Malawi reports first coronavirus cases

Malawi has reported its first three cases of coronavirus, leaving just two countries on mainland Africa coronavirus-free.

President Peter Mutharika made the announcement in an address to the nation on Thursday and the government also confirmed the case on its official Twitter account. 

The president said all three cases were reported in the capital of Lilongwe. The patients are a 61-year old woman who recently travelled to India, as well as one of her relatives and her domestic worker. 

Malawi was one of the last countries in Africa to report a case of coronavirus. Other countries still free of the disease include Lesotho, Comoros, South Sudan, and São Tomé and Principe. 

The country is due to hold fresh presidential elections on 2nd July, following the annulment of last year’s vote in February due to widespread voting irregularities. 

President Mutharika, who won the original vote, is appealing against the constitutional court’s ruling. 

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