Sudan’s Information Minister Faisal Salih on Monday announced that the government has decided to impose a lockdown on Khartoum for three weeks after 10 more cases of the new coronavirus were discovered, reported Reuters. A total of 29 coronavirus cases have been reported in Sudan, with four deaths.
In a statement released on Monday, Salih explained that the curfew would begin on 18 April and would cover the capital Khartoum and its twin city Omdurman.
The minister added that grocery stores and pharmacies would still be open for limited daily hours, which the government has yet to announce. People would be allowed limited movement within their neighborhoods only to buy supplies.
According to Health Minister Akram Ali al-Tom, all reported cases except one were reported in Khartoum state, the country’s most populous area.
“After the latest rise, we have now reached the stage of community spread… which is the beginning of a slide towards a wider outbreak of the disease,” al-Tom said.
He added that the country’s ailing health system was suffering shortages of medicine and medical supplies.
In a fight against the coronavirus pandemic, Sudan has already imposed a nationwide curfew in the country. Those found violating the restrictions, breaking quarantine rules, hiding information or impeding medical treatment would have to face criminal prosecution under emergency laws, a statement from the prime minister’s office said.
The ruling sovereign council that took over after the ousting of long time ruler Omar Bashir has also put a ban on private and commercial passenger vehicles travelling between cities and states. The ban takes effect immediately.
Last week, the Sudanese health minister said that country urgently needs $120 million to fight the coronavirus, amid a shortage of the equipment to fight the pandemic which has spread to almost all the countries in the world.
He said that Sudan is ill-equipped to tackle any mass spread of the virus.
