Covid-19 in Burundi: the epidemic is worsening, the government downplays the situation
Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye in June 2020. AFP - TCHANDROU NITANGA
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye inaugurated this Friday, August 20, a screening center for Covid-19 at Bujumbura airport.
The government recognizes an upsurge in Covid-19 cases in the country, but it downplays the gravity of the situation.
Advertising
Read more
The photo is posted by the Burundian presidency.
Of the dozen people who inaugurate the airport's Covid-19 screening center, only one woman wears the mask.
President Evariste Ndayishimiye refrains from wearing this protection against the coronavirus.
Yet the executive recognizes it, there is
an upsurge in the epidemic
from north to south of Burundi.
The country is now collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO).
It has reported 156 new daily infections on average since July 22, up from 20 a day previously.
But officially, the toll remains at 10 dead.
A very different picture is painted by health professionals: 13 dead in ten days in a hospital in Bujumbura.
"
We are overwhelmed,"
says an employee to SOS Médias Burundi.
Several dying patients were transferred elsewhere for lack of places for their resuscitation.
"
"
The sick receive medicine and get well
"
The mayor of Bujumbura publicly sounded the alarm this week.
To which the Minister of the Interior who heads the Covid-19 response committee replied: “
There are no deaths due to the coronavirus in Burundi.
The sick receive medicine and recover.
"
Same reassuring tone at the Ministry of Health, which encourages the population to respect barrier gestures, but not to be vaccinated.
►Also read: Covid-19: the government of Burundi changes its strategy with regard to vaccination
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Burundi
Coronavirus
Health and medicine