This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
On July 1, 2020, Burundi's new President Evariste Ndayishimiye made a dramatic declaration, labeling the coronavirus the country's 'biggest enemy'.
Just a month prior, former President Pierre Nkurunziza had died, and Ndayishimiye himself had downplayed the severity of the pandemic, attributing Burundi's relative safety to divine intervention.
However, with the country's reported cases and deaths remaining low at 170 and one respectively, Ndayishimiye's new stance marked a significant shift in the nation's approach to the pandemic.
Speaking after the swearing-in of his new government, Ndayishimiye emphasized the importance of respecting preventative measures, including the strict adherence to health guidelines and the promotion of cleanliness.
He announced that the government would subsidize 50 percent of the price of soap and lower the cost of water in the country to encourage citizens to take the necessary precautions.
Furthermore, Ndayishimiye warned that those who failed to get tested when showing symptoms would be considered 'sorcerers' and treated accordingly.
He also promised to establish testing centers across the country, citing the need to 'hunt down' the virus wherever it was suspected to be present.
According to a high-ranking health ministry official, the turnaround in Burundi's approach to the pandemic comes after the World Bank donated $5 million to help the country combat the virus.
