Sudanese ex-premier to be treated in UAE for COVID-19

KHARTOUM, Sudan

A former Sudanese prime minister will go to the United Arab Emirate (UAE) to receive medical attention after contracting the novel coronavirus, his party announced Monday.

A statement said Alsadig Almahdi's condition was stable and that he responded well to treatment, but that the party had requested he undergo additional health checks.

"Mr. Almahdi is expected to travel this Monday to be admitted for some days in a hospital in Abu Dhabi," said the statement.

Meanwhile, Almahdi's family disclosed that 21 relatives had tested positive for the disease in the past few days.

In a separate statement, acting Health Minister Osama Ahmed Abdul Rahim denied reports that Sudan would declare a full lockdown against the outbreak, though adding that officials were considering various possible scenarios of the virus' spread.

Sudanese authorities announced last week that various senior officials close to Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok had also been infected by COVID-19.