Somalia bans public gatherings as virus cases rise

Somalia announced that all public gatherings would be banned indefinitely beginning Wednesday, as it experiences a spike in coronavirus cases and deaths in recent weeks.

“Public gatherings are banned. Schools and universities are ordered to be closed as the madrasas and mosques are told to maintain social distancing,” Information Minister Dubbe said at a news conference alongside Health Minister Fowzia Abikar.

“We have recorded several deaths of patients exhibiting coronavirus symptoms in recent days. We are hearing people who had the virus symptoms died and buried before they were registered,” said Abikar,

She said Somalia should stop the virus from spreading before it is too late.

The World Health Organization analyzes samples that have recently been taken to confirm if the outbreak is linked to a new strain identified in other countries, she said.

The new measure is the first restriction in four months in the horn of African country that recorded its first case last March.

At least nine people died from COVID-19 on Tuesday and 100 tested positive for the virus.