Man flees Zimbabwe hospital before coronavirus test

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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