This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
Madagascar has been grappling with a surge in COVID-19 cases, with the government imposing a strict lockdown in one of its main regions, covering the capital, Antananarivo.
On July 12, President Andry Rajoelina announced that two lawmakers had died after contracting the virus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,578, according to the World Health Organization.
As of March, when the virus was first detected on the island, 34 people have died due to COVID-19.
AFP news agency reports that 11 other deputies and 14 senators have also tested positive for the virus.
