MOGADISHU<\/b> — Somali Health Ministry on Friday confirmed nine new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of recorded cases to 21.<\/p>\n
Fawziya Abikar, Health Minister of Somalia said the new cases did not have a history of travel and were thus local transmissions.<\/p>\n
“The health ministry confirms nine new people got COVID-19, bringing the number of corona infected cases to 21,” Abikar said, adding that two of the nine cases are officials from the Ministry of Health.<\/p>\n
She called on members of the public to stay at home, exercise social distancing and avoid public gatherings.<\/p>\n
The latest confirmation comes two days after four new cases were announced. So far, four health workers have tested positive for the deadly pandemic.<\/p>\n
The Health Ministry had warned there could be several undetected cases of COVID-19 in Somalia following a case of local transmission which was detected on April 3.<\/p>\n
The Horn of African nation which has so far one recovery and one death has instituted measures to contain the possible spread of COVID-19 including closing schools, banning large gatherings and suspending international and domestic passenger flights.<\/p>\n
There were clashes between the police and worshippers in the city after the security forces imposed lockdown in Mogadishu to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.<\/p>\n
Several main mosques were closed despite protests from worshipers who argued that they did not receive any prior notice from the government.<\/p>\n
Somalia which has a fragile health system has confirmed the delivery of COVID-19 testing kits in the country following support from the World Health Organization.<\/p>\n
The minister said that coronavirus cases are now being screened and tested in the country’s National Public Health Research Laboratory (NPHRL) in Mogadishu.<\/p>\n