HirShabelle has banned all domestic flights to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19, which has killed five people in Somalia out of 80 confirmed cases.
The local administration issued a statement in Jowhar confirming the ban.
Further, the administration clarified that it will only allow humanitarian flights to the region to proceed. Other emergency flights also have permission to land in or depart from the region.
The latest move reinforces the decision the Federal Government of Somalia took earlier to suspend all domestic and international flights into the country.
Additionally, the ban comes when Muslims around the world are preparing for the start of the holy month of Ramadan.
Somalia’s Committee on the Response to COVID-19 met yesterday at the Office of the Prime Minister.
In it, the government promised to consider ways of easing restrictions during Ramadan without compromising safety measures to enable Somalis to have a normal fasting period.