Senegal confirms second coronavirus case

Senegal’s health ministry has confirmed that a second person has tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Africa to 12.

The patient is an 80-year-old French national who arrived in Senegal on 29th February.

He is currently receiving treatment at a hospital for infectious diseases in the capital Dakar, the same hospital where another Frenchman was isolated for the virus last week. 

Senegal is one of 33 sub-Saharan nations that have facilities capable of testing for coronavirus. Health authorities say they are well-equipped to deal with a potential outbreak. 

On Monday the World Health Organisation told reporters it expects to set up testing facilities in the remaining 14 sub-Saharan countries within a fortnight. 

Other African countries with confirmed cases of coronaries are:

Algeria - 5 cases

Egypt - 2 cases

Morocco - one case

Nigeria - one case

Tunisia - one case

Photo: Reuters