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Sudanese health authorities say a total lockdown is not ruled out after a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases across the country over the past four weeks.
Acting Health Minister Osma Abdurrahim, who recently recovered from COVID-19, is calling on all citizens to wear face masks and follow all other preventive measures to avoid contracting or transmitting the disease.
Wave of so-called ‘scary’ infections
Abdurrahim described the higher infection rate as “terrifying”.
“Three weeks ago, we registered 200 cases. Two weeks ago, the number increased to 500 and this week the number has increased to 700 positive cases, ”Addurrahaim told reporters at a press conference on Thursday night in Khartoum.
He said nearly a hundred deaths were recorded in isolation centers last month.
Aburrahim went into self-isolation when he tested positive for COVID-19 10 days ago.
Finance officer tests positive
At the end of last week, Sudan’s acting Finance Minister Hiba Ahmed also tested positive. Ahmed said he still performs most of his officer duties from home.
The Health Ministry will continue to monitor the situation and is considering calling for a total closure, according to Abdurrahim.
“We will follow the health situation more closely and so far there is no decision to completely block it, but that will depend on the epidemic curve. We will continue to update the public regularly, ”Abdurrahim said.
In the same briefing, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, Tamadur Al Tarifi, announced that the government will postpone the reopening of most schools for another two weeks in accordance with directives from the health authorities.
At the end of that period, Al Tarifi said, health officials will decide whether schools should reopen.
“These 15 days will be closely monitored by the Ministry of Health. If they decide that schools should not open, we don’t have much to do instead of following their directives, ”said Al Tarifi, adding that the government hoped that a new academic season would start soon and that it would be safe for students.
Schools ready to reopen
Schools in Sudan were closed in March. They were expected to reopen next Sunday.
The elementary and middle school candidates resumed classes early last month on the condition that students wear masks to school, practice social distancing and observe all other health directives. Al Tarifi said “congested classrooms” should be divided in half or schools should run in two shifts.
He said the Ministry of Health would make regular visits to schools to make sure they follow “all health directives.”
Credit: Voice of America (VOA)
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