Ethiopia coronavirus: Major Addis market to relocate

The Addis Ababa City Administration has announced that it is temporarily relocating a famous trading center, the Atikilit Tera market to an open space today, April 7.

Atikilit Tera is reputed as the biggest fruit and vegetable markets in the city. Its population is to move to an open space in Jan Meda, city mayor Takele Uma said.

The relocation will be implemented with “strict discipline,” he added.

City authorities have been undertaking series of measures aimed at combating the pandemic which has infected 44 people according to latest figures from the Health Ministry.

Ethiopia also recorded first deaths from the disease over the weekend. “The patient was admitted on April 2nd and was under strict medical follow up in the Intensive Care Unit,” Minister Lia Tadesse said of the first victim, a 60-year-old woman. The second victim, a 56-year-old Ethiopian man, had been in ICU for three days.

Meanwhile, religious leaders – Orthodox Church, Islamic – have declared 30 days of fasting and prayers. The leaders met with the city administration of Sunday.

“These uncharted times require an immense amount of unity & humility. I am confident that as we rise to this challenge God will surely show his Mercy. May God bless our people,” the Mayor posted on Twitter after the meeting.