Covid-19 in Comoros

Jack Ma's donation is distributed in the 3 islands of the Union of Comoros(Alwatwan pics)

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the Director–General of the World Health Organization (WHO). He is upset that the coronavirus is far from being eliminated. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, worldwide deaths from the virus have exceeded 500,000 and confirmed cases have reached 10 million on Sunday 28 June, 2020. And the U.S, Brazil, Russia and India are the most impacted countries.

Economic and social consequences

In Comoros, schools and mosques are shut down by the government since March 2020. Wedding ceremonies and funerals are limited to 20 people. The economic and social consequences of the coronavirus pandemic in the country are huge. In fact, many people have lost their jobs in public and private companies. Others are furloughed. Food prices have surged since the holy month of Ramadan. The government imposed a Curfew from 8pm to 6am.

 International assistance

The country has received many aids from local and international organizations as well as from friendly countries. Jack Ma, the Chinese founder of Alibaba.com was the first to send masks and drugs to the 53 African countries. The Chinese medical materials for the Comoros consist of 500 suits, 1,000 masks for medical use, 300 infrared thermometers, 480 goggles and 500 surgical gloves. Ma’s aid has been distributed to the 3 islands of the Union: Ngazidja, Ndzuwani and Mwali. Recently, Madagascar has also made a donation to Comoros by sending natural and organic drugs to the Comorian government. The kingdom of Morocco has granted a ton of masks and drugs to our country. The France embassy in Comoros has done so by sending some packs of paracetamol pills and tablets such as doliprane, dafalgan, etc. to some public hospitals.

National solidarity

In the country the OPACO, the Comorian Employer’s Federation and SYNACO for the Traders’ Organization have given protective materials such as soaps, bleaches, buckets and water tanks to many villages and cities in their efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19.  The Comorian Bankers and Financial Institutions’ Association known as APBEF has also granted 3 million Comorian francs to 3 hospitals in the country: Samba Nkuni in Ngazidja, Bambao Mtsanga in Ndzuwani and Fomboni hospital in Mwali. Comorian diaspora in France did so by helping many villages and cities.   

Back to school    

In order to save the academic year, the government has decided to reopen this 1^st July 2020 some classes to finish and complete their programs. Dr. Tadjidine Youssouf, member of the Scientific Committee, explains in a video on a Comorian social media what should be done in order to make the back to school successful on 1^st July 2020. He said that every student should wear a mask during class, wash regularly his/her hands with chlorinated water and respect physical distancing. “It’s up to parents, school directors and teachers to take their responsibility,’’ he said.  According to the Comorian Ministry of Health’s Report, 293 people tested positive on 30 June, 2020. And the pandemic has killed 7 people in the country since the first confirmed case on 30 April, 2020.  

The Comorian Blog, 1 July, 2020

Chami Mouzawar

Contributing writer