Somalia suspends flights as one tests positive for Coronavirus in Mogadishu after China trip

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia becomes the latest East Africa nation to record a positive case for coronavirus, health minister Dr. Fawziya Abikar reported, a move that could ground economic activities in the Horn of Africa.

Already, Kenya has registered three positive cases, Ethiopia recording four while Rwanda confirming five. Tanzania also confirmed the first positive case on Monday.

In a press conference, Dr. Abikar said the victim was among four people who had been isolated in Mogadishu for some time now, after their trip to China, which has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases.

Although experts had raised doubts about Somalia's preparedness in tackling the pandemic which has grounded many economic activities, Dr. Fawziya said the four had gone through diagnosis in the country.

The victim had jetted into the country from China via Addis Ababa aboard Ethiopian airlines, authorities confirmed, in the latest tragedy which has been declared a pandemic by World Health Organization [WHO]

"We have saddened to report to the country that we have discovered one positive case for coronavirus," said Dr. Fawziya, the health minister in Somalia.

She added: "The positive case was identified after quarantining four citizens who had jetted in from China. The other three are safe but will be monitored for a while."

But despite the confirmation of the case, Dr. Fawziya insisted that the country is ready to tackle the pandemic, adding that the government will continue giving updates to the effect.

For several weeks now, screening had been identified in major airports across the country to minimise cases of infections. On Sunday, the country issued a notam to pilots cautioning them from airlifting people from affected countries.

Also, the country banned entry of people who have in the last 14 days visited Coronavirus-infested countries, with the ban affecting China, Italy, Iran among others.

To further contain possible spread and infections in Somalia, all flights have been suspended effective Wednesday, a move which now prevents movement of people to the country.

Mohamed Abdullahi Omar, the country's transport minister, issued the directive on Monday soon after the health department confirmed the first COVID-19 case.

He said: "All flights to the country have been suspended effective Wednesday. This is in line with fighting the disease, which has caused havoc throughout the world."

So far, over 150 countries have recorded positive cases, with over 140,000 infections also reported. Of that number, 65,000 have recovered but 5,000 have been reportedly died.

The virus first hit Wuhan city in China before spreading across the world like bushfire. China and Italy are the worst affected, WHO said in a statement recently.

In the neighboring Kenya, learning activities were suspended on Sunday after two more people tested positive, with President Uhuru Kenyatta also suspending his trip to Italy due to the pandemic.

Last week, Dr. Nur Ga'al, the speaker of Galmadug state, had sensationally claimed that the virus cannot spread in Africa due to "unfavorable weather" a theory which has since been debunked following the recent positive cases including in Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE