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| More than 30 members of Congo’s parliament have died from Covid-19, says senior lawmaker | More than 30 members of Congo’s parliament have died from Covid-19, says senior lawmaker |
| (4 months later) | |
| Covid-19 has killed 32 lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the National Assembly’s vice president has said, though the whole country has to date registered just 31,000 confirmed cases. | Covid-19 has killed 32 lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the National Assembly’s vice president has said, though the whole country has to date registered just 31,000 confirmed cases. |
| The first vice-president of the National Assembly, Jean-Marc Kabund, revealed the shocking toll in a video sent to colleagues on Thursday, which was then posted online by his staff the following day. The figure is equivalent to around 5% of the country’s parliament. | The first vice-president of the National Assembly, Jean-Marc Kabund, revealed the shocking toll in a video sent to colleagues on Thursday, which was then posted online by his staff the following day. The figure is equivalent to around 5% of the country’s parliament. |
| “The latest update announced by the government reports 31,248 confirmed cases and 780 deaths, among them 32 members of parliament,” Kabund noted. | “The latest update announced by the government reports 31,248 confirmed cases and 780 deaths, among them 32 members of parliament,” Kabund noted. |
| Despite lawmakers being mandated to wear masks in the often-raucous chamber, few have done so. In December, parliamentarians and associates engaged in a brawl involving hand-to-hand combat, chair throwing and bucket tossing. Many wore their masks around their chins. | Despite lawmakers being mandated to wear masks in the often-raucous chamber, few have done so. In December, parliamentarians and associates engaged in a brawl involving hand-to-hand combat, chair throwing and bucket tossing. Many wore their masks around their chins. |
| President Felix Tshisekedi drew criticism earlier in May when he joked to dinner guests that they were breaking the Covid-19 curfew. "Today, you have permission,” he stated. | President Felix Tshisekedi drew criticism earlier in May when he joked to dinner guests that they were breaking the Covid-19 curfew. "Today, you have permission,” he stated. |
| Despite comparatively few confirmed Covid-19 cases and deaths in the DRC, concerns remain about the country’s desperately slow vaccine rollout. Since its inoculation program began on April 19, just 19,597 people nationally have received a shot. | Despite comparatively few confirmed Covid-19 cases and deaths in the DRC, concerns remain about the country’s desperately slow vaccine rollout. Since its inoculation program began on April 19, just 19,597 people nationally have received a shot. |
| While many Congolese fear the vaccine’s potential side effects, the country’s inoculation campaign has also stuttered due to a government decision to delay the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine amid concerns over very rare blood clots. As a result, 75% of the doses received in March were reallocated to ensure they were used elsewhere before expiring. | While many Congolese fear the vaccine’s potential side effects, the country’s inoculation campaign has also stuttered due to a government decision to delay the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine amid concerns over very rare blood clots. As a result, 75% of the doses received in March were reallocated to ensure they were used elsewhere before expiring. |
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