The total laboratory tests conducted within 24 hours are 4457; of sixty-three (63) of them are confirmed positive for COVID-19 and the total confirmed cases as of today are 4,532. Among the confirmed cases, 42 of them are male and 21 are female and their age ranges from 14 to 76 years old. All of the confirmed cases are Ethiopians. Among the cases, 31 are identified from Addis Ababa, 9 from Somali region, 5 from Oromia region, 4 from Dire Dawa city administration, 4 from Afar region and, 3 from Amhara region, 3 from Gambella region, 2 from SNNPR, 1 from Tigray region and 1 from Harari region.
Among the total laboratory tests conducted, 18 (5 from health facility and 13 from community) of them were from samples collected from dead bodies of which one sample from 75 years old male from Oromia Region was tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, a 34 years old female from Addis Ababa have passed away while receiving treatment making two deaths in the past twenty-four hours due to COVID-19. This brings the total death related to COVID-19 in our country to seventy-four (74). We would like to pass our condolences to the families.
Recently it was announced that Dexamethasone reduces the risk of death among COVID-19 patients who require oxygen and/or mechanical ventilation. Following this, the Ministry of Health recommends the emergency use of low dose Dexamethasone for COVID-19 patients who require oxygen and/or mechanical ventilation for treatment.
However, we should understand that the potential harm may outweigh the benefit if it is taken without prescription by a health professional. Therefore, the public should not take the drug without physician prescription and pharmacies and health professionals should not sell the drug to anyone without a prescription by a health professional.
Furthermore, ninety-one (91) people (67 from Addis Ababa, 16 from Somali region, 4 from Amhara region, 2 from Benshangul Gumuz region and 2 from Oromia region) recovered from the disease bringing the total number of recoveries to 1,213.
COVID-19 Situational Update as of Today
| Total laboratory test conducted | 216,328 |
| Laboratory tests conducted within 24 hours | 4,457 |
| Number of Confirmed cases within 24 hours | 63 |
| Total active cases | 3,243 |
| Patients in severe condition | 32 |
| Newly Recovered | 91 |
| Total Recovered | 1,213 |
| Number of Deaths in 24 hrs | 2 |
| Total Deaths | 74 |
| Returned to their country | 2 |
| Total confirmed cases as of today | 4,532 |
The laboratory samples were collected from the high-risk community members, returnees/passengers at mandatory quarantine centers, contacts of the confirmed cases, health facility visitors and suspects at isolation centers.
For more information or to report if any person had contact with confirmed COVID-19 please call to the free toll line 8335 and 952 or to regular phone 0118276796 and regional toll free lines, or use our email:-ephieoc@gmail.com.
Dr. Lia Tadesse
Minister of Health
June 21, 2020