Aliou Sall, who is the mayor for Guédiawaye, said he was being treated at Dalal Diam hospital in the capital, Dakar.

His wife also tested positive for the virus and was being treated at the same hospital.

Mr Sall thanked health workers at the hospital for their professionalism and asked for prayers from the public.

A local news website Leral tweeted about the story:

Senegal has so far recorded 3,161 cases of coronavirus.

The country has been on a state of emergency that is due to end on 2 June. A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been in place to prevent the spread of the virus.

Last year, Aliou Sall was at the centre of a BBC investigation that revealed that he had allegedly benefited from lucrative dealings in the gas sector.

Mr Sall denied the claims, which he said were "totally false".