Ivory Coast to Roll Out 45 Virus Testing Centers Nationwide

(Bloomberg) --

Ivory Coast will set up 45 centers nationwide to test for coronavirus infections, enforce social distancing in public transportation and make the wearing of face masks mandatory in the commercial capital, Abidjan.

The government will ensure the availability of the masks by stepping up local production and prioritize health personnel as well as the defense and security forces, according to a statement following a meeting of the national security council on Thursday. The rest of the population will get them when they become available.

President Alassane Ouattara said in the statement he has instructed the prime minister to pay bonuses to health workers, members of the security forces and other public servants who are “on the front-line of the fight against the coronavirus” by the end of April. The West African nation, which has 444 confirmed cases, imposed a nighttime curfew earlier this month.

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