Remote Lesotho becomes last country in region to record COVID-19 case
- Country:
- Lesotho
Lesotho recorded its first case of COVID-19 on Wednesday, the health ministry said, becoming the last country in southern and East Africa to be afflicted by the virus.
The ministry said it had conducted 81 tests for COVID-19 from travelers from South Africa and Saudi Arabia, of which one was positive. The remote, high-altitude kingdom, nestled in a South African mountain range, had previously been spared the coronavirus, although it's bigger, more industrialized neighbor has recorded more than 10,000 cases.
The disease has struck at a time of political uncertainty in Lesotho, with embattled Prime Minister Thomas Thabane due to step down by the end of next week after his coalition collapsed in parliament. His exit would clear the way for a solution to a political crisis that erupted late last year when he and his current wife were accused by police of murdering his former wife nearly three years ago. They both deny the charges.
It is unclear when he will step down, although parliament has already provisionally named Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro as his replacement. A report by the U.N. humanitarian aid coordination agency two days ago had put COVID-19 case figures for East and southern Africa at almost 18,000, with all countries affected except Lesotho.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- READ MORE ON:
- Lesotho
- East Africa
- COVID
- South Africa
- Thomas Thabane
- Saudi Arabia
- Africa
ALSO READ
Soccer-Six arrested for hijack killing of South African footballer
Wanderers, Kingsmead, Newlands among eight South African venues for 2027 World Cup
My taxable income plummeted to Rs 680 in 2021-22 due to Covid-19 losses: BJP's Chandrasekhar
UK removes export tariffs for cut flowers in East Africa
MSMEs in TN crushed by triple impact of demonetisation, GST, and unplanned COVID lockdowns: Congress