“We must prepare ourselves to enter the third wave of the Covid-19 epidemic,” declared Andry Rajoelina in his end-of-year speech, broadcast on public audiovisual channels on the night of December 31.
A new wave that risks being even more dangerous than the previous ones, especially in view of the figures published on January 1, 2022 by the Ministry of Public Health. From December 25th to 31st, there were 40 deaths linked to Covid-19, an increase compared to last week (31 deaths) but due to the decrease in the number of tests carried out last week (10,284 tests against 13,701 tests before) the number of registered cases has decreased (2,155 cases against 2,984 cases before). Tests are no longer necessary for suspected cases, as the Ministry of Health has adopted the syndromic approach in the Analamanga region, which is more affected by the epidemic, in order to quickly treat those who show symptoms of Covid. This strategy is less costly for the State and certainly more effective given the high number of patients.
The official statistics on cases of contamination certainly no longer reflect reality. With a long wait for PCR results, its high cost in private clinics and the unavailability of other tests in CSB II, an infected worker for example will have to wait at least four days to find out if he has Covid or not in Voara Village. While waiting for the results, he must continue to go to work and thus take the risk of contaminating other people as well as his entire entourage and so on. Also, with the neglect of barrier gestures and the non-respect of sanitary measures, the rapid spread of the virus is not surprising.
In the afternoon of January 1, the Ministry of Health announced the reopening of the third Covid-19 Treatment Center (CTC) in Alarobia, which has a capacity of 250 beds. It will complement the one in Soamandrakizay (148 beds), reopened on Monday 27 December, and the one in Voara Village (120 beds). These centers equipped with oxygen concentrators will be used to treat patients with moderate forms of the disease. The university hospital centers of the capital are intended for the serious forms.
Analamanga remains the main focus of the epidemic (1,620) new confirmed and declared cases, followed by Antsirabe (Vakinankaratra region) which still records 122 cases. These figures are likely to increase after New Year’s Eve, marked by private, family parties where sanitary measures are difficult to apply.
