Ethiopia: Sixth Coronavirus Death Reported

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia has reported its sixth death of a COVID-19 patient, a 32-year old woman who was in an intensive care unit (ICU) since Monday, Ministry of Health said on Tuesday.

“The Ministry would like to pass its condolences to the families,” said Dr. Lia Tadesse, minister of health, in a statement.

The patient – who had also been treated for other severe health issues – died late last night due to COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by coronavirus.

Currently, 526 patients – including one in an intensive care unit – are being in various COVID-19 treatment centers, indicates the daily report of the ministry.

Dr. Lia also reported a total of 46 new cases today after the country conducted a total of 3, 410 tests over the past twenty-four hours.

Lab samples were collected from high-risk community members, travelers at mandatory quarantine centers and contacts of the confirmed cases, among others.

Amhara Region Tops

The newly identified patients – 45 Ethiopians and one Israeli citizen – are in the age range of 12 to 79 years.

Amhara region reported today’s highest number of COVID-19 patients with 15 cases reported from the region. All of them were quarantined upon their return from abroad, says the ministry’s daily report.

COVID-19 cases in Addis Ababa – the epicenter of the virus in the nation – have continued to increase.

Thirteen cases reported from the city, says the ministry’s report, which also claims – 4 people contracted the virus known case and one with travel history from abroad while the remaining eight patients had neither contact with previously confirmed case nor travel history abroad.

Tigray region reported three new cases that the ministry described as having a travel history and were in quarantine center.

Four long-distance truck drivers are also among the newly confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Eight Recovered

The ministry also reported a total of 8 recoveries from the disease. Of these, two are from SNNP regional state while the remaining six are residents of Addis Ababa.

To date, 167 patients who tested positive for the virus have recovered from the virus.

Ethiopia confirmed its first case of Covid-19 on March 13. Since then, it has tested close to 87, 264 individuals and reported 701 cases.