COVID-19 pandemic in the Comoros

The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the Comoros on 30 April 2020,[2] and by 4 May the first death was announced.[3] On 21 July, all cases on the island of Mohéli resolved.[4]

This article is about the COVID-19 pandemic in the Union of the Comoros. For the COVID-19 pandemic in Mayotte, see COVID-19 pandemic in Mayotte.

COVID-19 pandemic in the Comoros
COVID-19 cases per island   1–10   11–25   26–50   >51
Disease	COVID-19
Virus strain	SARS-CoV-2
Location	Comoros
First outbreak	Wuhan, China
Index case	Moroni
Arrival date	23 April 2020[lower-alpha 1] (3 months, 3 weeks and 4 days)
Confirmed cases	399 (as of 17 August)[1]
Recovered	379
Deaths	7
Government website
stopcoronavirus.km

Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[5][6]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[7][8] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[9][7] Model-based simulations for the Comoros indicate that the 95% confidence interval for the time-varying reproduction number R_t has been stable around 1.0 since May 2020.[10]

Timeline

COVID-19 cases in the Comoros  ()      Deaths        Recoveries        Active cases Mar Mar Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Last 15 days Last 15 days
Date			# of cases
2020-04-30		​	1(n.a.)
2020-05-01		​	1(=)
2020-05-02		​	3(+200%)
2020-05-03		​	3(=)
2020-05-04		​ ​	4(+33%)
2020-05-05		​ ​	4(=)
2020-05-06		​ ​	8(+100%)
⋮		​ ​	8(=)
2020-05-09		​ ​	11(+38%)
⋮		​ ​	11(=)
2020-05-14		​ ​ ​	11(=)
⋮		​ ​ ​	11(=)
2020-05-19		​ ​ ​	34(+209%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	34(=)
2020-05-22		​ ​ ​	78(+129%)
2020-05-23		​ ​ ​	78(=)
2020-05-24		​ ​ ​	87(+12%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	87(=)
2020-05-27		​ ​ ​	87(=)
⋮		​ ​ ​	87(=)
2020-05-30		​ ​ ​	106(+22%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	106(=)
2020-06-02		​ ​ ​	132(+25%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	132(=)
2020-06-04		​ ​ ​	132(=)
2020-06-05		​ ​ ​	132(=)
2020-06-06		​ ​ ​	141(+6.8%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	141(=)
2020-06-10		​ ​ ​	162(+15%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	162(=)
2020-06-12		​ ​ ​	163(+0.62%)
2020-06-13		​ ​ ​	176(+8%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	176(=)
2020-06-16		​ ​ ​	197(+12%)
2020-06-17		​ ​ ​	197(=)
2020-06-18		​ ​ ​	210(+6.6%)
2020-06-19		​ ​ ​	210(=)
2020-06-20		​ ​ ​	247(+18%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	247(=)
2020-06-23		​ ​ ​	265(+7.3%)
2020-06-24		​ ​ ​	265(=)
2020-06-25		​ ​ ​	272(+2.6%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	272(=)
2020-06-30		​ ​ ​	303(+11%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	303(=)
2020-07-03		​ ​ ​	309(+2%)
2020-07-04		​ ​ ​	309(=)
2020-07-05		​ ​ ​	311(+0.65%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	311(=)
2020-07-08		​ ​ ​	313(+0.64%)
2020-07-09		​ ​ ​	314(+0.32%)
2020-07-10		​ ​ ​	314(=)
2020-07-11		​ ​ ​	317(+0.96%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	317(=)
2020-07-15		​ ​ ​	321(+1.3%)
2020-07-16		​ ​ ​	328(+2.2%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	328(=)
2020-07-19		​ ​ ​	334(+1.8%)
2020-07-20		​ ​ ​	334(=)
2020-07-21		​ ​ ​	337(+0.9%)
2020-07-22		​ ​ ​	337(=)
2020-07-23		​ ​ ​	337(=)
2020-07-24		​ ​ ​	337(=)
2020-07-25		​ ​ ​	340(+0.89%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	340(=)
2020-08-01		​ ​ ​	386(+14%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	386(=)
2020-08-04		​ ​ ​	388(+0.52%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	388(=)
2020-08-08		​ ​ ​	399(+2.8%)
⋮		​ ​ ​	399(=)
2020-08-12		​ ​ ​	399(=)
⋮		​ ​ ​	399(=)
2020-08-17		​ ​ ​	399(=)
Source: stopcoronavirus.km

April 2020

As a preventative measure, arriving travellers were to be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival. In order to prevent the spread of the virus, the government has cancelled all incoming flights and banned large gatherings.[11]

On 15 April, a person arriving in Mayotte from the Comoros tested positive for COVID-19.[12]

On 16 April, Dominique Voynet, Director of Mayotte Regional Health Agency, announced that a person who died on 8 April before being evacuated to Mayotte on the basis of a x-ray of COVID-19 was Said Toihir, the Grand Mufti of the Comoros.[13] The announcement caused a diplomatic rift between Comoros and France. Mohamed El-Amine Souef, Foreign Minister of Comoros said "If a case is confirmed in the Comoros, it is not Dominique Voynet to announce it, we have been independent since 6 July 1975."[14]

On 17 April, the World Health Organization delivered medical aid to the Comoros.[15]

On 20 April, the rapper Cheikh Mc released a video saying that his wife had been infected by COVID-19. The rapper was arrested by the gendarmerie at 16:00 after the video was shared many times.[16] Cheikh Mc had been released again around 21:00.[17] The Ministry of Health announced on 21 April that Cheikh Mc's fears could not be confirmed without testing, but the contacts of his wife will be followed up.[18]

On 22 April, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening machine was delivered and the Comoros can start testing for COVID-19 from 23 April onwards.[19]

On 30 April, the first case was confirmed, a 50-year-old man who was admitted to the El-Maarouf hospital in Moroni on 23 April.[2][20] The patient had been in contact with a Franco-Comorian national on 18 March.[21] On 2 May, Ibrahim Djabir, Head of the emergency department of the El-Maarouf hospital, said that his condition is improving, but he is still on oxygen. The protocol for mild cases who do not require hospitalisation is being studied, but they will probably receive Artequick in tablet.[22]
President Azali Assoumani also disclosed that a curfew had been instituted.[20]

May 2020

On 2 May, it was announced that two more cases had tested positive. All cases are on the island of Grande Comore.[23]
There was a video conference between President Assoumani and President Rajoelina of Madagascar. Madagascar will send medical aid to the Comoros.[24]

On 4 May, the first death was announced.[25]

On 6 May, President Azali Assoumani announced that total confinement is not an option for the islands. A donation of 100,000 face masks had been received, and India will be sending medical supplies and doctors to support the local health care.[26]

There are now eight cases, five of which are on Grande Comore and three on Mohéli.[3] 54 people had been tested, and 53 contacts had been traced.[27]

On 8 May, UNICEF donated 5 ventilators to the Ministry of Health. Comoros had nearly 25 ventilators on the three islands.[28]

On 13 May, the United Nations donated 1,000 rapid tests to the Ministry of Health.[29]

On 16 May, the first repatriation flight arrived from Tanzania with 134 people on board. 70 people returned from Kenya, and on 17 May two more flights will arrive from Tanzania.[30]

On 19 May, the virus had been confirmed on Anjouan (Ngazidja), and is now active on all major islands.[31]

On 21 May, the Grand Mufti requested that the people celebrate Eid al-Fitr at home in these exceptional times.[32]

In May there were 105 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 106. The death toll was 2. 26 patients recovered, leaving 78 active cases at the end of the month.[33]

June 2020

During June there were 197 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 303. The death toll rose to 7. The number of recovered patients rose by 174 to 200, leaving 96 active cases at the end of the month (23% more than at the end of May).[34]

July 2020

On 8 July, the President made wearing face masks outdoors mandatory on the whole territory.[35]

On 21 July, the island of Mohéli no longer had active COVID-19 cases.[4]

In July there were 83 new cases, bringing the total number of cases to 386. The death toll remained unchanged. The number of recovered patients increased to 330, leaving 49 active cases at the end of the month.[36]

August 2020

Preventive measures

• All schools have been closed.[20]
• Arriving travellers are quarantined for 14 days.[11]
• Incoming flights are banned.[11]
• Large gatherings are banned.[11]
• Curfew has been instituted between 20:00 to 05:00 as of 25 April.[37]

Statistics

Chronology of the number of active cases for all islands:

Chronology of the number of active cases in Grand Comore:

Chronology of the number of active cases in Mohéli:

Chronology of the number of active cases in Anjouan:

Source: stopcoronavirus.km

See also

• COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
• COVID-19 pandemic by country and territory
• COVID-19 pandemic in Mayotte

Notes

1. The patient had been hospitalized one week before diagnosis

References

1. "Stop Covid-19 Comores". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 17 August 2020.
2. "Comoros reports 1st COVID-19 case". China.org.cn. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
3. "Stop Covid-19 Comores". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 6 May 2020.
4. "Communiqué N°032: Du 19 juillet au 21 juillet 2020". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 21 July 2020.
5. Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
6. Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
7. "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
8. "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
9. "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
10. Future scenarios of the healthcare burden of COVID-19 in low- or middle-income countries, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London.
11. "Coronavirus – Comoros travel advice". GOV.UK. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
12. "Un cas de Coronavirus a été importé des Comores". Mayotte la 1ère (in French). Retrieved 15 April 2020.
13. "Le grand Mufti des Comores est décédé du Coronavirus". Guyane la 1ère. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
14. "l'Union des Comores dénonce " Une violation du secret médical et professionnel "". Guyane la 1ère. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
15. "Comores : l'OMS sur tous les fronts contre le Covid-19". World Health Organization (in French). Retrieved 30 April 2020.
16. "Coronavirus : Le rappeur Cheikh Mc a annoncé que sa femme était atteinte du Covid 19". Mayotte la 1ère (in French).
17. "Je suis bien arrivé à la maison". Cheikh Mc Official via Facebook (in French). Retrieved 30 April 2020.
18. "Communiqué N°9 : Réaction face aux inquiétudes des dernières 24 heures". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 1 May 2020.
19. "Les Comores se dotent d'un PCR". Stop Coronovirus.km (in French). Retrieved 30 April 2020.
20. "Le président Azali reconnait l'existence du covid-19 aux Comores". Mayotte la 1ère (in French). Retrieved 30 April 2020.
21. "Le Président Azali Assoumani annonce un premier cas de Covid-19 aux Comores". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 1 May 2020.
22. "Coronavirus I Le docteur Djabir Ibrahim explique l'état de santé "du premier cas"". Al-Watwan (in French). Retrieved 5 May 2020.
23. "Deux nouveaux cas testés positifs au covid-19". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 2 May 2020.
24. "Entretien entre le Président Malgache et le Président Comorien sur le Covid-19". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 3 May 2020.
25. "Stop Covid-19 Comores". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 4 May 2020.
26. "Le Président de la République Azali Assoumani a accordé un entretien exclusif a la chaîne nationale ortc". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Archived from the original on 8 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
27. "Bulletin quotidien sur le Covid-19". Stop Coronavirus.km. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
28. "Lutte contre le Covid-19 I L'Unicef a remis des concentrateurs d'oxygène au ministère de la Santé". Al-Watwan (in French). Retrieved 8 May 2020.
29. "1 000 tests rapides offerts par les Nations Unies". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 14 May 2020.
30. "Début du retour des comoriens bloqués à l'étranger". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 16 May 2020.
31. "Communiqué #5 du 13 au 18 mai relatif aux dépistages du COVID-19". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 20 May 2020.
32. "La prière de la Ide se fera à domicile". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 21 May 2020.
33. "Communiqué N°010: Du 29 mai 2020" (in French). Ministère de la Santé. 30 May 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
34. "Communiqué N°023: Du 28 juin au 30 juin 2020" (in French). Ministère de la Santé. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
35. "Décret présidentiel rendant obligatoire le port de masque sur l'étendu du territoire". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 8 July 2020.
36. "Communiqué N°034: Du 31 juillet au 01 août 2020" (in French). Ministère de la Santé. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
37. "Communiqué #10 : Couvre feu". Stop Coronavirus.km (in French). Retrieved 1 May 2020.

External links

• Official site