Four ministers in Burkina Faso have tested positive for coronavirus, as the country slammed a curfew and closed all land, sea, rail and air links.
Foreign Minister Alpha Barry is among the four ministers declared positive in a day, raising fears that an entire cabinet may be quarantined.
He initially dismissed the news as rumour. But hours later, in a post on Twitter, he admitted contracting the deadly virus.
“The rumour has become reality … I have just been notified positive for COVID-19”, he wrote, without revealing more information about his condition.
Barry was the third minister declared infected by COVID-19 in a single day.
The country’s education minister, Stanislas Ouaro and mines minister, Oumaru Idani also tested positive on Friday.
Also reported as testing positive was minister of territorial administration Simeon Sawadogo.
“I wish to inform the public opinion that I have been tested positive at #Covid19
Consequently I invite all my collaborators as well as all the people having been in contact with me to kindly report themselves to the competent services by calling 3535”, Sawadogo tweeted.
Burkina Faso reported its first confirmed COVID-19 case on March 9, and now has 40 confirmed cases.
Roch Marc Christian Kabore, President of Burkina Faso, on Friday evening announced a curfew throughout the country from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., and the closure of land, air and rail borders. These measures will become effective from midnight March 21.
