Cameroon's bold response to the COVID-19 pandemic during the first and second waves

The Cameroonian government has made calculated decisions, including contextualised mitigation measures, a bold testing strategy incorporating rapid diagnostic tests, treatment of patients with COVID-19 exclusively in specialised treatment centres, re-opening schools during the peak of the pandemic, and integrating mental health care into the national response.1 The first two cases of COVID-19 in Cameroon were confirmed on March 5, 2020. Despite 15 PCR-capable diagnostic laboratories being implemented in nine of ten Cameroonian geographical regions by April, 2020, it was clear that many cases were being missed.4 Therefore, the Cameroon Ministry of Health took the bold decision to incorporate and evaluate rapid diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 antigens and serology.5 The national algorithm was validated by the Scientific Council of Public Health Emergencies in June, 2020. 629 090 people were tested by antigenic rapid tests between June 6, 2020, and Dec 31, 2020, in selected testing sites located in markets, schools, universities, administrative offices, and businesses. 43 261 (57·9%) of the 74 733 COVID-19-positive cases reported by the Ministry of Public Health were diagnosed using rapid tests.2 In addition, the government established specialised COVID-19 care centres in regions with community transmission, thus relieving congestion in public health facilities and reducing the stigma associated with hospitals that were treating patients with COVID-19.