COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon
The COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have reached Cameroon in March 2020.
| COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon | |
|---|---|
 Confirmed cases by region as of 2 June 2020. | |
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Cameroon |
| First outbreak | Wuhan, China |
| Index case | Yaoundé |
| Arrival date | 6 March 2020 (3 months, 2 weeks and 6 days) |
| Confirmed cases | 12,592 (as of 25 June 2020)[1] |
| Active cases | 4,018 (as of 25 June 2020) |
| Recovered | 10,100 (as of 25 June 2020) |
Deaths | 313 (as of 25 June 2020) |
Territories | Bafoussam, Douala & Yaounde |
| Government website | |
| covid19 | |
Background
On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[2][3]
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[4][5] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[6][4]
Timeline
Active cases
The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have spread to Cameroon, Central Africa on 6 March with its first confirmed case.[7] The infected person is a French national who arrived in the capital Yaoundé 24 February.[8][9][10]
The second case in the country was announced on 6 March. The case was a Cameroonian citizen who was in close contact with the first case, but officials did not release any further information on the case.[11]
Five new cases were confirmed on 18 March. Although further information about the victims was not published, one of the confirmed victims is a foreigner.[12]
The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Malachie Manaouda, revealed on 23 March that among the 16 cases tested positive that morning, 9 were from Douala, 6 in Yaoundé, and one in Bafoussam.[13]
On 27 March, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Cameroon reached 91 with the break down per areas as: 63 in Yaounde, 25 in Douala and 3 in Bafoussam.[14][15][16][17]
The total number of COVID-19 cases keep climbing up in the country. On 30 March, the Minister of Public Health announced that Cameroon had 142 active cases with 6 deaths.[18]
On 2 April, the number of COVID-19 cases in Cameroon climbed to 286.[19]
On 6 April, the number of confirmed cases rose to 658.[20]
On 7 April, 685 cases were confirmed.[21]
On 10 April, 730 cases were confirmed.[22]
On 25 April, there were 1,513 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the nation.[23]
On 5 May, Cameroon had 2,104 confirmed cases and 64 deaths.[24]
Deaths
The first death occurred on 24 March,[25] the deceased was the famous saxophonist Manu Dibango.[26]
Medical supply donations
Jack Ma donated medical supplies (20,000 test kits, 100,000 masks and 1,000 medical-use protective suits and face shields) to Cameroon to assist the efforts to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic in Africa.[27] The supplies arrived to Cameroon's [[Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport|Yaounde Nsimalen Airport]] on 27 March.
Samuel Eto'o gave 50,000 facial protection masks to taxi drivers in his country.[28]
Government measures
On 18 March, Cameroonian Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute closed its land, air and sea borders.[29]
On 30 March, the Minister of Health announced the imminent launch of a coronavirus test campaign in the city of Douala. Dedicated teams will go door-to-door in the economic capital from April 2 to 6, says the minister.[30]
On 7 April, the Cameroonian government has suspended calls for public generosity in the fight against COVID-19, a move that attracted criticism over political motives.[31]
On 10 April, the government took 7 additional measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Cameroon. These measures take effect from Monday, 13 April 2020.[32]
- Measure 1: Wearing a mask in all areas open to the public;
- Measure 2: Local production of drugs, screening tests, protective masks and hydro-alcoholic gels;
- Measure 3: Establishment of specialized COVID-19 treatment centers in all regional capitals;
- Measure 4: Intensification of the screening campaign with the collaboration of the Center Pasteur;
- Measure 5: Intensification of the awareness campaign in urban and rural areas in both official languages;
- Measure 6: Continuation of activities essential to the economy in strict compliance with the directives of March 17, 2020;
- Measure 7: Sanction
On April 15, following the claims of the Human Rights Commission of the Cameroon Bar Association, President Paul Biya announced the release of certain prisoners in connection with COVID-19.[33]
On Tuesday May 5, the Minister of Health announced the provision to healthcare personnel of 50,000 coveralls, 320,000 surgical masks, 220 backpack sprayers, 10,000 pairs of overshoes.[34]
See also
References
- "MINSANTE-COVID-19". Minsante.cm. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- Kouagheu, Josiane (6 March 2020). "Cameroon confirms first case of coronavirus". Reuters. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- Lukong, Pius; Woussou, Kossi (6 March 2020). "Cameroon, Togo Report First Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus". Bloomberg. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- "Cameroon confirms first case of coronavirus". National Post. Reuters. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- "Cameroon Confirms First Case of Coronavirus". The New York Times. Reuters. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- Ndi, Ndi Eugene (6 March 2020). "Cameroon confirms second case of coronavirus". The East African. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- "Coronavirus: Cameroon confirms 5 new cases". Business in Cameroon. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- "Cameroon: Coronavirus cases rise to 56". Journal du Cameroun.com. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- "Coronavirus : le Cameroun compte désormais 91 cas confirmés". actucameroun.com (in French). 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- "Cameroon: COVID-19 cases hit 88". Journal du Cameroun.com. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- "Cameroon: Coronavirus cases climb to 66". Journal du Cameroun.com. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- "Panic as confirmed coronavirus cases in Cameroon hit 70". mimimefoinfos.com. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- "Cameroon's Coronavirus cases move up to 142". Journal du Cameroun.com. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "Cameroon's COVID-19 cases climb up to 193". Journal du Cameroun.com.
- "COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic". Worldometer. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- "Cameroonians are worried about coronavirus but also about an absent president". Quartz Africa. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- "Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report – 81" (PDF). WHO. 10 April 2020.
- "Coronavirus: Which countries have confirmed cases?". AlJazeera. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- "Au Cameroun, sur la piste du coronavirus dans les quartiers de Douala". Le Monde.fr (in French). 5 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- "Cameroon confirms 1st death from COVID-19". www.aa.com.tr.
- "Décès du saxophoniste Manu Dibango". Le Devoir (in French). Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- "China's richest man sends medical supplies to Cameroon". www.aa.com.tr.
- Enow, Par Njie (17 April 2020). "Coronavirus : Mouna Dreams a non profit founded by a Cameroonian Liliane Bisseck gave 500 face masks to children in the villages. Eto'o prévoit d'aider 100 000 personnes au Cameroun". BBC News Afrique (in French). Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- "Coronavirus : le Cameroun ferme ses frontières". TV5MONDE (in French). 18 March 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- "Coronavirus: au Cameroun, le silence de Paul Biya, face à l'épidémie, fait parler". RFI (in French). 31 March 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- "Coronavirus au Cameroun : les opérations de solidarité dans le viseur du gouvernement – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 10 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- CRTVweb [@CRTV_web] (9 April 2020). "7 mesures supplémentaires contre la propagation du #Covid19 au #Cameroun Mesure 1 : port du masque obligatoire" (Tweet) (in French). Retrieved 10 April 2020 – via Twitter.
- "Coronavirus au Cameroun : Paul Biya annonce la libération de certains prisonniers – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). 16 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- "Au Cameroun, sur la piste du coronavirus dans les quartiers de Douala". Le Monde.fr (in French). 5 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
