Tigray Regional State Bans Intraregional Travel

Tigray Regional State bans travel between towns and cities in the Regional State, effective this coming Saturday, March 28, 2020.

The travel ban is part of the Regional State's effort to block the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). With the main aim of containing the spread of the virus, the Regional State declared a two-week state of emergency.

To execute this decree, the Regional State, which has reported no positive Coronavirus cases thus far, has established a command post with five members. Debretsion G. Michael (PhD), vice administrator of the Regional State, will chair the command post.

The state of emergency outlaws large social gatherings such as weddings. It allows a maximum of 20 people to attend funerals.

The Regional State has also formed four specialised task forces that will focus on the economic, security, civil service and media, according to Debretsion, who briefed journalists from Dimtsi Weyane and Tigray Mass Media this morning at his office in Meqelle, the capital of the Regional State.

Those entering the Regional State will be scanned at all entry points, and those who take buses can only enter before 6:00pm.

All bars, nightclubs, coffee shops, large markets and billiard halls will remain closed for the coming two weeks, while hotels, cafes and restaurants will remain open during the period by taking the necessary preventive measures. These businesses should designate handwashing areas and provide their employees with protective gear, including face masks and gloves. Users of these businesses should also sit at least one metre away from one another.

"If the businesses fail to adhere to this," reads the decree, "law enforcement officers can take measures."

Over the two weeks, visiting patients at hospitals and prisons is also banned. Except for public offices, which are regarded as essential, all other offices will stay closed for two weeks. Civil servants, who work at these essential offices but have other medical cases, will be granted annual leave to stay at their homes.

The state of emergency could be extended if necessary, according to Debretsion.

Mini-buses are allowed to transport only eight people at a time, while three-wheeled vehicles can only pick up one person.

All the hospitals in the Regional State have designated areas for quarantine, according to the vice administrator.

The state of emergency could be extended if necessary, according to Debretsion.

Tracking COVID-19

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Source: Coronavirus monitor API

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