Abidjan residents decry proximity of virus center

Residents of a crowded shantytown in Ivory Coast protested on Monday the government's decision to build a centre for patients with the coronavirus in their area.

The protesters tore down construction girders and ransacked the site located near Yopougon in Abidjan.

Protesters said they fear that the location of the centre near them could expose them to higher risks of contagion.

Police used tear gas to disperse the protestors and officials arrived to engage locals on the need for the facility.

Abidjan is Ivory Coast's biggest city, with a population of around 4.5 million.

Nationwide, Ivory Coast has so far had 261 confirmed cases of the virus and three deaths.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.