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The virus was confirmed to have reached Ivory Coast in March 2020. The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll. Côte d’Ivoire’s census, planned for April 2020, may be delayed, given government containment and restrictions on internal travel. Tablets from China were delayed beyond the expected delivery in January.

On 11 March, Ivory Coast recorded its first case of COVID-19 with an Ivorian returning from Italy. The case is being treated at the Treichville University Hospital in Abidjan. Several people who were in contact with the infected person have been identified and are subject to a “follow-up”, as according to the Minister of Health. On 12 March, the individual who tested positive the day before also infected his wife. As a result, the total number of cases rose to 2. On 14 March, further cases were confirmed bringing the total number of cases to 4.On 16 March, the government announced that the total number of confirmed cases had risen to six and that the patient identified on 11 March recovered. The country announced officially that it was suspending flights from countries with more than 100 cases over 15 days.

On 29 March, 25 new cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 165. The country recorded its first death from the disease. and another recovery, thus bringing the total recovered to 4. On 29 March until 15 April, transportation between the greater Abidjan region (Abidjan Department, Dabou, Azaguié, Bingerville, Grand-Bassam, Bonoua, Assinie-Mafia) and the rest of the country is banned. Exceptionally, foodstuff, medicine, medical evacuations, fuel, utilities, and vehicles with special authorization are allowed.

On 6 April, there were 62 new confirmed cases and 4 more recovered patients. Of the 62 new cases, 58 were in Abidjan and 4 in Adiaké. Defence minister Hamed Bakayoko announced that he was one of the confirmed cases. Since the start of the outbreak, 323 cases had been confirmed of which 41 had recovered and 3 had died. The Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene published a list of sites, in and around Abidjan, for testing: Yopougon, Abobo, Marcory, Koumassi, and Port-Bouët; treatment: Treichville, Cocody, Grand-Bassam, Yopougon, Abidjan, and Anyama; quarantine (Marcory).

On 10 July there were 302 new cases and 328 recoveries, the highest number of recovered patients in a single day so far. The total number of confirmed cases was 12052 of which 6080 had recovered. The death toll rose to 81. The government minister for cities and urban development, François Amichia announced that he had tested positive. On 11 July there were 391 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 12443. The number of recovered patients increased by 277 to 6357. The death toll rose to 82. It was announced that the president of the Senate, Jeannot Ahoussou-Kouadio had been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Germany where he went for care on 3 July.

On 30 July there were 165 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 15978. There were 367 recoveries, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 11160. The death toll rose to 100. The National Security Council decided to extend the state of emergency until the end of August but to allow bars, nightclubs, cinemas, and other entertainment venues to restart operations from 31 July 2020 as long as social distancing is maintained. On 31 July there were 69 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 16047. There were 268 recoveries, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 11428. The death toll rose to 102. There were 4517 active cases, a decrease of 12% from the end of June.

73 new cases and 51 recoveries were reported on 2 August, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 16182 and the number of recovered patients to 11801. On 3 August there were 38 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 16220, and 86 recoveries. The number of recovered patients rose to 11887. On 4 August there were 73 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 16293.