Photo credit, CELLOU BINANI
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A member of the medical staff wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) treats a patient with the COVID-19 coronavirus in the infectious diseases department of Donka hospital in Conakry,
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Guinea is updating its emergency health measures. The curfew, for example, goes from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. while it was from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m.
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The country is facing an increase in the rate of contamination. Nearly 200 cases per day have been recorded in the country in 24 hours. Which is a first. A situation that worries the health authorities of the country.
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At the Gbéssia treatment center in the suburbs of Conakry, the Guinean capital, a dozen families are waiting outside either for the bodies of their loved one, or for permission to drop off the meal of one of their sick people. This creates crowds and arguments around the treatment center.
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” Where I would ask for an improvement, it is at the level of reception, it has to communicate. When it’s not communicating, it’s useless. We come, we stop, if we don’t have someone to turn to for information, people will come together for nothing ” confides a man in front of the treatment center.
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Another calls on the state to organize itself well to help the sick. ” ‘And those who are dead, they just have to help their families to bury them well anyway,’ ‘he adds.
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Photo credit, CELLOU BINANI
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Women walk past graffiti on a wall illustrating hygiene measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Conakry, Guinea.
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In recent times, coronavirus-related deaths have increased from 10 in June to 60 in July and the rate of contamination from less than 2% to 11%.
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The concern is rising
The administrator of the Gbéssia treatment center, one of the largest centers in the country, is worried. Doctor Mohamed Condé affirms that the rate of hospital admissions has never reached the current level.
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” We are registering many more symptomatic young people who come to intensive care compared to the elderly. Today, in a single day, we have recorded 25 to 27 patients, whereas before we could count between 7 and 10 people, ” says the doctor.
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Before we could register one death per week or per month, but now we have one to two deaths per day! Something that is very worrying, ” he concludes.
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Reinforced measures
Health authorities have tightened restrictive measures to fight against the resurgence of Covid-19. In addition to the compulsory wearing of a mask, the curfew is reduced from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., grouping for ceremonies must not exceed 50 people, while the transfer of bodies tested positive is prohibited.
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Photo credit, ekavector
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Illustration of coronavirus vaccination with vaccine bottle and syringe injection on the map of Guinea.
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Call to rcompliance with barrier measures
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Doctor Sakoba Kéita, director general of the national health security agency, emphasizes awareness and invites the population to respect barrier measures.
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Today we are paying money to buy the vaccine. You can not catch the virus by washing your hands, respecting distancing and wearing masks, it does not cost much. Until everyone has the vaccine, let’s respect the health barrier instructions. If everyone does that, if each of us ensures the application of these measures in his family, we can reduce transmission by more than 80% ” pleads Dr. Kéita.
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The vaccine coverage in Guinea against covid-19 is at 4% while the country faces several variants such as Delta, Alpha and Beta.
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