More Regional States Suspend Inland Road Transport Services

Mar 30 , 2020.

Three more regional states closed their doors for inland road transport services, joining the country's effort in containing the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Oromia, Amhara and Southern regional states have suspended interregional and intraregional travel as of today, March 30, 2020. The authorities also ordered that no cross-country buses be dispatched from the regional states.

Buses that cross the Southern regional state are only allowed to drive through the state without dropping passengers off.

The Amhara Regional State has also stopped the movement of cross-country buses within its borders except for those that carry university students going back to their homes.

See All Our Coronavirus Coverage in One Place

The Oromia Regional State, in its latest announcement, banned movement from the rural to the urban parts of the state. Everyone entering the Regional State will be scanned at the gates, and the decree also prohibits any kind of public transportation services within towns or meetings by political parties and government officials.

In the Regional State, large marketplaces, religious institutions and bars will remain closed, according to Addisu Arega, head of social culture in the rank of deputy administrator.

The spread of the virus was initially limited to the capital city and the first cases were reported among those with a history of overseas travel. However, it spread to regional states and was reported among those with no travel history, beginning last week.

First reported on March 13, 2020, 23 people are so far confirmed to have acquired the virus. Five of the cases were reported in Oromia and Amhara regional states, showing that the spread of the virus has reached a turning point. To date, two people have fully recovered and have been discharged, two Japanese citizens have returned to their country and a British diplomat is recovering in a facility inside the British Embassy.

PUBLISHED ON Mar 30,2020 [ VOL 20 , NO 1040]