It has been only a few months since the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 is a global pandemic. The WHO has announced that the consequences of COVID-19 will be profound in Africa. The pandemic has reached each corner of the continent, and Ethiopia—like the other countries in Africa – has already started feeling its impacts. Ethiopian Airlines has suspended international flights to over 30 destinations, tourists are not coming to the country, hotels and restaurants have lost their customers, and some companies have had to reduce the number of their employees.
Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world, where a significant proportion of the population is unable to meet basic needs. Although the country has made considerable improvements in poverty reduction since 2000, poverty is still very high in the country. The country faces high levels of food insecurity and many people in rural areas and towns don’t have access to perennial supply of water. This may complicate both the trajectory of the virus throughout the country and the efforts made to thwart it.
Back in January and February, before the infection was first reported in Africa, most radio and television programs in Ethiopia were focused on reporting other issues in the world like politics and sports, and there were many people who thought that the illness wouldn’t come to Ethiopia. Nevertheless, many politicians and activists were asking Ethiopian Airlines to stop flying to China.
Then the entire news program shifted to cover the number of people who became infected or died of the illness in European countries. Earlier in March, we heard an announcement that a 48-year-old Japanese national went to a quarantine center five days after he entered Addis Ababa from Burkina Faso because he showed the symptoms of the infection. A few days later, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) confirmed that the Japanese national was COVID-19 positive and told the people that the 25 people who had contact with him were under quarantine. In light of this, the Prime Minister, the Health Minister and other higher officials advised people to keep their distance from other people, wash their hands frequently, and avoid gatherings and handshaking. They also entreated religious institutions to advise their followers to pray in their houses rather than congregate in churches. All of these measures are difficult to implement in Ethiopia because of the strong collectivist culture.
At this point, some people started buying in bulk the things that they thought they would need in their households if things got worse. Price gouging was widespread and in response, the government took strict measures on businesspeople who unfairly raised prices of goods and closed their shops. Similarly, pharmacies that raised the prices of alcohol, sanitizer gloves, and face masks were closed by the government. Some young men and children made fun of people who wore masks and gloves in the streets.
When the first COVID-19 related death in Ethiopia was reported earlier in April, the number of people in the streets who wore masks and gloves increased and people started practicing physical distancing at taxi stations, shops, banks, and supermarkets. However, many people still did not stop shaking hands or gathering in cafes, restaurants, and bars at that time. The second death was reported the next day. After this, the number of people wearing gloves and face masks increased further and the busier streets in Addis became deserted. Supermarkets and flour mills became packed with people who wanted to reserve food, cooking oils cleaning materials, alcohol and sanitizers. People flocked to pharmacies to by facemasks which were in low supply. At about this time, some volunteers in places like Mexico square, The National Stadium, and Megenagna put water containers with pipes and started telling people to wash their hands frequently. Shops, pharmacies, banks, and other people started telling people to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer before they were allowed to enter.
On March 16, the government closed schools and universities for 15 days and told students and parents to be in their houses and follow further notice on the issue. Following the increase in the number of people infected by the virus, the government announced its decision that everyone that enters the country will be quarantined for 15 days and extended the closure of schools for another two weeks. The government also made an announcement warning people that they could declare a national state of emergency if things get worse. In the meantime, they told people to keep a distance from one another and avoid gatherings and going to mosques and churches for worship. Many people refused to listen to this guidance.
Throughout the city, we can see instances like this, where culture and public health measures and advice come into conflict. It is safe to say, however, that the entire population of Ethiopia is and will continue to be praying for the country to be spared the worst of the virus outbreak.
The most important thing to mention amidst all of this however, is that Ethiopians did not stop caring for one another, irrespective of their religious, ethnic, political and other differences. This is what we need at this unprecedented time and is an example for the region and the world.
Kaleab Ketema lives in Addis Ababa. He graduated in Applied Genetics from Addis Ababa university (2007). He did his research in EPHI, with the support of Ethio-Netherlands Aids Research Project (ENARP). He was an instructor in Menschen für Menschen (ATTC college in Harar, Ethiopia). He works as an independent consultant for research projects. He is interested in medical anthropology, molecular biology and social psychology.