The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the Comoros on 30 April 2020, and by 4 May the first death was announced. On 21 July, all cases on the island of Mohéli resolved.
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. On 15 April, a person arriving in Mayotte from the Comoros tested positive for COVID-19. 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. 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." On 17 April, the World Health Organization delivered medical aid to the Comoros. 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. Cheikh Mc had been released again around 21:00. 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. On 22 April, a polymerase chain reaction screening machine was delivered and the Comoros can start testing for COVID-19 from 23 April onwards. 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. The patient had been in contact with a Franco-Comorian national on 18 March. 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. President Azali Assoumani also disclosed that a curfew had been instituted.
May 2020
On 2 May, it was announced that two more cases had tested positive. All cases are on the island of Grande Comore. There was a video conference between President Assoumani and President Rajoelina of Madagascar. Madagascar will send medical aid to the Comoros. On 4 May, the first death was announced. 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 localhealth care. There are now eight cases, five of which are on Grande Comore and three on Mohéli. 54 people had been tested, and 53 contacts had been traced. On 8 May, UNICEF donated 5 ventilators to the Ministry of Health. Comoros had nearly 25 ventilators on the three islands. On 13 May, the United Nations donated 1,000 rapid tests to the Ministry of Health. 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. On 19 May, the virus had been confirmed on Anjouan, and is now active on all major islands. On 21 May, the Grand Mufti requested that the people celebrate Eid al-Fitr at home in these exceptional times. 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.
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.
July 2020
On 8 July, the President made wearing face masks outdoors mandatory on the whole territory. On 21 July, the island of Mohéli no longer had active COVID-19 cases. 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.
August 2020
Preventive measures
All schools have been closed.
Arriving travellers are quarantined for 14 days.
Incoming flights are banned.
Large gatherings are banned.
Curfew has been instituted between 20:00 to 05:00 as of 25 April.
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:
