Ethiopia declares state of emergency due to coronavirus

Ethiopia declared a state of emergency on Wednesday over the coronavirus pandemic. 

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali announced the decision on Twitter. 

Considering the gravity of the #COVID19, the Government of Ethiopia has enacted a State of Emergency according to Article 93 of the Constitution.

PM @AbiyAhmedAli calls upon all to follow the ensuing measures that will further define the SOE. #PMOEthiopia https://t.co/wE93q32CLq

— Office of the Prime Minister – Ethiopia (@PMEthiopia) April 8, 2020

Authorities in Ethiopia had already taken mitigation measures in response to the outbreak, including closing schools, banning public gatherings and requiring most of the public to work from home, Reuters reports. 

The prime minister did not announce what additional measures will be put in place during the state of emergency, according to Reuters. 

Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country, has 55 confirmed COVID-19 cases and two deaths, based on data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.