23 Covid-19 cases in central hospitals

As Covid-19 cases keep rising, 15 people are currently admitted to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe while Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre has eight.

According to a daily update on Covid-19 signed by Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 co-chairperson Dr John Phuka, 11 new cases were reported yesterday with two new recoveries and no new deaths.

However, one death involving a male from Blantyre was reported on Saturday, bringing the total number of Covid-19 deaths to 188.

Reads the statement in part: “Nine of the new cases are locally transmitted infections; four each from Blantyre and Lilongwe districts and one from Mulanje District while two cases are imported infections identified through routine screening at Mchinji Border Post and their final destination was Mchinji District.”

Phuka further says that currently, both local and imported transmissions are on the increase and that the total number of active cases is now 300.

He urges people to be cautious by observing all Covid-19 preventive measures.

Reads the update further: “The Covid-19 data shows that in the previous three weeks, there has been an increase in both the active cases and the number of people being admitted to the country’s Covid-19 treatment units.

“The fight against Covid-19 is far from over and will likely be here with us for a long time. It is, therefore, time for everyone to embrace the preventive activities as the new norms of life.”

Recently, the task force acknowledged that imported cases were dominating.

Phuka is on record as having told The Nation that Malawians returning from South Africa, mainly those using Mwanza Border Post, are responsible for the upsurge in infections.

Following an increase in positive cases of the pandemic, the task force last week announced the closure of borders and a ban on gatherings of over 100 people.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lilongwe, Minister of Health Khumbize Chiponda said the new Covid-19 strain is dangerous and urged people to be vigilant in observing Covid-19 precautionary measures.

According to international media reports, the number of Covid-19 cases continues to rise, with experts attributing it to a second wave that has affected a number of countries in Europe.

It has been reported that so far, the African continent has recorded more than 2.5 million cases since the pandemic began with some 59 770 deaths.