Two lawmakers died from Covid-19 in Madagascar

(Riya Singh, Intern Journalist): Two lawmakers died of Covid-19 in Madagascar and at least 25 members of parliament and senate have been diagnosed with the virus since the island’s first case was confirmed in March. There have been 5,080 confirmed cases of a novel coronavirus in Madagascar and 37 deaths according to government data.

A countrywide state of health emergency has been in effect since March and last week the authorities re-imposed a lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus in the capital and its nearby areas. President Andry Rajoelina did not say, and did not name, when the lawmakers died. He and his family had taken Covid Organics, Madagascar’s self-proclaimed covid-19 plant-based remedy, even after alerts being made by World Health Organisation that its usefulness remains unproven.