ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday declared a state of emergency to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus, his office said on Twitter.
“Considering the gravity of the #COVID19, the government of Ethiopia has enacted a State of Emergency,” Office of the Prime Minister office said.
Africa’s second most populous nation at more than 110 million, Ethiopia has recorded 55 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and two deaths.
Authorities have already taken a series of measures to stem the spread including closing schools, banning public gatherings and requiring most employees to work from home.
The prime minister did not mention what additional steps would be taken under the state of emergency but the attorney general’s office said the period would last five months.
Anyone who violates any rules and measures imposed under the state of emergency faces up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 200,000 Ethiopian birr ($6,149.40), according to the attorney general’s office.
Ethiopia has confirmed three (3) additional COVID-19 cases on 7th April 2020, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to fifty five (55), the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) announced. Two (2) of the confirmed cases have died of COVID19 complications. Currently, there are forty seven (47) cases in isolation and treatment center. Two (2) of these patients are in critical condition and receiving intensive care. Two (2) other cases have been transferred to their home countries and four (4) people who were confirmed cases in the past have fully recovered.
As of 7th April 2020, 16:49 GMT, close to 1.47 million people have been infected with COVID-19 worldwide and at least 86,200 have died in more than 200 countries worldwide. Around 316,400 people have also recovered from the virus.