Angola, Eritrea, Uganda confirm first cases as coronavirus spreads in Africa

FILE PHOTO: A woman wears a mask and gloves as a measure to combat the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa, March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham

NAIROBI/JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Angola, Eritrea and Uganda confirmed their first cases of coronavirus, while Mauritius recorded its first death as the virus spreads across Africa despite measures by governments to hold it back.

Two male residents who flew back from Portugal on March 17-18 have tested positive, Angolan Health Minister Silvia Lutucuta said on Saturday, while Eritrea said its first case was a 39-year-old national who had arrived from Norway.