Covid-19 admissions triple in two weeks

Public Health Institute of Malawi (Phim) Covid-19 reports show that Covid admissions have more than tripled in two weeks from five to 18.

But public health experts have said this should not cause alarm as this year’s admissions are lower than those at the same period last year.

The reports show that Covid-19 admissions and cases have been on the rise since the first week of June 2022 when there were four admissions against 63 new cases.

In the third week (between June 15 and 21), the country’s Covid-19 treatment units had 18 cases against 117 new ones while three were discharged.

The second week (between June 8 and 14), recorded five admissions against 98 new Covid-19 cases, while three were also discharged.

In an interview yesterday, Malawi University of Science and Technology head of biological sciences Dr. Gama Bandawe observed that the rise in admissions usually reflect a much bigger picture of the infections in the country.

He said: “It means people should take precautionary measures. If there are large gatherings, they have to be aware that there is a wave of infection that is going on.

“We appear to be moving to a phase where the disease is now endemic. I would not say we need to be alarmed, but we need to be careful and aware that we can contract Covid-19.”

On his part, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences lecturer in environmental health Save Kumwenda said people should follow preventive measures because Covid-19 is not completely gone.

He observed that the admissions could have worsened, but they are controlled because some people got Covid-19 vaccines.

Said Kumwenda: “We need these vaccinations so that we reduce the number of hospitalisations. There is no cause for alarm, but we need to manage [Covid-19 cases] we have and we should educate the masses to continue taking precautionary measures.”

Reacting to the rise in Covid-19 admissions, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital director Samson Mndolo said his staff have always anticipated the Covid-19 spike between May and July.

However, he said despite the rising Covid-19 admissions, there is no need to panic.

Said Mndolo: “Yes the admissions are rising, but it’s not alarming because if you can compare with the number of admissions during the same period last year, you will find that the current cases are 15 times lower.

His counterpart at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Jonathan Ngoma, said despite the continued rise in Covid-19 admissions, most patients admitted to the hospital are not in critical condition.

In his remarks, Mzuzu Central Hospital director Frank Sinyiza said although they are yet to receive a Covid-19 patient, they are set to manage any new cases.