After months of denial, Burundi now fears COVID-19

* To Establish testing centres countrywide

* To Conduct Mass Testing

BUJUMBURA, Burundi

Burundi’s new President Maj. Gen Evariste Ndayishimiye says his government will establish New Coronavirus testing centres countrywide and conduct mass testing where necessary, in a move that suggests that the East African country is finally acknowledging the full extent of the outbreak.

Burundi’s new President Maj. Gen Evariste Ndayishimiye

The Burundian leader made the declaration on Tuesday as he made commitments of his new government but fell short of mentioning anything to do with working on the country’s international and bilateral relations that have left Burundi in isolation since 2015.

However, unlike his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza, who died on June 8, with subsequent reports suggesting that he could have died of the New Coronavirus, Ndayishimiye in a series of tweets seemed to admit that COVID-19 is prevalent in the country and measures will be taken to fight it.

“In terms of human health, today we launched a campaign against the New Coronavirus pandemic, which we have called ‘Ndakira, sinandura kandi sinanduza’”, which loosely translates into “I will heal, I will not get infected, I will not infect others’.

“To reach that goal, it requires individual and collective attention. No one exhorts you, exhort yourself; Comply with all the rules that the Ministry of Public Health has in all public places, even in homes,” the Burundian leader said.

Ndayishimiye also said that the government has decided to lower the price of soap by 50%, to make it easier for the citizen to get it, adding that the other part is the government that will pay for it.

“In the capital cities of the provinces, the government is going to reduce the price of water until we see that the Corona disaster is no longer visible in the country.

“In all provinces of Burundi, a coronavirus testing team will be set up, and we will conduct a campaign to test all citizens everywhere upon suspicion that there is an outbreak of the virus,” he said.

Burundi has so far confirmed 170 cases, out of which 115 have recovered and one death but Burundi has been criticised for its handling of the pandemic.

In May, President Nkurunziza’s government expelled World Health Organisation (WHO) team in the country after officials criticised the government for poorly handling the virus and failing to put in place measures to contain the outbreak.