NIGER

Niger registered its first confirmed COVID-19 case on 19 March 2020. On 27 March 2020, the imposition of a night-time curfew and the closure of Niger’s border saw an initial decline in confirmed positive cases. Under economic and religious pressures, the government lifted the night-time curfews and banned religious gatherings on 13 May 2020; however, the initial success was short-lived. On 13 November 2020, in response to cases rising again, the authorities announced visitors would have to surrender their passports and only returned after a negative test following one week of strictly monitored self-isolation. These new measures illustrate the delicate balancing act the government is continuously trying to maintain.