Somaliland announced its first two cases of the deadly Coronavirus on Tuesday as the government stepped up efforts to stem its increase.

The country’s minister of health Omar Ali Abdilahi, has announced that a Chinese national that was living in the port city of Berbera and Somaliland citizen that has recently returned from the UK have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus pandemic which causes COVID-19.

The health minister has said that the two are in a stable situation, the health agencies and the Coronavirus National Preparedness Committee are monitoring them.

He further said the government will need assistance to equip its hospitals.

“Our hospitals need respiratory ventilators, oxygen generators, personal protective equipment, disinfectants, gloves, gowns, masks and consumables.

Most of our hospital have no functioning intensive care units [ICUs] except the Hargeisa referral hospital, which can serve limited patients.

If, God forbid, cases of COVID-19 presented in hospitals, it is Ministry of Health’s constant preoccupation about how to manage cases when there are no functioning ICU units,” the minister stated.

Somaliland has issued strict measures in a bid to combat the deadly COVID-19 by shutting down all learning centers across the country.

The government has released a new order barring incoming passengers from European and North American points of origin entry for fear of Covid-19 infection while incoming travelers from several countries must remain in quarantine for 14 days.

 “All airline carriers destines for Somaliland are hereby asked not to bring passengers from Europe and North America to Somaliland,” it said.