Algeria has announced its first confirmed case of the new coronavirus, an Italian man who arrived in the country on February 17 and has been put in isolation.
The Algerian Health Ministry made the announcement of the confirmed case on February 26.
The Minister of Health, Shamsuddin Shitor revealed that they were able to detect the flu-like virus due to the vigilance system adopted at all land, air and maritime entry points to the country.
He urged Algerians to be careful of the information they share online.
Shitor said;
One case was confirmed positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), out of two suspected cases (both) of Italian nationality.
Northern Italy, home to many Algerians, has been the centre of an outbreak of the coronavirus with more than 280 cases and 11 deaths.
