Ethiopia COVID-19: Addis Ababa caseload hits 10,000 as cases top 15,000

Ethiopia is currently one of East / Horn of Africa’s most impacted nations relative to rate of COVID-19 case growth and infection.

A state of emergency lasting five-months has been imposed by the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed led government. All land borders have since been shut as a virus control measure with a raft of restrictions and enforcement of physical distancing and mask wearing measures.

Elections planned for May this year were also postponed citing the effect of the pandemic. Ethiopia played an instrumental role in the deployment of virus supplies donated by Chinese businessman Ali Baba. This article will focus on major developments coming from the country.

Addis Ababa caseload hits 10,000 as cases top 15,000

Addis Ababa has crossed the 10,000 mark as Ethiopia’s caseload goes past the 15,000 mark according to Health Ministry statistics as at close of day July 28.

The regional breakdown as presented by a situation dashboard managed by data analyst Haruna Asefa showed that the capital was the runaway most infected region in the country.

Addis Ababa’s toll stood at 10,703 confirmed cases with total death of 83 and 1,936 recoveries. The second to fifth impacted states were Somali, Oromia, Tigray and Amhara regions with 602, 571, 498 and 438 cases respectively.

• Confirmed cases = 15,200
• Active cases = 8,433
• Recoveries = 6,526
• Number of deaths = 239
• Total laboratory tests = 395,851

John Hopkins Uni stats valid as of July 28, 2020

July 24: record 760 new cases, death toll hits 200

Ethiopia reported 760 new cases of COVID-19 as of today July 24. The biggest single-day figure since the index case was recorded.

The figure brings the caseload to 12,693. The Ministry of Health also reported 3 more deaths, bringing the death toll to 200.

Another 140 patients also recovered bringing the recovery tally to 5,785. Ethiopia has so far conducted 364,322 laboratory tests.

• Confirmed cases = 12,693
• Recoveries = 5,785
• Number of deaths = 200
• Total tests = 364,322

John Hopkins Uni stats valid as of July 24, 2020

July 20: 10,207 cases; Addis Ababa with over 50% of caseload

Ethiopia’s caseload passed 10,000 mark on Sunday (July 19) according to statistics from the Health Ministry. The 704 new cases reported became the highest single-day increase so far.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 10,207. According to a data tracking website dedicated to stats from the country, the capital Addis Ababa has over half of all confirmed cases.

The city’s toll stands at 5,525 with 83 deaths and 1,936 recoveries. Somali, Oromia, Amhara and Tigray regions complete the top 5 regions with 454, 359, 353 and 342 cases respectively. Ethiopia has so far conducted 331,266 laboratory tests.

• Confirmed cases = 10,207
• Active cases = 4,898
• Recoveries = 5,137
• Number of deaths = 170

Ethiopia Health Ministry stats valid as of July 20, 2020 July 9: Ethiopia updates figures via WHO Africa stats

Ethiopia’s virus statistics updates has halted – at least from official sources – but the country has been feeding figures to the World Health Organization Africa region.

The last updates from the Health Minister and other agencies was on July 29, the day a famed musician was murdered and for which reason the internet was cut since then. Connectivity has not been restored as at time of this report – the tenth straight day of the outage.

Below are the figure updates as supplied by the WHO Africa office via social media. The WHO says it only reports verified figures as received from official sources.

• July 8 = 6,774
• July 6 = 6,666
• July 5 = 6,386
• July 4 = 6,217
• July 2 = 6,048
• July 1 = 5,846
• June 30 = 5,846

Major African stats: July 9 at 7:00 GMT:

• Confirmed cases = 522,643
• Active cases = 257,466
• Recoveries = 252,944
• Number of deaths = 12,233

July 2: Virus stats affected by internet cut

Ethiopia has not released coronavirus statistics since June 29 when cases were at 5,846 with 103 deaths, 2430 recoveries and 3,311 recoveries.

The main sources of updates, the federal Health Ministry, Minister Lia Tadesse and the Ethiopia Public Health Institute have all not posted updates since June 29. Neither the WHO Africa regional office or the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also updated stats since Monday.

The development could likely be because of an internet blackout in the country in the wake of the murder of a popular musician Hachalu Hundessa in the capital Addis Ababa.

Four days since the incident, the country has experienced deadly protests as people demanded justice for the murder. Police reported blasts in the capital whiles the army was deployed to quell violence.

#InternetShutdowns deny people their fundamental rights to freedom of expression & access to information.

Since June 30, the Ethiopian government has cut off its citizens from each other & the rest of the world with a blanket blackout. #KeepItOnhttps://t.co/WmF3BjQpA0

— Access Now (@accessnow) July 2, 2020

June 29: 5,846 cases; deaths pass 100

The case load has reached 5,846 according to official health ministry stats released today. Five more deaths took the toll past the 100 mark. Four out of the five had samples taken from the deceased for testing.

Minister Lia Tadesse posted a rundown of the national situation on Twitter celebrating the encouraging number of recoveries, which stands at 2,430; and the rate of increment of cases which she said was “more or less stable.”

On the other hands, she stressed that numbers are rising whiles reiterating the issue of galloping community transmission and the rising incidence of severe cases and deaths.

The country’s election body has also stressed that it will not hold any election across the country till the pandemic is no longer a public health threat. The position was in response to the northern Tigray regional state that asked for assistance to hold its local elections.

• Confirmed cases = 5,846
• Active cases = 3,311
• Recoveries = 2,430
• Number of deaths = 103

John Hopkins Uni stats valid as of June 19, 2020> To curb this, we have to abide by the health rules, ALWAYS#Distancing#HandHygiene#StayHome unless you really really have to!

2/2

— Lia Tadesse (@lia_tadesse) June 29, 2020

June 20: 4,000+ cases, quarantine period now 7 days

The government has revised the quarantine period for persons entering the country from fourteen to seven days, the Ethiopia News Agency reported on Friday.

The decision to slash the period by half according to Minister of Peace Muferiat Kamil was because of challenges given the trend of the virus as well as the fact that the maturity period of patients has now been known to be between 6 – 7 days.

Muferiat added that the remaining seven days will be followed by self-isolation at home with full cautions assisted by health experts, the portal added.

The Minister who is also Coordinator of the COVID-19 National Ministerial Committee said the committee also passed a mandatory decision that those who come from abroad must have certificate which shows they tested negative for COVID-19 conducted 72 hours before arrival.

A person who does not have the certificate will be put in quarantine for 7 days and additional 7 days at home.

On the subject of deaths, the government will now allow respective relations to bury deceased whiles observing necessary protocols but that those with no families will be buried by the government.

• Confirmed cases = 4,070
• Active cases = 2,969
• Recoveries = 1,029
• Number of deaths = 72

John Hopkins Uni stats valid as of June 19, 2020> …for #COVID19 patients who require oxygen and/or mechanical ventilation for treatment. The details of this treatment protocol will be made available soon,” lia_tadesse pic.twitter.com/hq9fr5LTGv

— Addis Standard (addisstandard) June 19, 2020

June 18: 3,954 cases as tests pass 200K mark

Ethiopia’s case load looks set to enter the 4,000 zone as 195 new cases took the tally to 3,954 confirmed cases, the 100th update from the Health Ministry disclosed.

The new cases were out of 4,853 tests run over a 24-hour period. That figure also took the number of tests past 200,000 mark. Total tests till date are 202,214.

Recoveries meanwhile are also closing in on the 1,000 mark. 85 new recoveries took the tally to 934, there are 65 deaths so far recorded.

Total confirmed cases = 3,954 (new cases = 195)
Total recoveries = 934
Total deaths = 65
Active cases = 2,953

Figures valid as of close of day June 18, 2020

#Ethiopia: In just 2 days 229 #COVID19 patients have recovered in , significantly contributing to the 22% overall recovery rate.

Pictorial: Patients leaving the COVID-19 treatment center inside #MillenniumHall in #AddisAbeba.

Respect to our #HealthCareWorkers!
Pics: ENA pic.twitter.com/zKgBz5P0e4

— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) June 17, 2020

June 13: Ethiopia passes 3,000 mark as deaths reach 55

A total of 268 new cases within 24-hours took Ethiopia’s tally past the 3,000 mark. The current case load stands at 3,166. Eight more deaths took the overall toll to 55. Recoveries are currently standing at 495.

“The number of COVID-19 cases are increasingly rapidly due to the presence of community transmission. Anyone of us can be the next person to acquire COVID-19, but we can prevent it if we act now.

“Therefore, let’s support one another in this pandemic, reminding others of the recommended preventions that could save their lives. We need to practice all the COVID-19 prevention methods in order to stay alive and healthy,” the statement reiterated.

Today, 249 Ethiopians came from Kuwait to their motherland, Ethiopia. The images are very touching ? pic.twitter.com/0fKfS1zIbr

— ምን ይሻላል ? (@Zesemir) June 13, 2020

• Confirmed cases = 3,166
• Number of deaths = 55
• Recoveries = 495
• Active cases = 2,614

John Hopkins Uni stats valid as of June 13, 2020

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June 8: 2,070 cases, PM defends ‘no lockdown’

Ethiopia crossed the 2,000 mark on Sunday when 86 new cases took the tally to 2,020. The country joins the region’s top infected nations, now only behind Kenya, Djibouti and Somalia.

Today, PM Abiy addressed the new opening of parliament addressing a range of issues around the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among others, he defended the decision of the national flier, Ethiopian Airlines, to continue flights to many countries- including China.

He also spoke about not imposing lockdowns as a virus containment measure: “Impulsive measures [i.e. flight suspensions] have hurt many African countries [….]. It’s dangerous to introduce measures without realising [local] realities,” he told MPs.

Confirmed cases = 2,070
Deaths = 27
Recoveries = 344
Active cases = 1,647
Total tests = 142,960

June 3: 1,486 cases, community transmissions mounting

Ethiopia’s Health Minister is worried over the spate of community transmissions of COVID-19. Lia Tadesse said recent laboratory tests showed that virus cases are “increasingly rapidly due to the presence of community transmissions.”

“The cases reported within the last two weeks are more than 300 percent as compared with the previous two months since the first case was reported.”

The Health Ministry added that it had activated more treatment centers with the increase of cases being reported across the country.

Confirmed cases = 1,486 (142 new cases)
Deaths = 17 (three new)
Recoveries = 246
Active cases = 1,219
Total tests = 120,429

June 2: 131m masks needed, over 1,000 active cases

Ethiopia’s needs 131 million face masks in the next four months, state-linked Fana Broadcasting Corporate report. Health Minister Lia Tadesse disclosed that the supplies are needed in healthcare facilities across the country.

The country’s industrial parks have hinted in the past that it was diversifying to the production of masks. Wearing of masks is compulsory in the capital and other parts of the country.

The country has so far confirmed 1,344 after recording 87 new coronavirus cases. The death toll is up to 14 from 12. Over 160,000 tests have been conducted whiles active cases crossed th 1,000 mark, stands at 1,097.

May 31: 109 new cases takes tally to 1,172

Ethiopia’s COVID-19 case load reached 1,172 as of today with 109 confirmed new cases. Deaths stand at 11 with 209 total recoveries.

Over 2,800 samples collected from among others high-risk community members, people at mandatory quarantine centers and suspects at isolation centers returned the 109 new cases.

The capital Addis Ababa accounted for 99 out of the figure whiles Oromia, Tigray and Harari regions catered for the remaining. All the new cases are Ethiopians with 61 being male and 48 females, the daily situational update noted.

May 30: Cases pass 1,000 mark; total tests top 100,000

Ethiopia’s confirmed cases passed the 1,000 mark after today’s tallies were released. 95 new cases out of over 5,000 tests took the tally to 1,063 confirmed cases.

30 of the 95 new cases have travel history abroad, 4 have contact with previous patients whiles the remaining 61 have neither travel history, nor known contact traces. They are among the alarming rate of community transmissions.

Meanwhile, 11 more recoveries were recorded taking the tally to 208. Total deaths at eight with five patients in intensive care. 845 patients are currently in treatment centers. Overall tests have also passed the 100,000 mark – currently 106,615.

On Friday, the COVID-19 Ministerial Committee led by Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed met for review of measures amid mounting of cases. The PM gave direction for the further strengthening of testing capacities nationally.

The state-run FBC also reported him as stressing the need to ensure productivity in key sectors is maintained while responding to the pandemic. Health Minister Dr Lia Tadesse confirmed at the meeting that 67% of the country’s total confirmed cases are from the capital Addis Ababa.

As part of the efforts to prevent the spread of the virus, more than 700 teams of health experts were deployed across the country to hold contact tracing, besides a door-to-door screening and surveillance campaign.

May 28: Field hospital on Addis outshirts

Ethiopia will soon have a COVID-19 field hospital on the outskirts of the capital Addis Ababa. Health Minister Lia Tadesse visited and inaugurated the ongoing construction on Wednesday along with World Food Programme, WFP, head David Beasley and other partners.

The minister said work on the facility was “progressing rapidly.” Adding: “I would like to appreciate WFP for this effort and continued support.”

She added that the WHO and the ministry are currently discussing how the hospital can potentially serve as a training center for emergency medical response teams to benefit Ethiopia and the region.

The facility originally was to cater for UN staffers before it was designated a field hospital. It is built on a 25,000 sqm land, the field hospital is expected to go operational after 10 days. It’s been under construction for the past 3 weeks.

Total confirmed cases = 731 (new cases = 30)
Total recoveries = 181
Total deaths = 6
Active cases = 544

Figures valid as of close of day May 27, 2020

Visited and inaugurated the ongoing construction of Addis Ababa #COVID19 field Hospital today with WFPChief swomamo DrBoureima CNSozi, which is progressing rapidly. I would like to appreciate WFP for this effort and continued support. pic.twitter.com/VSeb9Xz0sa

— Lia Tadesse (lia_tadesse) May 27, 2020

May 24: 193 cases in 5 days as tally hits 582

Ethiopia has recorded back-to-back one-day spikes, record 61 new cases on Saturday and a further 81 on Sunday toppling the Saturday record.

Of the new 88; Addis Ababa recorded 73 cases. The remaining 15 are from regional states: 8 from Tigray; 4 from Oromia; 1 from Harari; and 2 truck drivers.

Ethiopia’s tally has therefore jumped by 193 new cases in a space of five days. The tallies have consistently been on the rise, triggering calls for more robust government measures to halt spread of the virus.

Total confirmed cases = 582 (new cases = 88)
Total recoveries = 152 (new recoveries = 8)
Total deaths = 5
Active cases = 423

Trajectory of infections between May 20 – 24

May 20: 389 (24 new cases)
May 21: 398 (9 new cases)
May 22: 399 (10 new cases)
May 22: 433 (34 new cases)
May 23: 494 (61 new cases)
May 24: 582 (88 new cases)

May 19: 365 cases with 60 new cases in three days

Total confirmed cases = 365 (new cases between May 17 – 19 = 60)
Total recoveries = 120 (new recoveries = 8)
Total deaths = 5
Active cases = 238

Ethiopia’s case count spiked on Monday by 35 new cases (a daily record) whiles 14 new cases were recorded today. Added to 11 cases recorded last Sunday, 60 cases have been recorded in the last three days. The tally now stands at 365.

Concerns had been raised by analysts over the spate of new case increases after it took just a week to go from 200 to go past the 300 mark as against a much lengthier period from 0 to 100 and 100 to 200.

The country, however, remains one of the least impacted in a region where neighbours Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan has crossed the 1000 mark. Kenya is past 900 confirmed cases as of today.

Major African stats: May 19 at 6:00 GMT:

• Confirmed cases = 88,264
• Number of deaths = 2,832
• Recoveries = 33,898
• Active cases = 51,534