Weekly Island Round-Up - 12 Apr 2021
Here are 3 things happening in Mauritius this week!
1) Concern at Souillac hospital after 9 dialysis patients die in the space of 11 days, with a further 40 patients being confirmed as positive Covid-19 cases.
A situation described as “alarming” is unfolding at Souillac hospital, after 9 dialysis patients pass away in the space of 11 days. 40 out of 87 dialysis patients have been tested positive for Covid-19.
Questions are being raised as to whether those receiving dialysis treatment are being done so under strict sanitation rules which are meant to be in place, including through cleaning and social distancing measures. In addition, only 50% of dialysis patients have been vaccinated in Mauritius.
2) Agaleans protest as a number of employees from Indian firm Afcons arrive for major port and airport construction works, despite a rumour of one of the workers testing positive for Covid-19
Last week, the island of Agaléga saw the arrival of a number of employees from the Indian firm Afcon to complete major port and airport construction works, after India and Mauritius signed a deal for the development of the island in 2015. There have been ongoing concerns that Agaléga is being turned into a military base (find out more here).
In addition, a rumour has been circulating that one of the workers sent to the island has tested positive for Covid-19.
3) 100,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, donated by China to arrive in Mauritius on Tuesday. The vaccine is “on the verge” of being approved by the World Health Organisation. Mauritius will also benefit from vaccines under the Covax scheme.
100,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, a donation from the Chinese government, are expected on the evening of Tuesday, April 13. This was stated by the Minister of Health, Dr Kailesh Jagutpal, during the daily press briefing on Covid-19, on Sunday, April 11.
He stressed that the Chinese vaccine is on the verge of being endorsed by the World Health Organisation.
In addition, the minister explained that Mauritius will benefit from vaccines through the African Union and the Covax facility. “We have already signed agreements and we are going to get vaccines, but we don’t know when,” he stated.
SOURCES
https://www.lexpress.mu/article/391780/deces-patients-dialyses-pistes-pour-comprendre-lhecatombe
https://defimedia.info/cinq-deces-attribues-la-covid-19-depuis-le-5-mars-2021-indique-jagutpal
https://www.lexpress.mu/article/391721/larmes-franco-poulay-agaleen-il-y-deja-militaires-ici
https://www.lexpress.mu/article/391740/semaine-decryptee
https://defimedia.info/covid-19-la-cargaison-des-100-000-vaccins-sinopharm-arrive-maurice-mardi
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