Some African nations take tough stance against COVID-19, but it's business as usual in others

Record ID: 1465425

  • Title: Some African nations take tough stance against COVID-19, but it's business as usual in others
  • Date: 23rd March 2020
  • Summary: DOUALA, CAMEROON (RECENT) (REUTERS) SHOPKEEPER FLORENCE AWAH IN HER SHOP AWAH TALKING TO CHILDREN IN THE SHOP AWAH'S HAND IN JAR AND WITH CUSTOMERS CHILDREN HOLDING SWEETS FROM AWAH'S SHOP AWAH'S FACE CHILDREN STANDING OUTSIDE AWAH'S SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Pidgin English) FLORENCE AWAH, SHOPKEEPER, SAYING: "It's been two or maybe a month since we heard about coronavirus causing havoc in China. Since we are now getting reports that the virus has entered Cameroon, it's risky for children to go to school. This is because when kids play together they might be infected by their friends who are already carrying the virus. So, it's totally okay to suspend schools until a vaccine can be found which will prevent transition especially amongst children." GATE OF CLOSED SCHOOL THAT AWAH'S GRANDCHILDREN ATTEND LOCK ON SCHOOL GATE SCHOOL BUS SEEN THROUGH CLOSED GATE EXTERIOR CLOSED SCHOOL NORMALLY BUSY BUS STOP WITH JUST A FEW PASSENGERS AFTER GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSPORT VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GETTING INTO A MINIBUS, NONE OF THEM WEARING MASKS MINIBUS LEAVING (SOUNDBITE) (Pidgin English) ENOW MANOR, PORTER AT THE BUS STATION, SAYING: "If the entire country shuts down and I am unable to work here for some time then I will be badly affected. I need to work here everyday in order to sustain my family. Since other nations have ordered for a total shutdown of activities, I fear that this virus can push our government to take the same measures. At the moment our only hope is that God will help us put an end to the virus because now we are helpless." PEOPLE SITTING IN A STREET BAR WITH BEERS MAN TALKING IN THE BAR NONO ARNOLD SITTING AT THE TABLE WITH A BEER MAN DRINKING A BOTTLE OF BEER (SOUNDBITE) (French) NONO ARNOLD, CUSTOMER AT THE STREET BAR, SAYING: "Concerning the government's decision to close drinking places from 6 p.m., I think this makes a lot of sense. Because with the illness (COVID-19) that is going around, we don't know where it might come from so by doing that the government is trying to protect the Cameroonian people.'' MONROVIA, LIBERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) TOP VIEW OF THE RED-LIGHT MARKET IN PAYNESVILLE, THE CITY'S BIGGEST MARKET TOP VIEW OF PEOPLE WALKING IN BUSY MARKET CROWD OF PEOPLE WALKING IN THE MARKET WOMAN IN THE MARKET SELLING MASKS WOMAN HOLDING THE MASKS AND HAND SANITIZER TO SELL PLASTIC WASH BUCKETS FOR SALE MORE OF PLASTIC WASH BUCKETS ON SALE IN THE MARKET TRADERS AND CUSTOMERS IN THE MARKET SMALL TAXI (SOUNDBITE) (Pidgin English) MARKET TRADER, GRACE MARBLINGS, SAYING: "I don't believe it, I believe in the almighty God. I know that with Ebola, he (God) made us get over it. This sickness will not reach us, we will get over it. God himself will work for us and so I don't believe it. So covering your face or whatever, that won't stop it. Only God." (SOUNDBITE) (Pidgin English) MARKET TRADER, BENEDICTUS TAWRUS, SAYING: "What is this government saying? Let the government be fair. If there is anything they want to do they need to tell us. They shouldn't use this virus to make money for themselves. Let them be clear with the information, then we will know if we have to use prevention methods or if we carry on as we are." (SOUNDBITE) (Pidgin English) MARKET TRADER, MARTHA DAVID SAYING: "I don't believe it because I'm a child of God. I don't believe it, this is a Christian country. We don't want to encourage that demon. Let them take it back. We don't want it today, we don't want it tomorrow. We are tired, this is a Christian country. This is not a demon country here." MAN WALKING IN THE STREET WITH HIS FACE COVERED IN PLASTIC AND A FACE MASK STREET TRADER WITH A MASK AT WATER-SIDE MARKET IN DOWNTOWN MONROVIA TOP VIEW OF MARKET IN DOWNTOWN PEOPLE UNLOADING TRUCK AT MARKET (SOUNDBITE) (Pidgin English) FLORENCE TEAH, HEALTH WORKER, SAYING: "I do believe that the sickness (COVID-19) is here because, during the time of Ebola, the same thing happened and Liberians said it was a lie. They said it was Ellen (former president Ellen johnson Sirleaf) who brought the the sickness. So the sickness is in this country." SIGN READING 'Coronavirus is real!!' AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HYGIENE AND HOW TO AVOID CATCHING IT EXTERIOR CATHEDRAL SCHOOL SIGN READING CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL VARIOUS OF EMPTY CLASS ROOM
  • Embargoed: 6th April 2020 14:47
  • Keywords: Cameroon Coronavirus Health shutdown trade transport. Liberia
  • Location: DOUALA, CAMEROON AND MONROVIA, LIBERIA
  • City: DOUALA, CAMEROON AND MONROVIA, LIBERIA
  • Country: Various
  • Reuters ID: LVA001C69VRYV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Cameroon recently closed its land, air and sea borders indefinitely. International flights were grounded and transport restricted. Schools and universities have been shut down to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
    Some children are using it as an excuse to roam the streets and buy sweets from Florence Awah's shop.
    But in general Cameroonians in Douala said they agreed with the measures, even if it has had a fundamental impact on their lives and possibly threatens their livelihoods.
    "It's been two or maybe a month since we heard about coronavirus causing havoc in China. Since we are now getting reports that the virus has entered Cameroon, it's risky for children to go to school. This is because when kids play together they might be infected by their friends who are already carrying the virus. So, it's totally okay to suspend schools until a vaccine can be found which will prevent transition especially amongst children," said Awah.
    The bus station which is normally crawling with hundreds of travelers every day had already thinned out by the time the announcement was made on Wednesday (March 18).
    The government said movement should be strictly limited to essential travel. But shutting down transport will slow down business and traders are concerned about losing a substantial part of their income, especially if the lockdown goes on for too long.
    "If the entire country shuts down and I am unable to work here for some time then I will be badly affected. I need to work here everyday in order to sustain my family. Since other nations have ordered for a total shutdown of activities, I fear that this virus can push our government to take the same measures. At the moment our only hope is that God will help us put an end to the virus because now we are helpless" said, Enow Manor, a porter who works at the bus station.
    Bars, restaurants, and makeshift drinking establishments will have to close down after 6 p.m. (1800GMT) the government said. Although they can operate during the day, these businesses make most of their income at night.
    But fear of the coronavirus spreading in a country where the health system is vulnerable and overstretched is worrying many people.
    "Concerning the government's decision to close drinking places from 6 p.m., I think this makes a lot of sense, because with the illness (COVID-19) that is going around, we don't know where it might come from so by doing that the government is trying to protect the Cameroonian people," said Nono Arnold, sipping his last beer before early closing time.
    The biggest concern for government's has been to persuade people living in often overcrowded cities to heed the call and change their habits drastically.
    Liberia was one of three counties in West Africa worst hit by the Ebola epidemic in 2014-2016 which killed more than 11,000 people. Weak surveillance systems and poor public health infrastructure contributed to the difficulty surrounding the containment of Ebola. But by the end of the outbreak Liberia had set up isolation wards and improved health care system engaging local leaders in prevention programs and information campaigns. But it remains underfunded despite promises of investment.
    Liberia confirmed its first COVID-19 case on March 16.
    The government's measures to contain the spread of the virus include school and university closures and 14 days quarantine for travelers coming from countries with more than 200 Coronavirus cases. They have also discouraged large gatherings.
    But the busy market of Paynesville was thronging with people on Wednesday (March 18) and traders said they did not believe there was a virus.
    At the start of the Ebola crisis people had accused the government of Ellen Sirleaf Johnson of making it up to get more funding. Traders were once again skeptical of the government and hardly anyone wore masks despite some people selling them in the street.
    (Production: Blaise Eyong, Derrick Snyder, Yvonne Bell)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register