High ranking officials of Guinea-Bissau test positive for coronavirus

Guinea-Bissau's Prime Minister Nuno Gomes Nabiam has tested positive for the novel coronavirus alongside three members of his cabinet, Report says, citing Anadolu.

Nabiam, Interior Minister Botche Cande, and two other ministers were diagnosed on Tuesday and have been quarantined at a hotel in the capital Bissau, Health Minister Antonio Deuna told journalists. He did not provide details of the officials' condition or treatment but warned the country's rate of infection could arise.

The number of active coronavirus patients stands for 185 in Guinea-Bissau, while the country recorded first death on April 26.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) emerged in late 2019 in China's Hubei province, and the virus has spread to 210 countries and territories since then.

To date, COVID-19 cases surpassed 3 230 000 globally, resulting in more than 1 007 136 recoveries and over 228 394 deaths.

On February 11, the WHO officially named the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as COVID-19, and on March 11, declared it a pandemic.