Ethiopian Airlines suspends many flights

Africa’s largest carrier Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights to 30 countries, as Ethiopian announced it had nine cases of Covid-19.

Details about which countries the airline will stop flying to were not immediately given.

While many airlines across the world stopped flying to the worst-affected countries - like China - Ethiopian Airlines had continued to operate there.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Friday that all passengers travelling to Ethiopia would be put in isolation for two weeks.

He also said that prisoners who were mothers, those with light sentences, and those nearing the end of their prison term would be set free to relieve prisons of possible congestion, news site Addis Standard reported.

Mr Abiy also announced the closure of bars and nightclubs:

#NewsAlert: #Ethiopia also made a decision to make a 14-day self-quarantine mandatory for travelers coming from #COVID19 affected countries, FBC quoted PM Abiy as saying. He also said discussions were held with religious leaders on how best they can address issues of #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/bpZ9RFTZ7F

— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) March 20, 2020

We would like to inform our esteemed customers that we have stopped flight to 30 countries due to COVID19 virus. #EthiopianAirlines pic.twitter.com/0jckrsTzD0

— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) March 20, 2020