231 asymptomatic cases recorded on Monday 23rd August and 5 patients admitted to ENT Hospital. This figure is the result of tests carried out under the new protocol issued by the Ministry of Health since Friday 20th August. We have recorded 5 deaths directly related to Covid-19 and around thirty schools remain closed to reopen on Wednesday and Thursday. The new protocol may lighten the severity or trivialise this crisis. Let us be clear, for the same figures some time ago, we would have already decreed a Red Zone or a lock down. Are our vaccines so life saving?
Confusing new protocol
The circular creates a lot of confusion and tension. What it says is that asymptomatic duly vaccinated will be assigned at home instead of a quarantined hotel; they will no longer be eligible for Covid Testing Centres.
The only exceptions are the non-vaccinated, the over-65s, certified amenable cases, symptomatic, symptomatic direct contacts and those on referral from an attending physician. These are rules that are included or applicable in private clinics as well.
However, exceptions are made for emergencies, such as a return to work or the result as administrative evidence. The waiting lines in hospitals are endless for rapid tests, but as required by the protocol, many are denied access.
In addition, the information hotline for Covid 19 and Vaccine, 8924, is saturated. To date, 0.63% of the population is infected with Covid-19. 787,076 people are primo vaccinated and 696,764 people have received both.
Five deaths in less than 48 hours
The main cause of these deaths is the Covid virus. Two deaths were registered on Saturday and the other three on Sunday. The two deaths on Saturday were two women, one 92 years old who suffered from several comorbidities such as heart problems, hypertension and was also a stroke survivor and the second death was already an admitted cancer patient.
Among the three deaths on Sunday 22nd were former Labour Minister and historian Satteanund Peerthum, aged 80, and Rozianah Seethamah-Kurrimbuccus, a 49-year-old resident of The Vale, who was vaccinated but had asthma and had been on oxygen since being transferred from the SSRN Hospital. The last victim was an 88-year-old woman who also suffered from other comorbidities.
Covid transmitting marriage
Five positives were reported on Monday 23rd August from a single location, a wedding in Camp Levieux. And among them, the bride… they reveal to have been in direct contact with many other wedding guests. The onus is on the Ministry of Health to track them down and test them. A new wedding cluster could be announced!
In addition, the market and the fair in Quatre Bornes are temporarily closed. On Monday, two municipal employees tested positive. The first one is assigned to the road services and the second one is an employee at the central market. The reopening is scheduled for Wednesday
29 establishments reopen on Wednesday and Thursday
The list is exhaustive and is scattered across the country. These institutions are, most recently, College Père Laval in Port Louis and London College, where one case was recorded in Grade 12, the college will resume on Thursday 26. Others that could resume on Wednesday 25 August are Universal College, where cases were recorded on three sisters admitted in Grades 9.1, 9.3 and 10.4 respectively, BPS Fatima and Lady Sushil SSS in Goodlands where the case is on a student in Grade 8, Mahatma Gandhi SSS Moka, the school had to close during the day. Imperial College in Curepipe, Adventist College in Phoenix, Mauritius College Girls in Curepipe and Institute of Islamic and Secular Activities in Vallee des Prêtres, a case recorded on a Grade 8 student, closed this Monday and Tuesday. The same goes for New Eton College in Rose Hill, Modern College, one case in a Grade 11 student, Sir Harilall Vaghjee in Triolet closed on Monday and Tuesday, one positive case in a staff member, Gaëtan Raynal in Quatre Bornes, one case in Grade 12 at Collège Bon et Perpétuel Secours (BPS) in Beau-Bassin, Collège DAV in Morcellement St-André, Muslim Girls College in Port-Louis, and St Joseph College in Curepipe, where there is one case in Grade 11.
The situation is no different for primary schools. The following schools remain closed and are expected to resume on Wednesday morning. They are Philippe Rivalland RCA, Beau-Bassin, Cœur Sacré de Jésus RCA, route des Pamplemousses, Port-Louis, Jean Eon RCA in Grand Gaube, Signal Mountain RCA (SEN Unit), Bell-Village, St Pierre RCA, Dr Idriss Goomany Govt School in Port Louis, Osman Peerun Government School in Médine Camp de Masque closed for the day on Monday, New la Tour Koenig Government School also closed tomorrow, Hampstead Junior School of Pamplemousses closed, the case is on a teacher, New Pailles Government School and James Toolsy Government School where 3 pupils tested positive.
