New info concerning the pandemic

Our first news comes from the USA. it is known that the current testing kit for the coronavirus takes 24 hours to confirm if the samples are of infected people or not. However President Donald Trump had announced that as soon as this week new testing machines that confirm results within 5 minutes will be put to work. The machines take just 5 minutes to confirm the presence of the virus in the sample and 13 minutes if the virus is not present. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu has been sent to quarantine. It is said that the Prime Minister was infected after coming in contact with one of his close advisors who was also sick with the virus. 

Our neighbor Eritrea has 12 confirmed cases of the cornonavirus. The Eritrean health minister has claimed that the infected people entered the country before all international flights were cancelled. Currently, the capital Asmara is in lockdown.

The lockdown in Beirut, Lebanon has been extended from Thursday March 26 to April 12, from 7 o’clock in the evening until 5 in the morning. 

The Ethiopian federal police commission said that it would take actions on those who do not practice social distancing, namely shoppers and merchants. Regional cities are under lockdown. The Amhara regional administration has announced that no public transportation is allowed to enter after two confirmed cases were found in the region. One of them is a 37 year old female who had a recent travel history; she got back from Dubai on March 19. The other is a 32 year old male with a recent travel history from USA. People who had been in contact with them have been identified and sent to quarantines. The Oromiya region is also prohibiting movements of public transportation to and fro rural areas. 

President Sahlework speaks out. “I have travelled around the city and witnessed many disappointing things. People are very careless about social distancing. The pandemic is difficult not just for a developing nation like ours but developed countries as well. We must not be ignorant and instead must prepare for the battle that is to come.”

“We must not say that this pandemic will not affect us. The virus is an invisible, untouchable enemy, one that cannot be defeated by weapons. Ignorance will only open doors for the spread of the virus. We are currently witnessing the pain and death of families, the battle of health care professionals and the unexpected steps made by governments to combat the pandemic; thousands of lives are being lost every day.  Princes, ministers and politicians are getting infected. We must learn from the news in the media and be prepared. The virus’ main means of spreading is our culture; we eat together, worship together, we celebrate and mourn together. Limiting or even stopping such actions for the time being will help us. I have witnessed many motivating things throughout the city such as spots for hand wash and limited number of people in public transports. However, what has been done is small compared to what we are about to face. We still have a lot to do. Society must learn and carry out its national obligation.”