Burundi confirms border closure with Rwanda and DRC
Briefing Issue #69, Wednesday, April 8, 2020
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BURUNDI IN THE HEADLINES
Dear readers,
In a verbal note of April 7 made public this Wednesday, the Burundi government announced that it has temporarily closed its borders with Rwanda and RDC since March 27 to avoid contamination of COVID19. Goods from countries in the region can still enter Burundi through the borders which remain open. Particularly truck owners who declared their good before March 27, will be allowed to cross the border.
READ ALSO: Rwanda notification Over Burundi Cargo Blockade explained!
This Wednesday, April 8, 2020, Burundi Members of Parliament met to analyze two bills on the agreement between the Republic of Burundi and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa relating to the rehabilitation project of the Burundi-Rwanda road, and another section of the road that goes from the Chanic roundabout to the Ndadaye Melchior international airport in Bujumbura.
In a press briefing, the Minister of Health announced that out of 34 people tested today (including those who had been tested last week), no new cases of COVID-19 were found in Burundi. The health of the 3 patients is stable, with no cough, fever or dyspnea. It was announced during the briefing that over 2936 people have been quarantined in different provinces. After 14 days of quarantine, 2261 people returned home and showed no signs of COVID-19. Only 675 people remain in quarantine.
On April 27, 2020, Burundi will launch the electoral campaign for the presidential, legislative and municipal elections of May 20, 2020
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IN THE REGION
Vital Kamerhe, the chief of staff of the Congolese president, was placed under a provisional arrest warrant this Wednesday, April 8, after having been heard at the parquet floor of Matete as part of the investigation into the funds allocated to the program of 100 days.
The Kenya Health Ministry has announced seven more confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Kenya, raising the country's official toll to 179. Health Chief Administrative Secretary, Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, told a press conference on Wednesday that all the new patients were Kenyans. Five were found through surveillance while two had been quarantined, Dr. Mwangangi said, adding five of the cases were recorded in Nairobi and one each in Mombasa and Uasin Gishu counties. Four of the new patients, who were among 305 people tested in the last 24 hours, had a history of travel. (Daily Nation)
As most of the world goes into lockdown to halt the spread of coronavirus, Tanzania’s president is taking a different tack: encouraging people to go pray in churches and mosques to quell a “satanic” virus that can only be cured by divine intervention. President John Magufuli scorns social distancing, sees Jesus Christ as an antidote to ‘satanic’ virus (WSJ)
President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday evening revealed that the number of Uganda’s COVID-19 cases now stands at 53. He said that on April 8, 2020, a total number of 214 samples were tested and only one of those tested positive, 213 samples tested negative. President Museveni noted that since the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Uganda, a total number of about 3600 samples have been tested and only 53 have turned out to be positive. (Daily Monitor)
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