May 18, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – Schools and universities in Sudan will close for at least four weeks as part of new national restrictions to fight rising COVID-19 cases.
After a meeting held on Tuesday, the Supreme Committee for Health Emergencies announced the closure of universities, schools, Muslim and Christian worship houses.
The unexpected decision warned against a new wave of COVID-19 after the emergence of new variants in Brazil, India and South Africa.
The committee imposed an entry ban on travellers coming from India or who were in India during the past 14 days.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been 34,889 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 2,446 deaths in Sudan.
A total of 290,500 vaccine doses have been administered, as of 9 May 2021.
Taking into account the high spread rate of the disease, health forecasts in Sudan show that the number of infected people may exceed 100,000 cases next June if the health restrictions are not observed as is the case now.
“This leads to more deaths and more deterioration,” stressed the statement.
Recently, WHO called for equitable COVID-19 access in Africa.
“The delay in the delivery of vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India earmarked for Africa, the delay in the deployment of vaccines and the emergence of new variants means that the risk of a new wave of infections remains very high in Africa,” said a statement issued on 7 May.
Source: Sudan Tribune