Covid-19 cases rise to 273
The country on Friday recorded 70 new Corona (Covid-19) cases bringing total number of infections to 273.
The new cases were registered as Malawians are waiting with bated breaths for Covid-19 results of at least 145 Malawians who were deported from South Africa and arrived in a cargo plane in Lilongwe on Friday.
Co-chairperson for the Presidential Task Force John Phuka made the announcement about the new cases at a media briefing in Lilongwe on Friday.
Phuka indicated that 66 of the cases are from buses that returned from South Africa this week, two are a mother and baby who were receiving medical treatment at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) while one case is from Nsanje and another Lilongwe.
A majority of the deportees who arrived on Friday are young men between 25 and 40. They were ferried in Malawi Defence Force (MDF) trucks to Nalikule Training College along the Salima road for testing and other immigration processes.
The results for the deportees are expected today and will be announced barely two days after the country reported a record 102 new Covid-19 pandemic cases from other returnees from South Africa and Zimbabwe.
A second cargo plane carrying another 145 deportees is scheduled to land at KIA today.
Speaking to the group deputy director for disaster, response and recovery in the Ministry of Disaster Management Affairs Dyce Nkhoma pleaded with the group to cooperate with health personnel.
Nkhoma who spoke using a loud hailer observed that it was important that the returnees adhere to all instructions from health personnel during their stay at the training college.
Said Nkhoma: “Food will be provided and all the other processes including testing will be done at Nalikule Training College. And it is important that you cooperate with health personnel.”
The group has been told once results are out those who test negative will be free to go and will be escorted to their respective districts by MDF staff.
Those coming from far away districts like Nsanje or Chitipa will be given priority to leave, according to the arrangements.
During the past week, 17 buses arrived in the country from South Africa and Zimbabwe with 757 passengers and samples of the 475 that were tested showed that 92 were Covid-19 positive.
On Wednesday this week 441 returnees who were being held at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre awaiting test results climbed the perimeter fence and left for their homes claiming that government did not accord them a good treatment.
Phuka has since apologised to the returnees who felt traumatized, saying the system was overwhelmed by the numbers.
Malawi reported its first Covid-19 case on April 2 this year and only reached the 100-case mark on May 24.
