According to Dr. Martin Divine Ngomba Mokake, Director of the Regional Hospital Annex Buea, results of samples sent to Yaoundé for tests proved that the suspects are negative.

“Two samples were sent to Yaoundé and the results are back and all of them tested negative for the coronavirus. We are happy to know that. The third case actually does not, for now, fulfil all the profiles of a coronavirus patient. So the national level has advised us to observe the patient still in quarantine for two days and treat the patient as a normal common cold patient. And the patient is improving. So, we think that this one is the normal seasonal changes that we have,” said Dr. Mokake.

Although the hitherto COVID-19 suspected cases have now tested negative, Dr. Mokake insists that the public must triple efforts to beat back the pandemic and stop it from getting into the region.

Hear him: “But the two most suspected cases sent to Yaoundé were completely negative. However, we will still advise the population to keep to the measures prescribed by government and the ministry of public health such that we can be able to stay safe. It has been this way because of the responsibility they have taken upon themselves to make sure that we keep ourselves away from the virus.

“If at all we should relent in our efforts, thinking that we are already safe, that is when we definitely will have it. And when it starts, there will definitely be a catastrophe. So, it is just another platform for us to triple our efforts towards maintaining the status quo.”

Cameroon-Info.Net recalls that on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, the South West Regional Delegate for Public Health, Dr. Ebongo Zacchaeus Nanje said the “three suspects manifested majority of the symptoms of Coronavirus and were known to have recently travelled to COVID-19 hit countries”. He added that samples were collected from the suspects and sent to Yaoundé for examination.

The results have laid to rest fears nursed by the people of the South West Region given that they are already dealing with a cholera epidemic. The South West Regional Delegate of Public Health says the region is just from handling cases of cholera in the Bakassi area and is battling with 51 other cholera cases in Tiko Subdivision.

 With no fewer than 88 known positive cases, two deaths and hundreds of suspected cases under quarantine, Dr. Ebongo says “we are heading towards a potential disaster given that the restrictive measures rolled out by government are not being respected by the population.”

Cameroon has since March 18 ramped up measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, including closing its borders, schools and restricting gatherings of more than 50 persons among other restrictions for a 15-day period renewable.