Coronavirus: Mali Records Its First Death

The West African nation of Mali has recorded its first death from coronavirus on Saturday, just a day before the nation observed its long-awaited election that had seen lots of challenges stemming from insecurity and the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Leader of the country's opposition party had been kidnapped earlier in the week, casting a long shadow over the anticipated national election, with security agencies in the country speculating his abductors to be members of an extremist group.

A call for the postponement of the elections because of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic by opposition parties in the country resulted from the number of infection cases Mali had recorded. 

READ ALSO: Coronavirus: South Africa Records 1,000 Cases, 2 Deaths

Over 18 cases have been recorded ever since the country recorded its index case on Wednesday.

According to the country's Health Minister, Michel Sidibe, a patient who tested positive on the same day of the election had died, stating that, “We have a death today “because the virus was in his lungs.”