Burundi government is set to consider the reopening of Melchior Ndadaye International airport next month after the mass COVID-19 screening campaign comes to an end.
The mass test that kicked off on July 6th 2020 is expected to end this month as at least 445 people tested positive for the virus countrywide.
“At the end of this month we will conduct an assessment based on which we will decide if it is high time we reopen the international airport after the end of the mass testing campaign,” said Burundi foreign affairs minister Albert Shingiro.
Mr. Shingiro’s comments came during a joint meeting held by his office and the representatives of external NGOs last week.
“Flights could resume in Burundi in a few weeks after a close assessment of the coronavirus mass screening campaign has been made,” he added.
Since the COVID-19 mass testing campaign started until August 28, 2020, 445 people tested positive for the virus, while 254 of the 445 infected people were tested during the campaign that was launched early July.
According to the Burundian government at least 22044 tests were conducted countrywide during the mass testing campaign making an overall number of tests since the outbreak of the virus in March 2020 to 24659.
According to the Burundian government 357 patients were discharged from hospital while active coronavirus cases remains at 87 with one fatality since the pandemic was declared.
Currently over 25 million people have been infected by the virus worldwide with fatalities due to COVID-19 surpassed an edge of 800,000.