YAOUNDE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon on Wednesday effectively started charging for polymerase chain reaction COVID-19 test, according to the country's Minister of Public Health Malachie Manaouda.

       Manaouda said Tuesday that the test will now cost 30,000 xaf (approximately 48 U.S. dollars).

       Payment will be effected through a platform for the dematerialization of public receipts, but also on physical sites allowing the generation of a unique code and a receipt, he said.

       The officials did not explain why the test that was previously free of charge will now be paid for.

       As of May 11, Cameroon had 119,947 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 1,930 deaths. And 11 percent of the target population had received at least one vaccine dose, according to the Ministry of Public Health. .