“Concerned by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact on the Burundian population as the first three official cases of infection were confirmed last week, the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi openly invited the Government to fight the pandemic transparently and in compliance with international standards,” read in a press release issued on April 10 by the UN Commission of Inquiry.
Prince Louis Rwagasore Hospital in which three COVID-19 patients are admitted
The Commission stresses that freedoms of information and expression are particularly important during a pandemic crisis. “They should not be unduly restricted to prevent the release of substantiated data that contradict those provided by the authorities or the dissemination of information and ideas that question or criticize the measures adopted by the Government.”
According to the press release, the Commission noted that some humanitarian organizations were refused access to sites where persons were quarantined in deplorable conditions. “The quarantined persons should be provided with sufficient food, clean water and access to health facilities and medical services.”
The Commission calls on the Burundian authorities to cooperate closely and transparently with international and non-governmental organizations and to immediately implement the recommendations issued by the World Health Organization specifically those on social distancing and to encourage all related initiatives, including on an individual basis, instead of threatening their initiators..
This commission considers that the Government should develop as soon as possible a plan to face the threat of the coronavirus and provide assistance to people in need , through its own resources or by seeking international assistance and cooperation if its resources are insufficient.
The Burundian government declared three cases of COVID-19 infection on 31 March. No other cases have been detected since then. At a press conference held on 8 April, Thaddée Ndimukama, Minister of Health said that 34 people who had been in contact with three COVID-19 patients were tested negative. The government took action to quarantine travelers
from countries that have been infected with this virus for more than three weeks.
“2,936 people have already been quarantined in several areas of the country, 2261 people returned home after spending 14 days in isolation, as they did not have symptoms of COVID-19 while 675 of them remain in quarantine,” said Minister Thaddée Ndikumana who believe that Burundi takes measure according to its spread. “We cannot impose measures similar to countries in which this virus is rapidly spreading,” says Minister Ndikumana.
IWACU Open Data
