Somalia confirms 97 new COVID-19 cases as tally hits 1,828

0

Somali Health Ministry on Thursday recorded 97 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 1,828.

Health Minister Fawziya Abikar said 45 patients recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of people who have been discharged from hospitals to 310.

The minister said five patients succumbed to the disease, bringing the total number of fatalities to 72.

According to the UN, the cases are surging at a time when Somalia is struggling to contain floods that have affected nearly a million people and desert locusts that are devouring crops and pasture.

The UN refugee agency expressed concern that the virus may spread to internally displaced person (IDP) settlements and among health workers.

According to UNHCR, one IDP and one refugee tested positive for COVID-19 as of May 17. The IDP is quarantined at home in an IDP camp and the refugee has been admitted to a hospital, it said.

The Horn of African nation has instituted measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, including closing schools, banning large gatherings and suspending international and domestic passenger flights