COVID-19: Mogadishu records two health ministry staff as infections raise to 12

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s government has confirmed that 2 Health Ministry officials have tested positive for COVID-19.

All Ministry of health staff are now required to undergo mandatory testing to confirm their status, Dr. Fawzia Abikar the Health minister said.

A statement from the Ministry also confirmed that a 58-year-old COVID-19 patient died at a local hospital. The patient has not confined thus medics, relatives and close contacts may have transmitted the virus.

Somalia can now confirm community transmission of the virus as the victim had no travel history.

“All workers of the ministry, medical staff including those in some private hospitals special Aden Adde Hospital, response teams must commence testing with immediate effect,” said Dr. Jalaaludiin Yusuf Ministry of Health Acting Director-General In an interview with Dalsan TV.

Ministry of Health is also tracking down all those who may have contacted the patient including medics at Aden Adde hospital- Dr. Jalaaludin Added.

So far, Somalia has recorded 12 cases including one death and one recovery.