The West Region of Cameroon has recorded new cases of the novel coronavirus. This was made known in a release signed on November 12, by Governor Awa Fonka Augustine.

West governor, Awa Fonka Augustine

According to the release, 34 new corona virus cases have been recorded in the region recently. The Chief Administrator furthered that 18 cases out of the 34 recorded, were detected in a hospital in Penka Michel in the Menoua Division.

The Governor asserted that the virus is spreading fast to other communities and divisions within the region. “Unlike in the past where we had only the Mifi and the Noun Divisions taking the lead with a lot of contaminations, this time around we have discovered that there are certain subdivisions like Penka Michelle, colleges and schools hosting infected cases…” Governor Awa Fonka said.

According to the Governor, the resurgence of the pandemic in the region is as a result of a drop in the respect of the measures put in place by the government of Cameroon in conformity with the World Health Organisation’s standards.

He further indicated that there is a probability for the number of confirmed cases to rise in the region and Cameroon. “The next few weeks look at high risk with a probability of worsening of the health map of the Western region in view of the current context marked by the second wave of the pandemic which is currently raging in Western countries. The proximity of the end-of-year celebrations with the arrival of fellow citizens living in these countries and the persistent rumours about the result traffic in foreign airports by some travellers who would pay to have a negative test when they were positive,” the Governor said.

To this effect, the Governor has urged the population to use collective efforts to prevent the spread of the virus to other parts of the region. He called on them to respect barrier measures put in place to fight pandemic; constant washing of hands with clean running water, the use of hand sanitizers, wearing of facemask, ensuring and maintaining 1 metre apart and to ovoid over crowded places especially public and markets squares.

As at the time of this report, official statistics showed that Cameroon has recorded 22,692 confirmed cases, 21,510 recovered cases and 433 deaths.

By Neville Mesumbe