Burkina Faso: Curfew hours modified as of April 20 /update 6

Event

On Monday, April 20, Burkinabe officials announced a modification to the ongoing nationwide nightly curfew, which seeks to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Effective immediately, movement is prohibited between 21:00 and 04:00 (local time), beginning two hours later and ending one hour earlier than the initial curfew implemented on Saturday, March 21.

Additionally, authorities announced that from Monday, April 27, the use of face masks will be compulsory in public spaces nationwide.

Security personnel will be deployed to ensure that these measures are met, as well as enforce social distancing and hygienic measures imposed by health authorities.

On a related note, the state of sanitary emergency declared on Thursday, March 26, remains in effect as of Wednesday, April 22. As such, the cities of Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Boromo, Dédougou, Houndé, Banfora, Manga, and Zorgho, remain under quarantine until further notice. All bars, restaurants, and markets, along with schools and places of worship remain closed, and all gatherings prohibited.

Commercial flights out of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso have also been suspended and all land and rail border crossing points have also been closed until further notice.

As of April 22, there are 581 confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide and 38 reported deaths nationwide. Further international spread of the virus is expected.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and labored breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the virus.