BlackFacts Details

Madagascar COVID-19: caseload hits 10,000 mark | Africanews

July 29: cases hit 10,000 mark

Virus caseload in Madagascar has passed the 10,000 mark as of today according to John Hopkins University tallies. Recoveries have also risen markedly to 6,613 with 93 deaths.

The country becomes the second most impacted in the southern Africa region behind South Africa – the continent’s runaway leader with over 450,000 cases.

President Rajoelina meanwhile continues his frontline role in leading the fight against the pandemic across the island nation. On Tuesday, he launched a new mobile digital radiology equipment, which he said will help the Tanambao hospital to improve patient care.

“We are strengthening our ability to fight against the virus by equipping health centers and hospitals with suitable equipment,” Rajoelina said at an event to deliver supplies to a hospital on Monday.

He has also recently inaugurated a virus treatment center in Mahamasina which can accommodate 250 patients with severe forms. “In these difficult times, I call on the nation to show unity and solidarity to fight against the pandemic,” he stressed.

Confirmed cases = 10,104

Active cases = 3,398

Recoveries = 6,613

Number of deaths = 93

John Hopkins Uni stats valid as of July 29, 2020

Ce dimanche, j’ai visité le CHU Mahavoky à Mahajanga. 10 concentrateurs d’oxygène, des médicaments et des EPI ont été remis au personnel soignant en première ligne dans cette lutte. Ils percevront également une prime mensuelle touchée hier & venant soutenir leur total dévouement. pic.twitter.com/wB24BBrIfG— Andry Rajoelina (@SE_Rajoelina) July 27, 2020

July 21: public hospitals full amid surge in cases

Public hospitals in Madagascar are only admitting virus patients with severe symptoms. This comes as cases surge in the southern African island nation.

The Bloomberg news portal reports that five public hospitals in the capital Antananarivo had announced that they could no longer cope with influx of patients.

The region where the capital is located was placed on lockdown by president Rajoelina when a spike in new cases was recorded. That measure extends till the coming weekend (July 26) when further directions are expected.

A spokesperson for the Malagasy COVID-19 Command Center, Hanta Marie Danielle Vololontiana is on record to have said persons who die from the virus at home will not be added to official statistics.

The government has continued with massive medical investments to help combat the virus. Rajoelina announced that 1000 ventilators were to be donated to hospitals and health centers as well as PPEs for frontline workers.

A COVID-19 Processing Center – CTC was also launched at Ivato. “It will provide appropriate care for people with severe symptoms of COVID-19, such as respiratory distress. 55 agents are assigned to it for a capacity of 400 patients,” president disclosed in a July 10 tweet.

The country became popular in the wake of Rajoelina’s insistence months back that a locally produced remedy – COVID-Organics or Tambavy CVO – could cure and also prevent the virus.

At the tim