Rising cases of Covid-19 in the past month have prompted the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 to revert to strict enforcement of precautionary measures, including restrictions on public gatherings to 100 and closure of borders.
During a press briefing at Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc) in Lilongwe yesterday, Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 co-chairperson Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, who is also Minister of Health, admitted cases have worsened after the festive season; hence, the measures to control further spread.
Data from the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) indicated that since December 18 2020, the number of active coronavirus cases jumped from 116 to 626 by January 2 2021.
Chiponda said the cases have also seen major public hospitals getting Covid-19 in-patients, a development she said was exerting pressure on facilities those who test negative will be allowed to leave the quarantine centres.
On whether the task force has gazetted the measures, the minister said government already consulted and gazetted the same. She said what was happening now was amendment based on the situation.
On his part, Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 co-chairperson John Phuka said while scientifically it was yet to be established if the new strain is in the country, there were many indicators pointing to it.
He said the new strain spreads faster and affects children and the youth, elements being experienced in the country.
Phuka said: “The last wave was mainly affecting the elderly and people with health conditions, but we have seen that the new wave is spreading faster and affecting young people. The new strain spreads faster and also affects the youth just like the elderly.
“The new strain is in South Africa and we have seen that people have been coming to Malawi from South during the festive season and it is during this period that we have seen cases spreading faster.”
Phuka and Chiponda stressed the need for people to religiously comply with Covid-19 precautionary measures, notably washing hands with soap regularly, applying hand sanitiser (where available), wearing face masks and social distancing.
Yesterday, Malawi recorded 175 new cases of Covid-19 with three deaths, taking total active cases to 948, according to the task force. In terms of recoveries, there were three new ones while total confirmed cases since the first cases were reported last April stood at 7 110 and the number of tests conducted to date at 88 638, out of which 487 were new.
