Malawi has recorded its first three confirmed cases of coronavirus, becoming the 50th African nation to be infected.

The state president, Peter Mutharika, made the announcement on Thursday in an address to the nation through the national broadcaster.

Mutharika said a 61-year-old Indian national and two people who had close contact with her have tested positive in Lilongwe.

In his address Mutharika said: “Fellow Malawians, sadly I would like to inform the nation that for the first time we now have three confirmed cases of coronavirus in this country.”

According to Mutharika, the first case was a woman who had recently arrived from India and was in contact with relatives who later tested positive.

She was in self quarantine after arriving in Malawi but letter became symptomatic with 14 days period.

The second case is a relative to the index patient while the third case is a domestic worker.

“We are also tracing all close contacts and take them into quarantine for 14 days where they can be observed,” Mutharika assured the nation.

Only Lesotho, Comoros, South Sudan and Sao Tome and Principe remain free of the virus.