Eritrea: Health officials tighten COVID-19 restrictions as of Dec. 22 /update 5

Health Officials in Eritrea tighten coronavirus disease-related restrictions as of Dec. 22. Other measures remain in place nationwide.

Event

As of Dec. 22, health officials in Eritrea have heightened restrictions nationwide as part of the nation's effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Under the new guidelines, all citizens' movement is restricted except for essential personal such as security workers or those with special authorization. Other measures include:

Domestic travel from one village or city to another in the country is banned.
Private vehicles and other individual means of transportation are not allowed to operate. Trucks are exempted from this restriction for tasks limited to freight services.
All trading enterprises will be closed except for essential trade services. All essential businesses must close by 2000 daily.
Major manufacturing, agriculture, food processing, and construction sectors remain open.
All government institutions will cease routine operations and nonessential services. Indispensable government functions, such as development, public utility and safety, and security are exempt.
Funeral and mourning services may be held with a maximum of ten persons. Other social events are prohibited.

All borders remain closed, and internal travel restrictions remain in place. Checkpoints are in place to limit the unauthorized travel of residents between districts, towns, and villages. Internal travel requires approval from the authorities. Chartered and humanitarian flights also require government approval, and arriving travelers must quarantine for 14 days. Cargo and freight will likely face heightened screening measures.

Authorities, including police and neighborhood watch groups, continue to enforce restrictions. Additional restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Eritrea are possible in the coming weeks.

Context

The measures taken by Eritrean authorities are relatively severe in comparison to those taken by other governments globally in recent months in response to the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (previously known as 2019-nCoV). Symptoms occur 1-14 days following exposure (average of 3-7 days). These symptoms include fever, fatigue, cough, difficulty breathing, sometimes worsening to pneumonia and kidney failure - especially in those with underlying medical conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic March 11.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Plan for queues and delays at available shopping centers.

Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.