Mali’s health authorites reported 16 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 309 in the country.
According to the Malian Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, 4 new patients tested negative and discharged from hospital, but it also deplored 4 new deaths.
So far, the West African country has reported 309 positive cases, including 21 deaths and 77 patients cured, since the beginning of the pandemic in the country on March 25.
Mali’s Minister of Health and Social Affairs said on Wednesday COVID-19 “is not a death sentence for the elderly”, referring to an 88-year-old woman tested negative after receiving treatments.
At the beginning of the week, a second batch of medical supplies donated by the Chinese foundations of Jack Ma and Alibaba arrived in Mali as support for the fight against COVID-19 in the country.
Chinese Ambassador to Mali Zhu Liying called for further cooperation and coordination of the international community within the framework of the World Health Organization.
As a measure to contain the spread of the virus, the Malian government has decided to extend the closure of all education establishments from April 9 to May 9.
Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared a state of health emergency in Mali on March 25 evening and instituted a curfew from March 26.
