Yemen reported its first case of coronavirus Friday in a southern government-controlled province, raising fears of an outbreak in the war-torn country as air strikes blamed on the Saudi-led coalition tested a unilateral truce.
The announcement came on the second day of the two-week ceasefire declared by the military coalition supporting the government in what it said was a move to help fight the pandemic.
“The first confirmed case of coronavirus has been reported in Hadramawt province,” Yemen s supreme national emergency committee for COVID-19 said on Twitter.
The committee, run by the internationally recognised government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, said the infected patient was in stable condition and receiving care.
“The case is in isolation and treatment, all known contacts are being traced and quarantined,” the World Health Organization said on Twitter.
“WHO is working closely with (the health ministry) to ensure further rapid containment measures are taken.”
Aid groups have warned that when the coronavirus hits Yemen s broken healthcare system, the impact is likely to be catastrophic for a country already in the grip of what the UN calls the world s worst humanitarian crisis.
“What s facing Yemen is frightening,” said Lise Grande, the UN coordinator for Yemen.
“More people who become infected are likely to become severely ill than anywhere else.”
