First case of Coronavirus reported in the DRC

The Democratic Republic of Congo has just confirmed its first case of Coronavirus. It is the eleventh African country to register Covid-19 cases.

The patient is a fifty-two-year-old Congolese resident in France, who entered the country on Sunday. “We are preparing for the arrival of covid-19 in Africa.”

The patient presented with symptoms upon arrival and was immediately isolated through clinical analyzes. He is now being treated in a former Ebola center, east of Kinshasa – refurbished to treat Covid-19.

The Congolese health ministry is now trying to locate and quarantine all those with whom he has traveled – an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. The minister called on the population to remain calm and to wash their hands as often as possible.

The DRC’s four main airports have stepped up surveillance of travelers with high temperatures – a practice already in place in the fight against the Ebola virus. The disease – which started in China – has so far killed more than 3,800 people.