Eight babies and seven staff members at a rescue shelter in northern Mauritius have tested positive for Covid-19.
The babies, who were all staying in the same room in Cap-Malheureux, were reportedly infected by a staff member.
Two of them have been taken to a public hospital for treatment.
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A medical team has been dedicated to the babies now in isolation at the shelter, Gender Equality and Family Welfare Minister Kalpana Devi Koonjoo-Shah said.
Last week, a 15-month-old baby died after she had tested positive for Covid.
Mauritius has recorded a surge in Covid-19 cases since last month – with 3,043 new cases registered in the first two weeks of September.
More than 13,000 cases have been recorded since the start of the pandemic – which is more than 1% of the 1.3 million population.
The Indian Ocean island has recorded 1,005 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants, far higher than the continent’s average of 598.
The government has taken the decision to open its door to international travellers, as from 1 October, despite the situation.
The health ministry has emphasised that the country has “one of the highest full vaccination rates in Africa”.
