Press Release

Ethiopia: COVID-19 Humanitarian Impact, Situation Update No. 10

13 August 2020

As of 8 August, Ethiopia reported 22,253 confirmed COVID-19 cases compared to 13,248 on 25 July. The cumulative number of recoveries has reached 9,707, while the number of deaths has increased to 390.

  • As of 8 August, Ethiopia reported 22,253 confirmed COVID-19 cases compared to 13,248 on 25 July. The cumulative number of recoveries has reached 9,707, while the number of deaths has increased to 390. Cases have risen exponentially in the last two weeks, with Addis Ababa counting a total of 15,105 cases. (Source: MoH/ Ethiopia Public Health Institute, EPHI).
  • The Government announced a month-long nationwide COVID-19 testing and prevention campaign with a plan to carry out 400,000 tests. In a public statement, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that "following the conflicts and protests of recent weeks (Oromo), we are seeing the equivalent of monthly case numbers in just a few days."
  • The guideline that allows for people coming from abroad to quarantine a home presentation of a arrival, has been revised to the presentation of a negativeCOVID-19 test taken within five days prior to arrival.
  • As of 3 August, 17 COVID-19 positive cases were confirmed positive in the Qoloji IDP site and eight other positive cases in two (Kabribayah and Awbare) refugees' sites of the Somali region. The Qoloji IDP site hosts an estimated 12,532 HHs (75,192 individuals) residing in overcrowded settings. The Regional Health Bureau (RHB) has decided to increase random surveillance testing in all IDPs sites and refugee camps in the region.
  • Addis Ababa Mayor's Office has formed a coalition with private sector companies and non-governmental organizations (NGO) and launched a project called "Tenachin Bejachin" means "Our Health is in Our Hands" with a total potential value of US$6 million to support a population of 1.2 million COVID-19 vulnerable people in the metropolis. Two private firms, namely Dalberg and Roha have taken the initiative to organize the first of its kind public-private partnership. Roha secured US$1 million needed for the pilot project while the remaining US$5 million of the needed funds will be secured by donors, private sector players, and NGOs.
  • In the countrywide measles immunization campaign, the Government of Ethiopia, with the support of UNICEF and partners, has reached approximately 14.2 children, including 89,386 children in refugee camps. According to the Ministry of Health, this represents 96 percent of the initial target of reaching 15 million children. COVID-19 and unrest, in some parts of the country, are some of the challenges faced by implementers during the immunization campaign.
  • The first progress report of the Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP) for COVID-19 was released on 1 July with a requirement of US$7.32 billion. As of 31 July, the funding requirements for COVID-19 response have risen to US$39.76 billion out of which US$506 million is allotted to Ethiopia. As of 8 August, $10.26 billion (19.9 percent) has been funded. For further updates: https://fts.unocha.org/appeals/952/summary and for the monthly GHRP funding update (as of 31 July): https://reliefweb.int/node/3659709

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