The pandemic situation is even more worrying after the announcement by Health Minister Kailesh Jagutpal that the situation requires further observation before any lifting of restrictions. The rate of new infections is fluctuating in Mauritius and Rodrigues despite the fact that we are only affected by the Omicron variant, which is considered less virulent than the Delta variant.
Other viruses coming!
While there were rumours of a major easing of the health restrictions, there is a possibility that the lifting of the health restrictions in force until 31 March could be extended. “In a few weeks, the climate will change and bring in its wake other viruses among society, including influenza. This will require a little more observation of the situation before we can pass a lifting of the restrictions, and this will not be soon. For now, we are observing the situation in neighbouring countries that have already lifted the health restrictions,” said Dr Kailesh Jagutpal at the launch ceremony of a Fertility Clinic at the SSR Hospital in Pamplemousses. He added, “Even though the cases of infection are 100% Omicron variant, and the death rate compared to 2021 in the period of October and November is relatively low, there is no room for complacency. Elderly people and people living with co-morbidities must be considered”.
Mauritius: 93 and Rodrigues: 79
These are the rates of positivity for our two islands during the last 24 hours, against 50 cases for Rodrigues on Monday and 164 in Mauritius. The small island has 554 active cases with this count and 9056 cases of infection since 26 January. The death rate is 18. In Mauritius, as of 06 March we have recorded the death of a 55-year-old woman, vaccinated but suffering from several comorbidities. As of 07 March, two deaths. A 77-year-old woman living in Black River died. The victim, admitted to the New ENT Hospital, was not vaccinated and suffered from several comorbidities. At Dr. A.G. Jeetoo, the autopsy report attributed the death of a 71-year-old woman from Tranquebar to pneumonia. To date, we have recorded 52 admissions, of which 42 are in the 5 regional hospitals and 6 in the New ENT Hospital. And since March 2021, 33,138 positive cases have been recorded against 29,518 cured.
In terms of vaccinations, 1,000,732 people have received a first dose, 963,654 have received the second dose and 534,623 the third/booster dose.
Two years later
By 8 March 2020, the country had recorded its first cases and Covid 19 was not yet considered so fatal here. But two years later, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that since January 2020, with 169,796 confirmed cases, 13.4% of the population has been infected. During these two years 904 deaths have been recorded.
Low fertility in Mauritius : Only 140 babies per 100 couples
If on the one hand, our population is ageing, on the other hand the birth rate in Mauritius is low, at 140 births per 100 couples. Dr Kailesh Jagutpal, at the inauguration of a Fertility Clinic at the North Hospital made it clear that it is important for Mauritius to have more births, thus the provision of this facility. “This clinic is for all women who want to have children but cannot for medical reasons. The Fertility Clinic’s services will be specialised for this cause. This service is already offered here and will also be offered in other hospitals once the required number of staff is gathered. We have also introduced epidural delivery in the public service to reduce pain and avoid the need for caesarean sections,” said the Minister of Health and Welfare.
