Ethiopia to open five more border checkpoints to curb COVID-19

Addis Ababa, May 13, 2020 (FBC) –Ethiopia’s Immigration Nationality and Vital Events Agency said five more border checkpoints will be opened within a month.

The new checkpoints will be established in Afar, Somali and Amhara regional states as well as in Dire Dawa city administration, said Desalegn Terresa, public relations and communication director at the agency.

The main objectives of the checkpoints are to battle the spread of the coronavirus virus from neighbors and make the virus control efforts easier, he said.

The opening of the new checkpoints will bring Ethiopia’s total number of checkpoints at border areas to 17, according to the director.

The establishment of the checkpoints would have a significant role in reducing the virus from spreading by preventing illegal border crossers, Desalegn stated.

Ethiopia has so far reported 263 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 108 recoveries and five deaths.