Underestimating Corona Virus, 32 Members Of Congolese Parliament Killed

Handover of 45 tonnes of international aid to Congo to fight the COVID-19 pandemic on 12 June 2020 Wikimedia. (Commons / Myriam Asmani / MONUSCO Photos)

JAKARTA - As many as 32 members of the Congolese Parliament have died infected with COVID-19, as a result of underestimating the corona virus by ignoring health protocols, such as wearing masks and maintaining distance.

The Vice President of the Congolese Parliament said that the number reached 5 percent of the total members of parliament. Although, Congo officially reports the number of infections and deaths due to COVID-19. In fact, President Felix Tshisekedi's closest circle of people died because of COVID-19.

"The latest update announced by the government reported 31,248 confirmed cases and 780 deaths, among them 32 members of parliament," said Jean-Marc Kabund, first vice president of the lower house of the Congolese parliament. The remarks were made to co-workers on Thursday, and Kabund staff shared a video on Friday.

The condition is not too surprising, seeing members of parliament often travel without wearing masks, gather in large numbers, and scream while debating.

In December, lawmakers and others in the parliament building threw chairs and buckets at each other during a brawl caused by a rift between President Felix Tshisekedi and his predecessor, Joseph Kabila. At that time, most of those who attended wore masks under the chin.

Earlier this month, Tshisekedi held a dinner with his supporters in the city of Kolwezi. Jokingly, he called those present that night violating the curfew imposed due to the pandemic.

"(But) today you have permission (to gather and break the curfew," he joked.

Congo also had a chance to roll out a vaccination program, but then stopped by the safety issue of the AstraZeneca vaccine they were using. As a result, about 75 percent of the 1.7 million doses received in March were reallocated the following month to ensure they were used before they expired.

As a result, many residents have doubts about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine that will be given. Of Congo's approximately 80 million population, only 19,597 have been vaccinated since the launch of the vaccination program on 19 April.