CONAKRY, March 13 (Xinhua) -- A Belgian citizen residents in Guinea since October 2018 has been tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Minister of Health Dr. Remy Lama announced Friday in an official statement.
According to the minister, the 49-year-old patient is a staff member of the European Union (EU) delegation in Guinea, the itinerary of this confirmed case shows "that she went to Belgium (Brussels) on February 15 for holidays, then to France (NICE) for the period from February 17 to 21, 2020 and stayed in Brussels from March 21 to 03. She arrived in Conakry on March 3."
He said that on Thursday the patient was placed in solitary confinement at the Epidemic Treatment Center in Nongo (Conakry) and that the identification of contacts is in progress.
"In application of the International Health Regulations, Guinea declares the 2019 Coronavirus epidemic (COVDI-19)", said the health minister, adding that "the Guinean health authorities in collaboration with partners are urged to take all appropriate measures to stem this emerging epidemic. "
"The Guinean government will take all the necessary measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic in Guinea and in neighboring countries," said the statement.
Faced with this situation, Minister Remy Lama, on behalf of the Guinean government, invited the population not to panic and to rigorously apply the health measures decreed and compliance with government directives on the management of this epidemic.
"A case confirmation notification has been sent to the World Health Organization country office," he said.
