Somalia orders gov’t staff to work from home as COVID-19 strikes back

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU:  Somali government has instructed all employees to work from home save for critical departments following an upsurge in COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

The Ministry of Labour Tuesday directed all ministries and departments to allow their staff to work from home starting today as the country witnesses a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another 100 people out of 659 tests contracted the disease Tuesday signalling a resurgence of the disease after several months of a lull that has seen virtually all health measures discarded. Government officials including the president and prime minister have been spotted without face masks during public engagements.

Social distancing, hand washing and mask-wearing have become a discarded practice in Somalia for several months now. But health Minister Dr Abikar Fawzia warned last week the country should brace for hard times as the disease makes a come back.

No new variant of COVID-19 has so far been recorded in the country but a likelihood of its presence is high given that neighbouring Kenya has registered some.

According to the Ministry of Health, 5,373 people have since contracted the disease while 163 have died.