In the DRC, nightclubs closing in the face of the third wave of Covid-19

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced Tuesday, June 15, the closure of discos and nightclubs for two weeks, facing the “Third wave” contamination by Covid-19 in the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa.

Facing “Very contagious” Delta variant, identified for the first time in India, President Félix Tshisekedi announced from Goma, in the east of the country, measures he would like “Effective”.

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In absolute number of cases, the country of at least 80 million inhabitants is far from being the most affected, even in Africa: 35,918 contaminations and 854 deaths recorded since March 10, 2020, including 25,777 cases in the capital Kinshasa.

But daily contaminations are on the rise: 250 new cases have been confirmed, including 218 in Kinshasa, during the last daily epidemiological score, Tuesday. The virus is affecting the ruling class, with many deaths in the presidency and among parliamentarians.

” To get vaccinated “

In addition to closing nightclubs – but not restaurants – the Head of State announced “Maintaining the curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. with military patrols. Any offender will be severely punished “.

Health authorities have banned again “Funeral vigils”. A rite that punctuates the social life of the Congolese, already suspended during the first measures taken when the virus arrived in March 2020. Gatherings of more than twenty people are prohibited “And any entry to the market will be conditioned by the temperature measurement”.

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All the activities planned for the Independence Day of June 30 have been canceled, including the repatriation from Belgium of “Relics” of national hero Patrice Lumumba. Universities and schools remain open subject to compliance with “Barrier measures”, as are the restaurants until curfew time. The churches are not closed again as in March 2020, but must “Reduce the number of participants in their cults”.

Finally, the president wishes “Convince the Congolese to be vaccinated”. The DRC has received 1.7 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine. Authorities are also hoping to receive Pfizer-BioNTech, Russian Sputnik V and Chinese Sinopharm vaccines.

The World with AFP