Recommendations awaited. Congolese Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege pleaded this Saturday for the confinement of people over 60 and the wearing of masks in order to fight against the spread of the coronavirus which left 25 people dead in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Asked about the possible testing of a vaccine against Covid-19, Dr. Mukwege was also cautious after the controversy aroused on this issue on the continent: "if we ask my opinion, I would say that it is necessary start by vaccinating China, Europe and America ”, where the virus has already killed several thousand people.
"The compulsory wearing of a mask for everyone"
The gynecologist recommended "partial containment of people over the age of 60, often at higher risk." This will protect the most fragile, who are most exposed to fatal complications, ”during a press conference in Bukavu, capital of the province of South Kivu.
General confinement is difficult according to him: "the vast majority of our populations do not have spacious, healthy accommodation and above all they have to go out every day to find food".
Designated by the authorities to coordinate the response against the coronavirus in the province of South Kivu, Denis Mukwege recommends "the compulsory wearing of a mask for everyone" in order to "break the chain of transmission of Covid-19". "Our luck lies in the youth of our population, those under 60 represent 96% of the population," said Dr Mukwege.
Our file on the coronavirus
The majority of cases are in Kinshasa (295), with a few in the provinces, including four in South Kivu. In Kinshasa, the commune of Gombe - seat of the institutions, banks and large embassies -, considered as the epicenter of the epidemic, has been confined since April 6. The authorities should decide at the end of the day whether or not to extend this confinement, which runs until April 20.
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Coronavirus: Pandemic spreads in Africa but may still be contained according to WHO
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