The Ethiopian Public Health Institute announced that the positivity rate for COVID-19 has reached up to 89pc in select areas of Addis Abeba where it conducted surveys. People have been flocking to health centres for treatment for a flu-like disease presenting symptoms such as headache, fatigue, back and joint pain, and coughing. The Institute has cautioned the public to take the illness seriously as a potential COVID-19 infection. Of the 55,562 people that went to the health centres in the capital for treatment in the past week, close to half tested positive for COVID-19. Country-wide, the positivity rate is hovering around 36pc, up from five percent two weeks ago. The Institute warns that another wave of the pandemic has come with potentially devastating consequences. Last week alone, some 41 people succumbed to the virus while 260 patients were admitted to intensive care units. Over 33,000 people tested positive over the same period.

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