Coronavirus curfew takes effect in Somalia’s Puntland‏

A 6 p.m. to 5 a.am. curfew came into effect last night in the semi-autonomous Somalia region of Puntland.

The curfew was ordered by the Puntland authorities in a bid to contain the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus.

The region’s towns such as the capital Garowe, Bosaso, Qardo and northern Galkayo were empty last night apart from the presence of security forces who were deployed across the region to enforce the curfew. Journalists covering the events were also exempted from the ban.

Somalia has so far registered five confirmed cases of Covid-19, including two in the breakaway region of Somaliland, which borders Puntland to the north.