Face mask and fruit prices soar in Sudan

The price of vitamin C-rich fruits in Khartoum has risen significantly because of the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19).

A dozen guavas or oranges were sold for SDG 130-140 instead of SDG 100 00 ($1.8*). A pound of gared (acacia pods) went up from SDG 12 to SDG 40, and the price of a pound of tamarind increased from SDG 40 to SDG 65.

The price of face masks jumped from SDG 3 to SDG 50 ($0.9).

The usual crowds at Khartoum's main streets, bus stations, and markets were absent on Sunday, after the government announced measures against the spread of corona disease and warned against crowds.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health confirmed the first case of coronavirus after a man in his 50s died in the capital Khartoum on Tuesday

Sterilisation materials

The price of sterilisation materials went from SDG 40 to SDG 200 ($3.6) and medical gloves from SDG 5 to SDG 45.

Pharmacist Salam reported that medical disinfectants and sterilisation materials are insufficiently available in Khartoum pharmacies. Medical disinfectants and gloves were sold out in several state capitals as well.

Salam said that some pharmacists provide locally made sanitisers. They also dispense free face masks.

Mosques

Minister of Religious Affairs Nasreldin Mofreh directed imams of mosques to reduce the time between the call to prayer and prayer itself to less than 15 minutes. Prayers and sermons should be shortened as well in order to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus.

Mofreh instructed the imams to ensure that the distance between the rows during prayer in the mosques is about one and a half metre. He appealed to the Sudanese to be satisfied with mourning ceremonies taking place in front of the house of the deceased, and not in funeral pavilions.

Government

On Saturday, the Sudanese government announced the closure of universities, schools, and kindergartens for one month. The Ministry of Youth and Sports decided to hold sports matches without audiences.

Epidemiologists told the people to stop shaking hands, wash their hands, maintain a safe distance, avoid crowds, and to ventilate workplaces, in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The Sudan Doctors Central Committee warned for rumours and false information about the coronavirus, which circulates at social media. It stressed the need to pay attention to information from official platforms only.

* USD 1 = SDG 55.1375 at the time of posting. As effective foreign exchange rates can vary in Sudan, Radio Dabanga bases all SDG currency conversions on the daily middle US Dollar rate quoted by the Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS).

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