Somalia sees surge in COVID-19 cases

Somalia now is focusing on vaccinating the frontline health workers and the oldest within its population when it officially began its inoculation campaign on Tuesday, March 16.

News Keydmedia Online
17 March 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia recorded a surge in COVID-19 cases with 109 new positive patients, taking the nationwide tally to 9,437 infections in a year, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

According to the Ministry, the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has reached 385 with 6 fatalities, including two in Mogadishu within 24 hours period.

In its daily report, the ministry of health said that 47 people have so far recovered from the contagion and discharged from hospitals since Monday, pushing the total to 4,306

Officials have warned of a second wave hitting the country if steps were not taken to stop the tide.

Somalia now is focusing on vaccinating the frontline health workers and the oldest within its population when it officially began its inoculation campaign on Tuesday, March 16.

Last Monday, the Horn of Africa country received the first batch of 300,000 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX facility to help contain the spread of the COVID-19 hardly affecting the people.

The WHO began to distribute the vaccine to regional states in Somalia on Tuesday after sending the first consignment to Puntland [40,000 doses] and the breakaway region of Somaliland [65,000 doses].

COVID-19 hit Somalia at a time when the health system of the country is in ruins and no effective government that can provide health care for the citizens already suffering from conflict and poverty.

The only Covid hospital in Mogadishu, De Martini that is assigned to treat the coronavirus patients is facing a severe shortage of oxygen and clinic beds.

KEYDMEDIA English