People wear protective face masks at Bole International airport in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Jan. 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
The Ethiopian government has rolled out measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country as the number of confirmed cases rose to five as of Monday. Ethiopia has established a ministerial-level committee on COVID-19 preparedness and response before, and it commissioned a National Public Emergency Operation Center on Jan. 27.
ADDIS ABABA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government has rolled out measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the east African country as the number of confirmed cases rose to five as of Monday.
In addition to tracing and testing of those who have come into contact with the five confirmed cases, three Japanese nationals and two Ethiopians, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has ordered the "immediate suspension" of high school instructions, large meetings, and major sporting events for 15 days over mounting COVID-19 concerns.
"University students are required to stay indoors for 15 days. Religious leaders should also facilitate mechanisms to reduce the number of religious programs in the next 15 days," Ahmed was quoted as saying in a statement issued on Monday.
The first COVID-19 case, a 48-year-old Japanese national, was confirmed on Friday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The four additional cases were reported on Sunday and Monday, Minister of Health Liya Tadesse said.
The latest confirmed case is a 34-year-old Ethiopian national who returned from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on March 12, the minister said.
So far, 117 contacts have been quarantined and their samples collected and tested.
Passengers wear protective face masks at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Jan. 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
"The important strategies put in place to contain the outbreak is to identify all contacts and monitoring of their health status," the health ministry said. "This process is well underway."
Authorities are urging the public to take precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus.
Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation with a total population of about 105 million, has established a ministerial-level committee on COVID-19 preparedness and response. It commissioned a National Public Emergency Operation Center on Jan. 27.
The country has been undertaking preparedness and response strategies based on the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.
Regional and city health authorities have also activated their emergency operation centers.
The Ethiopian government has also partnered with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group to boost Ethiopia's and fellow African countries' capabilities in the fight against the virus.
Alibaba offered up to 20,000 COVID-19 testing kits and more than 100,000 masks to Ethiopia, in addition to guideline books on COVID-19. ■
