Man flees Zimbabwe hospital before coronavirus test

Zimbabwe has no confirmed cases of coronavirus, but the health ministry has confirmed that a man who was due to be tested in a hospital "absconded before testing was done".

In a statement on Monday it added that the 26-year-old entered Zimbabwe in February from Thailand, and was referred from a private clinic to Wilkins Infectious Disease Hospital in Harare on 8 March complaining of a fever and sneezing.

According to Zimbabwe's health ministry:Quote Message: He did not meet the [World Health Organization] definition of a suspected case but was still earmarked for a Covid-19 test due to intensified surveillance that the country has adopted."

He did not meet the [World Health Organization] definition of a suspected case but was still earmarked for a Covid-19 test due to intensified surveillance that the country has adopted."

After the man fled the hospital "follow-up efforts to his home address were initiated and a police report was made", the statement added.

Latest figures indicate there are 100 confirmed coronavirus cases across Africa. They are as follows:

Egypt - 55 Algeria - 20 South Africa- 7 Tunisia - 5 Senegal - 4 Morocco - 2 Cameroon - 2 Burkina Faso - 2 Nigeria - 2 Togo - 1