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 Danielled Vololontiana is on record to have said persons who die from the virus at home will not be added to official statistics.
The country became popular in the wake of Rajoelina’s insistence months back that a locally produce remedy – COVID-Organics or Tambavy CVO – could cure and also prevent the virus.
At the time the WHO warned of untested remedies but it did not stop about a dozen African countries from importing the purported cure.
Most countries that received consignments said they will run tests in their national laboratories to ascertain efficacy. Nigeria’s health minister is on record to have said it was good for malaria treatment whiles recently, Congo republic also suspended its use over limited efficacy for treating COVID-19.
Confirmed cases = 7,153
Active cases = 3,303
Recoveries = 3,788
Number of deaths = 62
John Hopkins Uni stats valid as of July 21, 2020
.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
COVID-Organics at a glance
Rajoelina says it was developed by Malasy Institute of Applied Research.
Says it is of two type, the curative and preventive
It is made from Artemisia – an anti-malarial plant that grows on the island
Another name for it is Tambavy CVO
The WHO – global and Africa offices have cautioned against it and other unproven herbal drugs
It is freely distributed in schools and in other public places
A number of African countries officially requested for them, among others Tanzania, Congo, DRC, Chad, Comoros
Madagascar made a donation to West African nations in the ECOWAS bloc. But the ECOWAS Commission clarified it hadn’t ordered for or endorsed the potion.
Africa Centers for Disease Control is in talks with Madagascar over the potion
According to Rajoelina, the country will sign a confidentiality clause with WHO on the formulation of the drug.
A number of Africa countries are subjecting the donation to tests before administering if at all.
July 13: Two lawmakers succumb, 25 others infected
Two lawmakers in Madagascar have died after contracting COVID-19, over twenty others are also receiving treatment for the virus, president Andry Rajoelina announced on Sunday.
The deceased comprise one Senat
