The statement is from Prime Minister and Head of Government but says the government is presently not thinking in that direction.
Prime Minister and Head of Government, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute chaired a crisis meeting at the Star Building in Yaoundé Tuesday March 24, 2020 to evaluate the implementation of the 13 points anti corona measures prescribed by the head of State Paul Biya.
During the meeting that grouped government ministers, it was discovered that Cameroonians are not in any way respecting the measures that were taken to curb the spread of the virus in the country, and which took effect on March 18, 2020 for a period of 15 days.
Bars still remain open after the 6:00 PM deadline adopted; inter-urban transport is still not operating as prescribed; gatherings of more than 50 people are still visible across the nation and even basic hygienic conditions are not respected by individuals and institutions in the country.
Consequently, the spread of the virus keeps gaining grounds as days pass by with 70 Corona positive cases announced so far by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Yaoundé.
To remedy the situation, many had expected the government to announce more vigorous measures like a partial or total confinement of the country but Joseph Dion Ngute at the end of the crisis meeting announced rather that respect of the present measures is imperative as strict control operations have been ordered to track down and sanction defaulters accordingly.
Judicial proceedings are not left out as the Pm instructs the Administration and Judicial officials to ensure the strict respect of the measures.
The PM cited article 260 of the penal code which stipulates that “Is punishable with imprisonment of three months to three years, anyone who, in his conduct facilitates the spread of a contagious and dangerous disease”.
Responding to rumors that there is a plan to isolate and confine Cameroonians at their homes as a means to prevent the spread of the virus, Dion Ngute refuted the claims saying that the President of the republic has not yet given such instructions to the government.
Recently it was the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie who announced that total isolation is not in the immediate agenda of the government of Cameroon.
The Premiere did not however ignore the possibility a confining Cameroonians as part of the Covid-19 response plan, and that will depend on the attitude of Cameroonians towards the respect of the measures.
To Joseph Dion Ngute, “it is essential to limit gatherings and non essential movements and to respect the instructions already given in order to avoid that the spread of the virus should lead to greater restrictions of activities that are useful for our daily lives”.
On their parts, most Cameroonians www.newsupfront.com contacted in the city of Yaoundé threw the blame of the non respect of governments anti Corona measures to the difficult economic situation in the country given that they fend for their “Daily Bread” on a daily basis.
Some went as far as to enjoin the government of the Republic of Cameroon to provide economic compensation to affected citizens in one way or the other to motivate them.
Comments 1