Public hospitals in Madagascar have reportedly reached full capacity as cases surge in the Indian Ocean island nation.
According to Bloomberg, the hospitals now only admit patients with severe symptoms of coronavirus.
Following the sudden rise in COVID-19 cases, President Andry Rajoelina re-imposed lockdown on the country’s central region until July 26 as the five public hospitals in the capital, Antananarivo, announced they could no longer cope with the influx of patients.
Only one person per household is allowed to go out to buy food or medicine. An initial lockdown in March was lifted after four weeks.
Also, the government has opened a 400-bed treatment center for people with mild symptoms and is importing about 1,000 oxygen machines.
The number of confirmed cases in Madagascar reached 7,458 on Tuesday, including 65 deaths.
Rajoelina has been in the news since April when his country launched an indigenous herbal remedy named Covid-Organics, which he said could “cure” COVID-19.
The herbal remedy, developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research, was produced from artemisia, a plant with proven antidote against malaria.
Read Also: Madagascar President Launches Coronavirus ‘Remedy’
Countries like Tanzania, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, received consignments of the herbal remedy.
Nigeria also received its share of what the country described as “brotherly love” from the Malagasy government to all African countries.
Read Also: Madagascar’s ‘COVID-19’ Drug Is Mainly Anti-Malaria – Health Minister
However, findings from the analysis of Madagascar’s COVID Organics drink in Nigeria showed that it largely contains anti-malaria components.
World Health Organisation (WHO) has cautioned countries against adopting a product that has not undergone thorough scientific research.
