Madagascar’s authorities have announced that the number of coronavirus cases is rising in the capital city. To avoid further contamination of the novel pathogen, Antananarivo was placed under a fresh lockdown.
Madagaskar government has re-imposed the restrictions following a new surge in COVID-19 infections. “The Analamanga region [under which the capital is situated] is returning to full lockdown,” the presidency said in a statement on Sunday.
To avoid intensifying infection, the region will live under restrictions again. No traffic will be allowed in or out of the region starting Monday until July 20, Agence France-Presse reports. A strict curfew will be imposed on street movement by people.
“Only one person per household is allowed to go out into the street between 6:00 am (0400 GMT) and 12:00 pm (1000 GMT),” said the statement.
The measures have been taken because of the spread of the epidemic and the increase of COVID-19 cases.
Madagaskar: number of COVID-19 cases is rising
As of Sunday, Madagaskar had a cumulative 2,728 cases, including 29 deaths since the novel pathogen was first detected on the Indian Ocean island on March 20.
Used to registering dozens of coronavirus cases a day, the island nation has in recent days seen an exponential rise in daily numbers, jumping to a record 216 cases on July, 5th.
The latest tally came after 675 people were tested. Nearly 24,000 tests have so far been conducted on the impoverished island.
Due to the spread of infection, all government meetings will now be held via video conferencing, while court hearings have been suspended.
