Burundi reports first coronavirus death

KIGALI, Rwanda

Burundi on Monday confirmed the first coronavirus death in the country, as one of the five patients succumbed to the epidemic.

“One person, who had tested positive for COVID-19 and who was under intensive medical care at Kira Hospital, died on Sunday, April 12, due to complications caused by associated pathologies,” Jean Bosco Girukwishaka, the Health Ministry’s spokesman, said on Twitter.

On Saturday, Health Minister Thaddee Ndikumana told reporters that two new cases of the coronavirus tested positive on Friday, bringing the number to five.

At least 1,894 new cases of the coronavirus were reported across the African continent over the past 24 hours, bringing the total tally to 14,744, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday.

The latest surveillance update said 52 of 55 countries in the continent have been affected by the virus.

It said 104 more deaths have been recorded over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities to 793.

The total number of patients who have recovered went up to 2,760, with 741 new recoveries, it added.