With Botswana's head of state and Ivory Coast's prime minister in self-quarantine and many government ministers infected across the continent, African politicians have suddenly found themselves on the coronavirus front line.
Their plight has triggered little sympathy on social media, where many note that in Africa, disease is typically a problem for the poor, not the wealthy and influential.
"People say this (coronavirus) is the disease of the global elites," said Ivorian political scientist Jean Alabro.
"People who travel or are in contact with such people are the most affected -- in the early days, in any case. In Africa, that means politicians."
Ivory Coast Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who plans to stand in a presidential election in October, announced on Twitter that he had placed himself in voluntary confinement "after being in contact with a person declared positive."
In a social media post, he wrote "Allo Maman!!!! [Hello Mum]...Like many of you, she had heard the rumours. I reassured her."
Some of the satire has been cutting. "#allomaman, I am forced to seek treatment in (the capital) Ouagadougou like the common people. I can't travel to Europe. What if we were to equip our hospitals properly now?"
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