By NOELA EBOB BISONG
The restive North West region of Cameroon has recorded a first coronavirus infection case. The information was made public, April 20, 2020, following a Press Release signed by North West Governor, Adolph Lele L’Afrique.
According to the release, the case is a Cameroonian who originates from the North West region but resident in Douala, Littoral region. The said individual The SUN gathered arrived Bamenda on April 15, 2020 in his Private car, after going through the Medical Screening at Matazem/Santa, where he voluntarily expressed the wish to have a confirmatory test of COVID-19 conducted on him.
The release details that “He was immediately referred to the Bamenda Regional Hospital where he presented himself on the 16th of April 2020 for sample collection. After investigation, his sample was collected, sent to ‘Centre Pasteur de Yaounde’ for analysis. He was also advised on the need to be confined pending his results and he opted for self-confinement at home. On the 20th of April 2020, his results came out POSITIVE and he is presently being managed by the health authorities of the Region.”
Governor Lele L’Afrique notes that all other contacts related to the case are being investigated by the Rapid Intervention and Investigation Team, urging the entire North West population to remain calm and respect hygiene measures in place to prevent the further spread of the virus.
He mentions that measures such as: Hand washing with clean running water and soap/ use of an alcohol based solution, covering the nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when coughing, sneezing or use a flexed elbow, avoid close contact with anyone presenting with flu symptoms and maintaining a distance of at least 1.5 metres between two or more persons etc, should all be strictly observed.