Health officials announced on 31 December the mandatory presentation of Covid-19 tests before being allowed to large gatherings.

Wednesday’s cabinet meeting was the first of the year, and the absence of eight members of the government was noted.

According to Ivorian media, absentees included the minister of communication, Amadou Coulibaly, due to illness, and other government members who did not submit their Covid test results to have access to the council room.

At the beginning of the meeting, President Alassane Ouattara expressed concern over the rising number of Covid cases.

Ivory Coast has registered more than 75,000 Covid cases and 727 related deaths since the beginning pandemic two years ago.