Financial risk: Moody's places Mauritius in the Baa3 category
The rating agency Moody's has downgraded Mauritius from Baa2 to Baa3. The reasons given for its decision to downgrade Mauritius' rating are the quality and effectiveness of institutions and government policymaking, which have significantly weakened the country's economic resilience and its ability to absorb future economic shocks. With this rating, the country is now ranked last in the investment category. The agency recommends that public spending be reduced. The same applies to debt, which should be reduced from 86% to 70% of gross domestic product.
COVID-19: positive cases soar
It is no secret that COVID-19 cases have been increasing since July, right after the easing of sanitary measures. The wearing of masks and social distancing are no longer mandatory since a little over a month and this could explain the increase in the number of cases. Indeed, 8000 positive cases of COVID-19 were officially recorded in July and of which ten were fatal. According to the authorities, the majority of the people infected showed only mild symptoms and it is mostly the elderly and non-vaccinated who succumbed to the virus.
More than 200,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine expired in July
203,580 doses of Pfizer vaccine expired in July, some 2,000 doses will expire in August and 90,000 in September. However, the Mauritius Ministry of Health announced that the vaccine manufacturer has made it clear that the doses that expired in July can be used until September of this year.
Campaign for second booster dose launched
The Ministry of Health launched its campaign for the second booster dose earlier this week for those over the age of 18. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are being used for this booster dose. Those wishing to receive the vaccine can do so Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at Covid-19 vaccination centers across the island.
Adolescents, aged 12-17, can also receive the second dose. They will have to go to the centers with their parents and bring their birth certificate.
Shortage of medicines in pharmacies
Nearly 80 medicines have been unavailable for several weeks in our pharmacies, according to an article in the Mauritian media outlet Le Défi. Indeed, the difficult supply of raw material would make the production of medication complicated at the moment. Pharmacies can, however, offer generics.
