The government of Afghanistan on Monday announced new restrictions to contain the spread of novel coronavirus as the number of recorded positive cases in the country rose to 21.
Wahid Omar, Director General of the Office of Public and Strategic Affairs of Afghan government and Chairman of the Public Awareness Committee to prevent Corona virus, said at a press conference on Monday that government has decided to close all wedding halls, communal showers, swimming pools, gyms and other places of public gathering to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
“I would like to say that this is a decisive decision. Any event that gathers people should be strictly avoided. Hereby, we task the ministry of interior and Kabul Municipality to make sure that all the wedding halls and hotels in Kabul city suspend their events,” Omar said.
He also called on operators of all swimming pools and communal showers to suspend their operations until further notice, warning the violators will be dealt with accordingly.
He also urged the Passport Department and National Statistics and Information Authority to carry out their duties in way that does not congregate many people.
This comes as five new positive coronavirus cases have been reported in Afghanistan, bringing the total to 21, the Health Ministry said on Monday.
The five new cases include two in Herat, two in Logar and one in Badghis province.
263 samples were tested, out of which 21 were positive, according to the ministry.
On Sunday, the minister of refugees and repatriation, Sayed Husain Alemi Balkhi, said that at least 10 Afghan refugees died of the new coronavirus infection in Iran, but added that there isn’t an exact figure about the number of the refugees who are infected with COVID-19.
The minister said that at least 15,000 Afghan refugees are returning to Afghanistan from Iran on a daily basis.
The refugees minister was summoned to the Wolesi Jirga, the Lower House of Parliament, along with Public Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz to discuss ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
The Afghan government has allocated $25 million for the Ministry of Public Health to respond to the virus.
