- Title: War-ravaged Yemen confirms first coronavirus case
- Date: 10th April 2020
- Summary: ASH SHIHR, HADHRAMAUT, YEMEN (APRIL 10, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE CAR DRIVING AROUND EMPTY STREETS/ USING LOUDSPEAKER TO CALL FOR PEOPLE TO STAY HOME (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ASH SHIHR RESIDENT, MAZEN SALEM, SAYING: "Today, we heard that there's corona, and today we stayed home. May God protect the country and our families." CLOSED SHOPPING MALL / POLICE DRIVING PAST
- Embargoed: 24th April 2020 10:58
- Keywords: COVID-19 case Yemen crisis coronavirus disease empty streets oil-producing region outbreak police imposing curfew port town
- Location: ASH SHIHR, HADHRAMAUT, YEMEN
- City: ASH SHIHR, HADHRAMAUT, YEMEN
- Country: Yemen
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C8WR1HJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Yemen reported its first case of the novel coronavirus on Friday (April 10) as aid groups try to prepare for an outbreak in a country where war has shattered the health system and spread hunger and disease.
The case was diagnosed in the southern oil-producing region of Hadhramaut, the supreme national emergency committee said.
The patient was a Yemeni, working in the small commercial port of Ash Shihr, a local official told Reuters.
Authorities ordered the closure of Ash Shihr port for a week for deep cleaning and instructed workers there to isolate at home for two weeks, according to a directive seen by Reuters.
They also imposed a 12-hour nightly curfew in all Hadhramaut districts starting from 6:00 pm Friday until further notice. Civil defence vehicles near the port were ordering people through loudspeakers to stay home, residents said.
Yemen has been mired in violence since the Iran-aligned Houthi movement overthrew the government in the capital, Sanaa, in late 2014, prompting the Saudi-led coalition to intervene. The Houthis still control Sanaa and most large urban centres.
The five-year-old conflict has killed more than 100,000 and pushed millions to the brink of famine.
(Production: Abdulrahman Yahya, Tarek Fahmy) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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