Lockdown extends to states as 12 new coronavirus cases reported in Sudan

The Sudanese Ministry of Health reported 12 new Covid-19 cases on Friday. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country since the outbreak to 174. 14 people have recovered and 11 have died.

In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Health confirmed that 12 new cases were reported in the country. The health authorities urged the Sudanese people to follow the instructions and guidlines of the Ministry of Health to limit the spread of the pandemic.

Several states decided to take more precautionary measures.

On Friday, the acting governor of North Darfur, Maj Gen Malik Khojali, issued a decree shutting down all entrances and exits of the capital El Fasher in order to prevent a coronavirus outbreak. Vehicles that carry strategic goods such as fuel, food, vegetables and fruits are exempted, if they have a permit from the authorities. All markets are closed. 

The governor also decided to ban collective breaking of the Ramadan fast in squares and streets in all localities of North Darfur. The tarawih prayers, traditionally performed in mosques during Ramadan in the evening should be performed at home.

He also instructed imams to perform prayers in the open air, in the courtyards of the mosques, where adequete space between worshipers can be guarenteed to prevent crowding.

In South Darfur, governor Maj Gen Hashim Mahmoud decided to lock the state as a precautionary measure to limit the spread of the pandemic. 

This means traffic to the neighbouring states and from one locality to another will be forbidden. The curfew in Nyala, capital of South Darfur, will last from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am. Residents must follow the social distancing policies and the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

All major markets and shops in Nyala will be closed as of Monday for 10 days, except for essential services such as pharmacies, bakeries, shops selling food, and health care. “Public services will be provided from 8 am until 12 am,” the governor said in a statement.

There will be legal consequences for those who violates the new measures. “Not less than three months imprisonment or a fine of SDG 10,000 ($182)* or both,”, the governor's statement read. The governor directed the local state authorities to carry out the new measures immediately.

In eastern Sudan, anti-coronavirus measures were extended as well.

In a statement on Friday, the governor of El Gedaref, Maj Gen Nasreldin Ahmed issued a decision to shut down the state and close down all the entrances with the bordering countries and neighbouring cities or localities. All main markets, except essential services such as pharmacies and health care institutions, will be closed as of Monday for ten days, subject to renewal.

The governor of the Red Sea state, Maj Gen Hafiz El Taj decided to close down the state and its localities as of Saturday, to limit the spread of coronavirus.

The decision means that no public or private vehicles can enter the state, except for ambulances and trucks that transport goods.

* USD 1 = SDG 55.1375 at the time of publishing this article. 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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