The decision to keep schools closed was made during a committee meeting at the Republican Palace, to guarantee that health precautions are implemented by the educational institutions and logistics are in place to create a safe and healthy school
environment.
The Sudanese Ministry of Health reported yesterday 231 new COVID-19 cases as of November 18, six deaths, and 12 recoveries.
This brings the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 15,530 cases.
Khartoum state recorded 203 new cases, Red Sea state 16, El Gezira six, White Nile state two, Sennar two, and Blue Nile state one. The official death toll is listed as 1,185, however, doctors say “the real number of cases is much greater”.
The current trend in number of cases rules out the need for a second lockdown according to the Acting Minister of Health, who is currently working from home after contracting coronavirus two weeks ago. His press statement on Thursday called for “speedy
solutions” to funding for medical and PPE supplies, a lack of which “is considered one of the major issues facing the health system.”
He also called for further preparation of isolation wards, which are suffering from severe shortages in PPE and qualified medical personnel. Last week, Radio Dabanga reported that isolation wards of the Khartoum Teaching Hospital and El Shaab Hospital
are full.
There are almost no isolation centres equipped to receive coronavirus patients throughout the rest of Sudan, according to the Socialist Doctors Association.
The minister stressed the necessity for being committed to safety precautions, including wearing masks, banning mass gatherings, and raising health awareness. On the same day, the Council of Ministers held a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Abdallah
Hamdok to give directives for intensification of a media awareness campaign on the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.