Prisons boss bans visits for two weeks to curb coronavirus spread

Somalia has banned visits to correctional facilities countrywide as it ups measures to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19 which arrived in the country two weeks ago.

Prisons commandant General Mahad Adan announced the new restrictions Sunday noting visits to prisoners had been halted for a period of two weeks.

The latest measures add to further steps taken by the government including banning international flights and shutting down learning institutions for two weeks.

The government relaxed the flights ban Saturday for two days to allow Somalis who had been stranded in other countries to return home but on condition they observe quarantine and other preventive measures issued by the ministry of health.

Somalia has since recorded one case of the novel corona virus which causes COVID-19 disease.