Ethiopia's ministry of health on Sunday announced the country's first deaths as a result of Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by coronavirus.
The two deaths were announced one hour apart by Health Minister Lia Tadesse.
Dr Lia said the first victim, a 60-year-old woman, had been admitted at an intensive care unit (ICU) at Eka Kotebe hospital for five days before she died.
The second victim, a 56-year-old Ethiopian man, had been in ICU for three days.
Ethiopia has to date 43 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including two deaths.
President Sahle-Work Zewde had two weeks ago expressed concern that the true scale of the coronavirus outbreak in the country is not yet clear. She called for better preparation at the national level.
Ethiopia confirmed its first case on 12 March. It has since closed all land borders, ordered most government employees to work from home and released about 4,000 prisoners as measures to curb the spread of the virus.
Latest Stories
-
CHAN 2024Q: Ghana’s Black Galaxies held by Nigeria in first-leg tie
10 minutes -
Dr Nduom hopeful defunct GN bank will be restored under Mahama administration
44 minutes -
Bridget Bonnie celebrates NDC Victory, champions hope for women and youth
51 minutes -
Shamima Muslim urges youth to lead Ghana’s renewal at 18Plus4NDC anniversary
2 hours -
Akufo-Addo condemns post-election violence, blames NDC
2 hours -
DAMC, Free Food Company, to distribute 10,000 packs of food to street kids
3 hours -
Kwame Boafo Akuffo: Court ruling on re-collation flawed
4 hours -
Samuel Yaw Adusei: The strategist behind NDC’s electoral security in Ashanti region
4 hours -
I’m confident posterity will judge my performance well – Akufo-Addo
4 hours -
Syria’s minorities seek security as country charts new future
5 hours -
Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo re-appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana
5 hours -
German police probe market attack security and warnings
5 hours -
Grief and anger in Magdeburg after Christmas market attack
5 hours -
Baltasar Coin becomes first Ghanaian meme coin to hit DEX Screener at $100K market cap
5 hours -
EC blames re-collation of disputed results on widespread lawlessness by party supporters
6 hours