The first confirmed case relating to the
COVID-19 pandemic in
Yemen was announced on 10 April 2020 with an occurrence in
Hadhramaut.[3][4] Organizations called the news a "devastating blow" and a "nightmare scenario" given the country's already dire humanitarian situation.[5]
The first case was confirmed on 10 April, the patient was a 60-year-old man in the southern oil-producing region of
Hadhramaut. He remains in stable condition. Authorities have since sealed off the port where the man worked and told other employees to self-isolate for two weeks. The neighbouring regions of
Shabwah and
al-Mahrah sealed their borders with Hadhramaut, where a 12-hour nightly curfew has been imposed.[9]
On 23 April, Hadramout Governor Faraj Salmin Al-Bahsni said in an interview with
Al-Arabiya television that the result of the last examination the person had undergone on 22 April after he recovered was negative.[10]
Two sources familiar with the matter told
Reuters there has been at least one confirmed case in
Houthi-controlled
Sanaa, but the movement's health ministry denied this and said all suspected cases had tested negative for COVID-19.[12]
On 2 May, three more cases were confirmed, one in Taiz Governorate and two in
Aden city. The new case in
Taiz had been in contact with the southwestern province's first infection.[14]
On 4 May, two new cases were reported in
Hadhramaut.[15]
On 5 May, the government in the south reported 9 new infections, eight in
Aden, along with one new death and one case in Hadhramaut. The
Houthis reported their first case, a
Somali national, who was found dead in a hotel in
Sanaa on 3 May.[16]
On 6 May, Yemen reported its first three cases, including a death in
Lahij Governorate and another infection in Aden. The emergency coronavirus committee of
Yemen's Saudi-backed government also said one COVID-19 patient diagnosed earlier in
Taiz province had died.[17]
On 8 May, Yemen reported nine new coronavirus cases in
Aden, the interim headquarters of the government, including one death, and said a second person infected in the southern province of
Lahaj had died.[18]
On 9 May, a new case of coronavirus was discovered in
Sanaa, which was transmitted from Aden,
Houthi's health ministry said in a statement.[19]
On 28 May, a statement from the
United Nations and its agencies outlined the dire impact COVID-19 had on
Yemenis. Yemen's embattled health care system is near collapse due to the addition strain from COVID-19. Only half of health facilities are in operation, with most lacking
personal protective equipment (PPE), oxygen supplies, and clean water. Most health-workers and front-line aid workers are reportedly working without protective equipment and salaries.[20] A press release from the
United Nation's Children Fund (UNICEF) indicated that another 5 million children had been put out of school due to school closures, adding to the already 2 million children who were out of school prior to the pandemic.[21]
June 2020
On June 24, the UN humanitarian chief,
Mark Lowcock warned that Yemen will "fall off the cliff" without increased donations. He said that coronavirus was spreading swiftly across Yemen, and roughly a quarter of the country's confirmed cases have died. He warned many more people could die due to starvation, COVID-19, or cholera. Finally, he warned that the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating the suffering of Yemenis.[22]
On June 28, the
Republic of Yemen Armed Forces in Jubb al-Ghar fired multiple bullets from their machine guns at
Ethiopian migrants after blaming them for the spread of the disease.[23]
On 29 June, the Yemeni Health Ministry reported 10 new cases of the disease and 304 nationwide deaths from the disease.[24]
July 2020
On July 14, authorities in territory controlled by
Houthi rebels in Yemen announced an easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions, allowing the reopening of restaurants, parks and wedding venues, whilst encouraging the public to maintain a social distance and use hand sanitizer regularly.[25]
Statistics
Confirmed new cases per day
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on
Phabricator and on
MediaWiki.org.
Confirmed deaths per day
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on
Phabricator and on
MediaWiki.org.
As a response to the growing threat, the
Houthis declared the suspension of
international flights on 15 March.[27] Yemeni officials also stepped up to battle against the threat from the coronavirus.[28]
After urging from the
United Nations to pursue peace talks,[29] the
Saudi-led coalition in the
civil war called a unilateral ceasefire beginning 9 April at noon, to support efforts to stop the virus's spread.[30]
After the second case in
Taiz Governorate was announced, the governor of Taiz announced on 2 May that he was closing the province's borders for two weeks, with the exception of supplies of food and other essential goods, in order to prevent the virus from spreading.[14]
On 28 May, the United Nations and 16 other international humanitarian partners launched an emergency appeal to find US$2.41 Billion to fight
COVID-19 in Yemen. Although only 10 of the nation's 22 governorates have reported confirmed cases at this time, a statement from the international humanitarian community indicated that the virus had already impacted most areas of the country. 30 of the 41 major UN Programs in Yemen are at risk of running out of money in the next few weeks if additional funding cannot be found.[20]
Vaccination
On March 31, 2021, Yemen received the first batch of 360,000 coronavirus vaccine doses, a part of 1.9 million doses.[31] Statistics released by the WHO in August 2022 showed that Yemen had administered just 864,544
COVID-19 vaccines so far, making it one of the lowest
COVID-19 vaccination rates in the world. [32]