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.

The 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