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: "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