Authorities in Sudan have said night curfews will begin on Tuesday in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The move comes after the country recorded its second case of the new coronavirus, officially known as Covid-19, last Friday.

In a statement in Khartoum on Monday, the head of the National Health Emergency Committee, Siddiq Tawer, said the authorities have decided to impose a curfew beginning Tuesday from 8 pm until 6 am until further notice.

He further said the country will also stop any long-distance bus trips between various cities, effective 6 pm on Thursday.

Tawer said Sudan has 17 suspected cases of the coronavirus who are in quarantine, adding there has been no increase in confirmed cases. 

The head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has asked people to stay home, warning that the country’s healthcare system is fragile and cannot cope with the spread of the new coronavirus.  

Addressing the nation on Monday, Gen. al-Burhan announced the establishment of a fund to collect donations from Sudanese inside and outside the country to support health authorities’ efforts to contain the spread of the virus. 

Sudan declared a public health emergency last week and has already closed all airports and land crossings.