Â
Â
The case involves a man in his 50s who came into contact with a French-Comorian national with recent travel history to France.
Â
"The patient's medical condition is gradually improving," Azali assured, adding that his contacts were being traced. Â
Â
Borders are closed in Comoros while a curfew between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. is in effect. But Assoumani said he is yet to impose a full lockdown because most of the population lives off informal work.
Â
"At this stage of the pandemic, we cannot afford to adopt measures that could lead to social and economic drama," he added.
Â
The president also confirmed that contact tracing is being carried out. But a healthcare worker who did not wish to give her name told AFP news agency the announcement came "rather late".
Â
"Only one positive case? The president is funny. The [real] number is much higher," she said.
Â
The new development leaves Lesotho as the sole African country without a confirmed case of Coronavirus.