KHARTOUM, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government on Friday announced the suspension of all government and scientific conferences in wake of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 infection.
The announcement, made by Sudan's Health Minister Akram Ali Al-Tom, also required that all sporting events be held without fans until further notice after the country registered its first death from the novel coronavirus infection.
"The infected was a man in his 50s living in Khartoum locality in Khartoum State. He died on Thursday," the Health Ministry said in a statement earlier Friday.
It noted that the man had visited the United Arab Emirates during the first week of March.
The ministry said it had taken more measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus as part of a national plan to combat the virus.
On Thursday, the Sudanese government issued an entry ban on the citizens from countries hit by COVID-19, including South Korea, Italy and Egypt. Sudan has also decided to close its border crossings with Egypt.
