Cameroon’s National Assembly Speaker tests positive for coronavirus

Government officials who have traveled recently to other parts of the world are at risk of getting the novel coronavirus. Hence, health experts advise they self-quarantine for 14 days to ensure they are not exhibiting any symptoms.

However, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon tested positive for coronavirus, according to reports via hospital sources after refusing to comply with instructions to self-quarantine.

Sadly, the condition of Right Honorable Cavaye Yeguie Djibril has now put the lives of 167 deputies and their families at risk of contracting the virus. The speaker was aboard an Air France flight deemed to be a high-risk flight after assessment by medical experts of the Yaoundé Nsimalen international airport.

Upon realizing the passengers aboard the flight could be carriers of COVID-19, the Minister of Health entreated all passengers on the flight to self-quarantine for the stipulated number of days recommended by the WHO.

Djibril had other pressing things to attend to and is said to have “confused parliamentary immunity with sanitary immunity by rushing to the national assembly,” Daily Times reports.

As expected, he had been re-elected president of the National Assembly chamber once again. After not obeying the self-isolation orders from the Health minister, Djibril has attended at least two plenary sessions in the Cameroonian National Assembly since he returned from his trip with the Air France plane that was declared a high risk.

Many are concerned about the status of the 167 deputies in the lower house and are wondering if they should all undergo self-isolation just to be sure none of them have contracted the coronavirus as well.

There are genuine concerns as to how there will be a succinct contact tracing for all the 167 deputies who also attended the plenary sessions and have been up and about from last Tuesday to date.

It is known that Djibril has been in contact with ministers and newly elected member of parliament Cabral Libi. However, many wonder how the lower house will function if all the deputies are quarantined.