Sierra Leone has recorded its first case of the corona virus, making it the latest African country to record an infection.

In a televised press conference, President JULIUS MAADA BIO said that a 37-year-old man who arrived in the country from France on March 16 had tested positive.

The man had been quarantined on arrival in the West African state, BIO said.

The President added that “it was not a matter of whether, but when; the when is here”.

Sierra Leone had been one of the few countries in Africa to have reported zero cases, despite neighbouring Guinea and Liberia having detected infections.