Burundi has become the fifth East African country to confirm its first case of the COVID-19 pandemic after a long period of silence.

Health Minister Thadée Ndikumana announced on Tuesday that two nationals have tested positive for the virus after traveling from Rwanda and Dubai.

The president’s spokesperson had earlier indicated that Burundi couldn’t get infections because it put “God first”.

Meanwhile, Rwanda on Tuesday confirmed five new COVID-19 cases, bringing the number of infected persons to 75 they added that all the new cases had been isolated.

The infected are four travelers who recently traveled from Dubai while another had interacted with a positive case.

The health ministry said all the confirmed cases were under treatment and in a stable condition.

Kenya today confirmed its first death from the coronavirus disease

Kenya’s lower parliamentary chamber on Monday demanded that 50 lawmakers be tested for COVID-19 amid fears that they may have contracted the virus from a member who recently tested positive.

The parliament submitted the names of MPs and parliamentary staff to the health ministry for testing and mandatory quarantine as well.

The MP who tested positive is believed to have contracted the virus from a county governor who had returned from Germany on a working visit. Kenya currently has 50 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with two deaths.

Tanzania on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, confirmed its first coronavirus death, Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu said in a statement.

The 49-year-old Tanzanian male, who had pre-existing conditions, had been admitted to Mloganzila Hospital in Dar Es Salaam for treatment.

Tanzania had 19 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Monday, March 30. One person has recovered

In Sierra Leone, the first case of a 37-year-old man who arrived from France was found to have COVID-19 at the end of his quarantine period.

The government said it would not announce a total lockdown yet but a year-long state of public health emergency has already been declared, commercial flights suspended and schools ordered to close.