MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia is due to go into a full lock-down to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases that threatens to overwhelm parts of the health system as the country records sharp increase in death tally from the contagion.
Infectious disease experts put forward recommendations to the federal government, proposing that educational institutions, restaurants and hotels be closed, Caasimada Online website has reported on Monday.
The government said the virus, thought to be a new variant, was spreading at great speed and immediate actions was needed to slow it down.
Somali Minister of Health Fowsiya Abikar called for national lockdown as the coranavirus situation remains serious and hundreds of people are contracting the virus every 24 hours. She also expressed hope that such restrictions will slow down the spread of the virus across the country.
“Restrictions imposed across the country last year played a major role in curbing spread of the COVID19 disease,” Somalia’s health Minister Fowsia Abikar says, adding: “Once again, I suggest that restrictions be reemployed to arrest the spread [of the virus].”
Somali top infectious disease expert Dr Mohamed Mohamud Fuje told local media that harsh measures would soon be introduced to deal with the spread of the contagion.
“We urged the government to impose [COVID-19] lockdown in the country or in Mogadishu, because there is increasing death toll and the virus is spreading at a great speed,” Dr Fuje said.
It’s yet unclear what the harsh measures the government is considering will be but according to Dr Fuje a lock-down will soon be imposed in Mogadishu, which has recently been a hotbed of the virus.
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