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
Under the effective chairmanship of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, H.E. Joseph DION NGUTE, the weekly meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee in charge of evaluating and monitoring the implementation of Government's response strategy against the COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon was held this Wednesday, 1 July 2020, by videoconference.
Discussions during this meeting focused mainly on:
- the evolution of the pandemic in Cameroon and the reinforcement of the medical devices deployed at the borders;
- the contribution of traditional pharmacopoeia to the fight against COVID-19;
- the finalisation of the international flight management protocol, as a prelude to the reopening of air traffic, and the examination of the situation resulting from the decision of the European Commission concerning international travel to States of the European Union;
- the process of repatriation of Cameroonians in distress abroad.
With regard to the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic in Cameroon, to date 13,711 people have tested positive. Furthermore, 11,114 patients have been declared cured, while 328 have died as a result of COVID-19, a case-fatality rate of 2.3%. With regard to epidemiological surveillance at the borders, the Minister of Public Health reported that specialized teams are deployed in ports, airports and border access points. Other health measures are being examined with a view to strengthening the response on the ground.
With regard to the contribution of the traditional pharmacopoeia to the fight against COVID-19, the Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation reported that the studies already carried out have identified some 100 medicinal plants that could be used
in the production of drugs against COVID-19. These studies are currently being extended, in order to evaluate in particular the active ingredients and toxicity of the therapeutic solutions envisaged.
With regard to the finalization of the international flight management protocol, as a prelude to the reopening of air traffic, the Minister of Transport indicated that circulars had been drawn up to codify the rules to be observed during the boarding and landing of passengers at airports, as part of the fight against COVID-19. With regard to the recent decision of the European Commission concerning international travel to European Union States, the Minister stressed that the measures already taken and those envisaged are in conformity with the requirements of the European Union. He recommended that diplomatic action be taken to reconsider the situation of Cameroon.
As for the repatriation of Cameroonians in distress abroad, the Minister of External Relations said that as at 30 June 2020, 2,085 compatriots had already returned to Cameroon. The repatriation programme provides for the arrival in the coming days of 863 people, 162 of whom are expected at the Nsimalen airport today.
At the end of the discussions, the Head of Government instructed: