• Health minister tells lawmakers country can hold election provided all necessary precautions are taken

Ethiopian Health Minister Lia Tadesse told an emergency session of the House of Peoples’ Representatives on Friday that the country could hold the sixth round of parliamentary elections provided all necessary precautions are taken.

It was indicated that the decision to hold the election that ended up being postponed until 2021 because of the coronavirus would be determined based on the recommendations of health experts.

Accordingly, while presenting regarding the assessment of the outbreak in the country to lawmakers, the health minister said that the election could be conducted safely on condition that strong measures are put in place, and regulations and guidelines enforced.

In the run-up to the election, if a large Covid-19 outbreak occurs, this needs to treated as a special case, the minister added in her report.

According to the Minister, the epidemic has spread to all regions of the country and 95 percent of those who tested positive for Covid have no known travel history abroad.

So far, more than 66,200 people had tested positive for the virus, and at least 1045 people have died of the novel coronavirus, Dr. Lia said.

Although the outbreak is far from over, the country has been able to increase its capacities to enhance prevention and control at all levels, according to the minister. The Ministry has the capacity to establish 10,500 emergency response and surveillance teams across the nation, she added.

The house discussed the recommendations forwarded by the Ministry of Health and is expectd to pass a resolution in the next hearing.