Burundi steps up measures in the fight against COVID 19

Burundi authorities announced in the last couple of days, new stringent measure to fight against Corona virus pandemic (COVID-19). Night clubs and other entertainment places that attract crowds of people have been ordered closed, while borders and marine ways connecting Burundi with neighboring countries have also been closed in an effort to curb down the rising numbers of COVID-19 infections. The number of people seen wearing face masks especially in the capital city Bujumbura has gone up unlike in the previous months.

Public places like bars were left to operate with instructions to abide by the COVID-19 safety guidelines which include measuring temperature of customers as well as washing hands with soap or sanitizers.  The authorities warned the public that whoever will breach the safety guidelines will either be fined or prosecuted.

The new safety guidelines came after the Ministry of health reports indicated that in the capital city Bujumbura alone; more than 100 people were fund infected with the COVID-19 virus in a period of one week. Although Burundi reported the first COVID-19 case in March 2020, there have been no systematic figures released by the Ministry of health in the subsequent months that showed the number of tests within the country, the rate of infection and deaths. So far, the figures released by the ministry of health mention only 2 deaths from COVID-19 and 996 infections, figures that is highly perceived as an under estimate.

Stepping up measures against COVID-19 in Burundi is a good step in the right direction- late but never too late.  Since March 2020, the former President Nkurunziza repeatedly denied that there was no COVID-19 in Burundi and there was no need to use face masks. In May last year, both Nkurunziza and his successor Evariste Ndayishimiye down played the threat of the virus. In his speech on April 5, 2020, Ndayishimiye said: “Some are locked up at home, but God has accepted that we gather…. God loves Burundi… and if some have contracted the coronavirus, it’s so that divine action can transpire.”

Nkurunziza who died on June 8, 2020, his death was listed as “cardiac arrest” but many speculated that he had contracted COVId-19, following reports that his wife had been flown on a charter plane to Nairobi for treatment of the disease. As the world was putting in place measures to curb down COVID-19 infections including a lockdown, the former president allowed mass political rallies and sporting events especially his favorite football game. He even expelled WHO representative and three public health experts who were coordinating the virus response.

During election campaigns that started on April 27, 2020, Ndayishimiye and the former president Nkurunziza participated in political rallies across the country with thousands of people coming together without face masks and social distancing, when other countries had already started implementing measures against COVID-19 including a total lockdown and restricted movements of essential services providers.

‘It is a good thing for the people of Burundi and the Great Lakes Region at large that President Ndayishimiye has now put in place measures to fight against COVID-19,” a health expert told TGLE reporter. Experience has shown that no single country can fight and win the war against COVID-19 in isolation. Since countries share borders where people can cross through porous points, and enter another country, chances of cross border transmissions are very high. “It is important therefore, that neighboring countries not only of the Great Lakes region but also globally, share information and experiences on the fight against COVID-19,” further said the health expert. On the other hand, some analysts suggest that the change of heart by President Ndayishimye on putting in place measures to fight against COVID-19 was done as a strategy to benefit on the COVID-19 vaccine program through the World Health Program (WHO) assistance COVAX, which requires country supporting data of the virus prevalence. Statistics from Burundi Ministry of Health indicate that over 14, 000 tests have so far been conducted in a population of more than 11 million people.