The Cameroonian government has partially relaxed COVID-19 social distancing rules as of Thursday, following the continued high number of recoveries and low mortality rate in the country.
The new changes, based on the recommendation of a study on the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, allows access to bars, restaurants and leisure facilities after 6 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), Cameroonian Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute said in a statement Thursday evening.
Public transport including buses and taxis with “the mandatory number of passengers” on board is allowed, said Ngute, stressing the need to wear protective masks and adhere to social distancing.
All other social distancing restrictions will remain in place but are subject to regular reviews, according to the statement. Ngute said the government will assist companies financially, increase family allowance and exempt certain taxes to support sectors hardest hit by the pandemic.
Since March 18, the central African country has closed its borders and schools, and applied strict social distancing to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus. To date, Cameroon has reported a total of 1,868 confirmed cases, including 953 recoveries and 61 deaths.
