This, he says, is the result of some 800 tests conducted with the majority of positive cases being those who recently returned to the country. Though most of them are positive but asymptomatic, they have been placed on treatment, taking Cameroon’s coronavirus tally sheets to 509 cases, 17 cured and 08 deaths as at press time.

With regards to the focus on active case finding, Minister Malachie said Friday that action in the field is perceptible with the launch of the massive testing campaign in Douala, involving community health workers, who go round the quarters to get potentially positive cases.

“In this connection, I would like to point out that during this week we took samples from eight hundred people who were considered to be suspect cases. The result of this large-scale sampling and testing approach has so far enabled us to get from the community more than 306 positive cases, which, although asymptomatic, have a high potential for contamination,” said the Public Health Minister.

“To date, 509 cases have been reported positive in Cameroon of which 203 cases reported today (Friday, April 3, 2020), for a total of 8 deaths and 17 people recovered. It should be pointed out that patients treated at the Yaoundé General Hospital will also be declared cured soon.”

The Minister says each and every Cameroonian can and must contribute to block the way to COVID-19, or at least prevent its spread. In order to do so, everyone must strictly adhere to the barrier measures enacted by the Government.

“Moreover, each of us must avoid spreading rumours or misinformation that could create confusion and panic in the minds of our brothers and sisters. It is also necessary to rigorously apply the usual hygiene rules of such as: regularly wash hands with clean running water and soap or use an alcohol-based solution; covering your nose and mouth with a handkerchief when coughing, sneezing or using a bent elbow; respecting social distancing measures.

“However, in order to keep up the fight against COVID-19, we encourage people to limit travelling as much as possible and make arrangements to cover their mouth and nose each time we leave. In other words, it would be advisable to stay at home.”