REPUBLIQUE DU CAMEROUN Paix-Travail-Patrie SERVICES DU PREMIER MINISTRE SECRETARIAT GENERAL REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON Peace-Work-Fatherland PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE SECRETARIAT GENERAL
# PRESS RELEASE
On the instructions of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Joseph DION NGUTE, on Wednesday 18 March 2020, presided over a restricted inter-ministerial meeting to determine the modalities for the implementation of measures taken in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Cameroon.
After reviewing the various measures prescribed by the Head of State and contained in the special statement made by the Prime Minister on Tuesday, 17 March 2020, it appeared that a number of difficulties were observed in the implementation of some measures, especially managing passengers arriving from abroad on the night of 17 to 18 March 2020.
The Head of Government instructed that emergency measures should be taken to remedy this situation and that care protocols should be prepared in the short term, by the Ministers of Public Health and Transport.
Concerning specifically the modalities for the application of the measures taken as part of the response to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Cameroon, the Head of Government reiterated the complementary instructions of the Head of State namely:
- the measures contained in the Special Statement of the Prime Minister of 17 March 2020 will be applied for a period of fifteen (15) days, renewable if necessary;
- hearings in courts are maintained, in compliance with the maximum number of fifty (50) persons authorized for each gathering;
- trade with foreign countries will continue, especially with Chad and the Central African Republic without prejudice to health checks on drivers.
At the end of this meeting, the Prime Minister, Head of Government gave the following guidelines to administrations, urging them to:
- systematically take the temperature of personnel before they access their various places of work, using thermoflashes;
- install hand sanitizers in buildings open to the public;
- restrict visits to public services;
- restrict staff mobility within administrations;
- respect the statutory working hours for non-essential personnel;
The Head of Government recommended the adoption and implementation of the above-mentioned measures by the private sector, for greater efficiency.
He further instructed:
- the Minister of Territorial Administration to organize meetings with religious authorities and representatives of political parties with a view to determining the practical arrangements for the organization of religious services during the restricted period and, to define the conditions for the organization of partial legislative elections in the North-West and South-West Regions.
- the Minister of Transport to maintain and supervise activities related to the domestic transport of persons and goods;
- the Minister of Trade to ensure the stability of prices of consumer goods and specify the modalities for regulating flows in markets and business premises.
- the Minister of Communication to intensify the information and awareness-raising campaign for citizens through all communication channels.