MOGADISHU (SD) – Somalia’s Minister of Health, Fawziya Abikar, says she is extremely alarmed about the rising number of COVID-19 cases after the country experienced one of it’s deadliest month since the onset of the pandemic.
The minister said the country could be headed for a second lockdown, calling for strict adherence to health measures in fighting the disease.
“The first outbreak was managed largely thanks to a lockdown and closure of all school and universities. We have again submitted and advised for these same restrictions and measures,” Dr Abikar said.
She urged parents not to send back their children to school.
“Regardless we advise all parents to not send their kids to school and follow the health guidelines. Please maintain social distancing and avoid large gatherings at all costs,” she said.
The minister expressed hope that country will receive doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
“The situation is dire but we are confident that with the roll out of vaccines in the near future we will be able to manage this second wave,” she said.
Last month, Mamunur Rahman Malik, the WHO head in Somalia annouce the country will receive 1.2 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine this month to cover 20% of its population.
According to, the vaccine will cover 600,000 frontline health workers and municipalities staff — 3% of the country’s 15 million people.
These doses will be handed to the government free of charge, but it will need to buy additional vaccines to immunize the remaining 80% of the population.
In the last 24 hours, the country recorded eight deaths and 266 new cases after 1,807 samples tested.
The total number of confirmed cases in Somalia currently stands at 7,257.
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