President Félix Tshisekedi has decided on an unlimited national curfew to deal with the second wave of Covid-19. A measure that will take effect on Friday 18 December. About 15,000 cases, including more than 360 deaths, have been registered across the country, but the authorities assure that the signals are red.
as reported from Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa
Now 22 of the 26 provinces in Congo are affected by Covid-19, but the capital Kinshasa alone accounts for three quarters of the cases, followed by the provinces of North Kivu, Congo Central and Haut-Katanga, regions with strong economic activity. By introducing the curfew, President Félix Tshisekedi wants to neutralize the virus’ vector.
“The virus does not circulate on its own. The real vehicles are usually infected people, usually asymptomatic. These are measures to reduce the mobility of people, says Jean-Marie Kayembe, head of medical care within the response committee.
In some hospitals that welcome Covid patients, healthcare staff are overwhelmed, Jean-Marie Kayembe adds: “It must be acknowledged that work is increasing again, today we are witnessing an increasingly important demand for hospital stays. Some hospitals are overwhelmed, but now is not the time to panic. “
Concerned civil society
The latest figures, which show more than 300 cases in one day, have worried the authorities, even though these official figures do not represent the real situation on the ground. “We do not have a large detection capacity and especially because the disease in 85% of the population of infected, positive, is asymptomatic,” explains Jean-Marie Kayembe.
But civil society is worried, as this curfew is unlimited and applies to provinces that have very few cases, such as Maniema, which has 12.
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