Somaliland President Pardons Prisoners to Curb COVID-19

The President of Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi has pardoned 574 inmates on Wednesday.

The move is aimed at decongesting the prisons hence precaution towards the coronavirus.

According to the office of President Bihi, the freed prisoners are those who didn’t commit serious crimes.

Health authorities in the self-declared state reported the first two cases of coronavirus on Tuesday.

officials in Hargeisa said samples were taken from two individuals — a local man who visited Britain and a Chinese man — had tested positive for COVID-19.  They added that they are trying to track down other people who were in contact with the suspected man.

Temporary emergency centers to quarantine suspected patients were established by the authorities.

Schools were closed and public gathering restricted in an effort to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Somaliland government has already closed its border with Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia due to fears of the spread of COVID-19.

The border closure came into effect Thursday lasweek and will last for three weeks.

According to the National Committee against the preparedness of COVID-19, food commodities, fuel, all various medical supplies and trading consignments will cross the country’s border points.

Passengers arriving at Hargeisa International airport have been put under mandatory quarantined for 14 days since 26th of March, 2020.

The passengers have been kept in isolated premises to further ensure that they are free from Coronavirus pandemic.

The passengers have been responsible for paying the expenses that they will incur for the 14 days quarantine.