Mozambique recorded 210 deaths from Covid-19 in January, its worst month since the pandemic started, according to the health ministry.

The number is more than half of the 367 deaths recorded from the disease.

The southern Africa country also confirmed 20,012 new cases in January, about a half of the total 38,654 cases confirmed so far.

Patients in hospital with Covid-19 rose sharply, with daily admissions said to have increased five-fold.

Last month, President Filipe Nyusi announced the tightening of restrictions for 21 days to prevent the spread of the virus.