This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
July 1, 2020
President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi has taken a significant step towards acknowledging the threat posed by COVID-19, a stark contrast to his predecessor's stance. The new president, a 52-year-old retired army general, won the presidential election in May as the ruling party's candidate, defeating six opposition contenders.
Following the death of his predecessor, Pierre Nkurunziza, Ndayishimiye was sworn in early, bringing forward the succession. In a significant shift, the government will soon post new guidelines to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which the population will be required to comply with strictly.
“Everyone has to take measures to stop being infected or infecting others,” Ndayishimiye said, emphasizing the importance of individual responsibility in combating the virus.
As of now, Burundi has reported 170 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The government will also take measures to make it easier for citizens to wash their hands, including cutting the price of soap by half and reducing the cost of water.
“We urge everyone who sees symptoms of the disease to rush for a test so he can get treatments,” Ndayishimiye said, adding that the government will carry out mass testing of people in areas suspected of being epicentres of the virus.
