Eritrea confirms first COVID-19 case after full recovery

ADDIS ABABA, June 3 (EI) — The Eritrean government on Wednesday reported its first active COVID-19 case, weeks after the Horn of Africa nation announced that all the previously confirmed 39 COVID-19 patients fully recovered from the virus.

The Eritrean Ministry of Health, in a statement issued on Wednesday, disclosed that from the total of 4,659 people who were tested for COVID-19 as part of the first phase of extensive random testing in various sections of the Eritrean capital, Asmara “one woman was diagnosed positive for COVID-19,” while 4,658 of the tested individuals have been confirmed negative.

“Subsequently, all immediate and indirect contacts of the patient, 13 individuals in total, were promptly traced and put in quarantine in accordance with established norms and practices. One of those quarantined is her husband and he was later diagnosed positive for COVID-19,” the Eritrean Ministry of Health said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

"The tests covered 4659 households, with one representative of the household undergoing the actual nasal and throat swab tests. 4658 of all tested individuals have been confirmed negative while one woman was diagnosed positive for COVID-19"

— Yemane G. Meskel 🇪🇷 (@hawelti) June 3, 2020

On May 16, the Eritrean Ministry of Health had announced that all of the previous 39 COVID-19 patients in the Horn of African country had recovered from the infectious disease.

The Red Sea nation, which confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 21, has since then implemented a series of measures to halt the spread of COVID-19.

These measures include the ban on all commercial passenger flights to and from the country.

In April, the Eritrean government also introduced a 21 days nationwide lockdown to help contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Following the announcement of full COVID-19 recovery back on May 16, the Eritrean Ministry of Health had announced the launching of random and extensive testing to gauge the spread of COVID-19 in the country in a comprehensive and more reliable manner.

On Wednesday, Eritrea’s high-level task force on containing the spread of COVID-19 also urged “all citizens to maintain the commendable commitment and adherence to the guidelines that they have shown to-date in the fight against the pandemic in the period ahead, and to rectify, few breaches that have occurred intermittently; especially in market places and at social occasions – burials, mourning, weddings, and at places of worship.”