The total laboratory tests conducted within 24 hours are 3271; of these Fourteen (14) of them are confirmed positive for COVID-19 and the total confirmed cases as of today are Three-Hundred-Sixty-Five (365). Among the confirmed cases, 11 of them are male and 3 are female. All of them are Ethiopians and their age ranges from 9 to 68 years old. Among the cases nine (9) of them are identified from Addis Ababa (seven (7) Contact with confirmed cases and one (1) cross border truck driver with travel history and one (1) case with no contact with confirmed cases and no travel history), one (1) from Tigray Region (cross border truck driver with travel history in Mekelle quarantine center) one (1) from Oromia region (cross border truck driver with travel history) and three (3) from Somali region (Jigjiga quarantine center).
Correction: The case announced on yesterday’s notification update from Amhara region (North Shoa Zone, Ataye town quarantine center) was a case confirmed positive for COVID-19 and reported on the May 17th notification update. Therefore, we apologize and clarify that the total cases confirmed yesterday are Thirty-Four (34).
The potential sources of exposure of the confirmed cases are presented below;
| Potential Exposure | Number of Cases |
| Travel history from abroad | 6 |
| Contact with confirmed cases | 7 |
| Cases with no contact with confirmed cases and no travel history | 1 |
| Total | 14 |
Furthermore, four (4) people (3 from Somali Region and 1 from Afar Region) recovered from the disease that makes the total number of recoveries one-hundred-twenty (120).
| Total laboratory test conducted | 62,300 |
| Laboratory tests conducted within 24 hours | 3271 |
| Number of Confirmed cases within 24 hours | 14 |
| Total patients of COVID-19 in treatment centers | 238 |
| Patients in intensive care | 0 |
| Newly Recovered | 4 |
| Total Recovered | 120 |
| Total Deaths | 5 |
| Returned to their country | 2 |
| Total confirmed cases as of today | 365 |
COVID-19 Situational Update as of Today
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.
Considering the increase in transmission of COVID-19, the Ministry of Health and Ethiopian Public Health Institute would like the public to strictly adhere to all precaution measures. We need to be reminded that every single action we take determines the risk of contracting the virus. Therefore, we should;
- Maintain physical distancing
- Wash our hands with water and soap frequently
- Stay at home and avoid mass gatherings
- Cover our mouth and nose with face/cloth mask when going outdoors
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
May 19, 2020