PRESS RELEASE — Réunion du Comité interministériel de suivi de la stratégie de riposte contre la pandémie de COVID-19

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

The Prime Minister, Head of Government, H.E. Joseph DION NGUTE, this Thursday, 7 May 2020, chaired by videoconference, 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.

Discussions during this meeting focused on the following issues:

• an update on the evolution of COVID-19 in Cameroon;
• the progress of the local production of medicines and other protective gear;
• Cameroon-France bilateral cooperation in the fight against COVID-19;
• arrangements to implement economic support measures for sectors in difficulty.

At the end of the reports presented on these points by the competent Ministers, the following observations were made:

1. With regard to the evolution of the coronavirus in Cameroon, 2,265 cases have already been recorded. To date, 1,221 people have been healed while 86 others have died. The deployment of specialized teams from the Ministry of Public Health on the field is continuing and measures have been taken to reinforce the stocks of personal protective gear and care for the sick.

1. With regard to the process of local production of medicines and other protective gear, the Minister of Scientific Research indicated that 50% of locally produced products are already available. The supply in the coming days of the ordered inputs, as expected, should speed up the local production of medicines.

1. With regard to Cameroon-France bilateral cooperation in the fight against COVID-19, the Minister of External Relations indicated that it is in three major areas, namely: support for research-action, strengthening the response capacities of public

SERVICES DU PREMIER MINISTRE SECRETARIAT GÉNÉRAL DIRECTION DES AFFAIRES ADMINISTRATIVES ET DES REQUÊTÉS COPIE CERTIFIÉE CONFORME

administrations, and support for local production of medicines and protective gear.

1. As for the modalities to implement economic support measures for sectors in difficulty, the Minister of Finance said that CFAF 15 billion has already been mobilized for the clearance of VAT credits. Exemptions relating to the tourist tax, the withholding tax and the axle tax are already in effect. In addition, circulars are being prepared to specify the implementation modalities of other business support measures taken by the Head of State.

During the discussions that followed these presentations, the Minister of External Relations communicated the indicative programme for the repatriation of Cameroonians in distress abroad.

At the end of the discussions, the Head of Government gave the following general instructions:

• To the Minister of Territorial Administration, to instruct administrative authorities to specifically ensure compliance with the regulations regarding the opening and closing hours of bars;
• To the Minister of Communication, to intensify awareness-raising among the population in order to encourage them to adopt more responsible attitudes, particularly in commercial areas and places open to the public.