Guinea Bissau Prime Minister tests positive for coronavirus

April 30, 2020
Independent presidential candidate Nuno Gomes Nabiam addresses his closing campaihn appearance on May 16 2014 in Bissau. Guinea-Bissau will pick between two presidential hopefuls on May 19, 2014 in a run-off vote to decide who is best-placed to return stability to a country plagued by drugs and upended in a military coup two years ago. Former finance minister Jose Mario Vaz won the first round on April 13 -- the first presidential vote since the army put a stop to the 2012 election -- but failed to get an outright majority and faces runner-up Nuno Gomes Nabiam in the run-off. AFP PHOTO / SEYLLOU (Photo by SEYLLOU / AFP)

Guinea Bissau’s Prime Minister Nuno Gomes Nabiam has tested positive for coronavirus, the health ministry has said.

Nabiam, Interior Minister Botche Cande and two other ministers were diagnosed 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 rise.

The West African nation has so far confirmed more than 70 cases and one death, that of a senior police commissioner.