Botswana has announced its first coronavirus death just hours after confirming its first cases.
The victim was an elderly woman who was discovered to have had Covid-19 after her death.
Botswana’s Vice-President Slumber Tsogwane said the 79-year-old had travelled to neighbouring South Africa and on returning home she had developed a fever.
The woman was put under mandatory quarantine at the hospital where she died four days later.
Mr Tsogwane said the woman was buried as a person with a suspected infectious disease even before her test results came out.
Her results were announced on Tuesday evening – making her the fourth coronavirus case in Botswana.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Tuesday declared a state of emergency and an extreme lockdown for 28 days.
It starts on Thursday and will see everyone barred from leaving their homes except those offering essential services.
