Ethiopia has confirmed two new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), out of the 1073 samples tested during the past 24 hours.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases to 116.

One of the confirmed cases is a resident of Gewane woreda, Afar regional state, with no travel history abroad.

The other one is an Ethiopian-born American national who was in a mandatory quarantine.

Five people (four from Addis Ababa and one from Dire Dawa) have also recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 21.

With an additional 12 laboratories this week, the total number of coronavirus testing laboratories in Ethiopia will reach 20, according to the Ministry of Health.

Health Minister Dr. Lia Tadesse told ENA that one of the priorities of the government is to halt the spread of the virus by expanding its diagnostic capacity.

Recalling the fact that eight laboratories have been providing services in the country, she said the additional laboratories will contribute a lot.

By the end of the week 11 laboratories will be operating in regional cities and the other nine laboratories in Addis Ababa, the minister noted.

One of the laboratories operating in Addis Ababa is located in a private hospital, it was learned.

Upon going fully operational, the laboratories will have a capacity to test 3,985 samples in a day, Dr. Lia said, stating that additional five laboratories will conduct testing soon to further enhance this capacity.

On the other hand, she pointed out that discussions have been underway with various governments in order to meet the necessary inputs for laboratories.

The minister added that diagnostic testing of the virus has been intensified by conducting door-to-door temperature screening of coronavirus in vulnerable areas.

Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed has called for all needed measures to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on the national economy.

“To mitigate the adverse impact of COVID19 on our economy, it is critical to take measures to protect employment and income, scale-up safety net programs to the most vulnerable, maintain the supply chain of key commodities and support the productive sectors of the economy,” he tweeted

“Ensuring agricultural productivity is also critical to our food security. We will ensure uninterrupted supplies of fertilizers, improved seeds, and pesticides to prevent any potential supply shortages,” he added.

“As insufficient public health measures can also prolong the economic crisis, we will also invest heavily in the health system as part of our economic responses.”

Ethiopia has so far confirmed 114 cases, with three deaths and 16 recoveries from the virus.

The National Task Force for coronavirus (COVID 19) said close to 400 million birr has been raised till the last Friday.

Adanech Abiebie, Federal Attorney General and Coordinator of the Task Force told EPA that the above-stated amount was contributed by 180 institutions to combat the COVID 19 pandemic.

Among the fundraisers include 100 public institutions and 80 private organizations, she said.

Religious institutions, colleges and individuals have also provided their buildings for isolation and treatment hubs for COVID-19 patients, Adanech disclosed.

The Attorney General noted that institutions and individuals have also donated cereals, sanitation and hygiene supplies to the taskforce.

Describing the support as encouraging, she called upon the public to continue their contributions to the national COVID-19 control efforts.

The Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Agency has stared distributing medical supplies it received from Jack Ma’s first round donation.

The medical supplies under distribution include over 20,000 testing kits, 47,950 N95 face masks, 1,100 disposable protective clothing, 52,000 face masks and 1000 face shields.

The medical supplies are being distributed as per the request made by Ethiopian Public Health Institute, the agency said on its Facebook page.

The agency also expressed its readiness to distribute medical supplies donated by Jack Ma in the second round.

Jack Ma, the Chinese billionaire, announced that he will also make a third donation of medical equipment to the African Union to assist African nations in the fight against COVID-19.

The medical supplies include 4.6m masks, 500,000 swabs and test kits, 300 ventilators, 200,000 clothing sets, 200,000 face shields, 2,000 thermal guns, 100 body temperature scanners and 500,000 pairs of gloves.

Africa has so far registered over 22,300 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID 19), with 1,124 deaths and 5,482 recoveries.

Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed has called upon the public to continue support to the needy people while observing physical distancing measures.

On his Facebook account, the premier wrote that “the recent Easter holiday came to pass in a historic way.

“Yet the values of generosity & compassion that color such festivities are long-lived among Ethiopians to stay,” he added.

He finally urged the public to “continue looking around for a hand in need & spread the spirit of giving and building community while observing physical distancing measures.”

Ethiopia has confirmed three new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19), out of the 396 samples tested over the past 24 hours.

This brings the total cases in the country to 111.

All the three confirmed cases are Ethiopian nationals residing in Dire Dawa city, according to the Ministry of Health.

Two of them have travel history from Djibouti, while the other patient had contact with a confirmed case, it said.

Ethiopia has so far registered three deaths and 16 recoveries from the virus.

According to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University, more than 2.4 million cases of coronavirus have been registered globally.

More than 165,000 people have died and more than 629,000 have recovered from the virus.

The Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundations said they will make a third donation of medical equipment to the African Union (AU) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to assist African nations in the fight against COVID-19.

The medical supplies include 4.6m masks, 500,000 swabs and test kits, 300 ventilators, 200,000 clothing sets, 200,000 face shields, 2,000 thermal guns, 100 body temperature scanners and 500,000 pairs of gloves.

In March, the foundations donated 100,000 medical masks, 20,000 test kits, 1,000 protective suits and 1,000 face shields to each of the 54 African countries.

In their second donation early this month, the foundations provided 500 ventilators, 200,000 suits and face shields, 2,000 thermometers, 1million swabs & extraction kits and 500,000 gloves.

Africa has so far registered close to 22,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID 19), with 1,120 deaths and 5,482 recoveries.

Prime Minister Dr Aby Ahmed today issued his Easter message.

Ethiopian Christians celebrate Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, tomorrow.

In his address to the faithful, the Prime Minister said “on Easter festivity, something occurs to our mind, we know joy follows pain and darkness, light”

He said we are now at a time of upheaval due to COVID 19, a virus that invaded and rocked the whole world.

The psychological burdens as human beings are battling the dire situations due to lose of lives of their beloved ones, social, economic and political disorders and impacts on religious practices, he said

He urged the general public to stand united and rally along the government to face the realities and fight the virus to minimize the effects that it might pose against the nation.

PM Dr Abiy called for further preparedness to withstand the national challenges that might result from the COVID 19 outbreak in the country.

Expressing his full hope that this catastrophic time will pass, he urged the public to do their level best to become victorious in fight against the virus and shorten the time of panic.

The Prime Minister finally wished all Ethiopians celebrating Easter a happy holiday.

Four more Ethiopians have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total confirmed cases to 96.

The newly confirmed cases are out of the 842 samples tasted over the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health.

Ethiopia has so far registered three deaths and 15 recoveries from the virus.

According to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University, nearly 2.2 million cases of coronavirus have been registered globally.

Close to 147,000 people have died and more than 553,000 have recovered from the virus.