ADDIS ABABA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) on Sunday announced it has confirmed two more cases of COVID-19, bringing the total numbers of cases in the east African country to 11.
Ethiopia's first confirmed case of COVID-19 was on March 13, and since then confirmed cases of the virus has steadily grown in the country. The two new COVID-19 cases are both Ethiopian nationals.
"One is 28 years old Ethiopian who had travel history to COVID-19 country and came from Belgium to Ethiopia on March 14, 2020."
"The second is a 34 years old Ethiopian who came to Ethiopia on March 19, 2020 from Dubai and detected at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport health screening desk as he had sign and symptoms," said the FMoH statement.
FMoH further said both patients are in stable condition and under close medical care.
The ministry also said the previously nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 are in stable condition except one 85 years old who is on oxygen treatment.
On Friday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced a series of measures as part of prevention and containment actions against the spread of COVID-19 in Ethiopia.
These include a 14 days quarantine period for passengers arriving in Ethiopia and the suspension of flights to 30 foreign destinations by the national air carrier, Ethiopian Airlines.
Ahmed has also temporarily banned the operations of night clubs and bars.
The Ethiopian PM has also passed a decision to release inmates who have children, whose probationary period nears to end and those who were arrested for minor crimes.
