Malawi goes 4 days without Covid-19 deaths

Data from Public Health Institute of Malawi (Phim) has shown that Malawi has gone for four days without recording deaths linked to Covid-19.

Phim reported that the zero deaths were recorded from October 13 to 16, the first time since a similar trend was reported on June 6 2021.

In an interview on Sunday, epidemiologist Titus Divala said the decrease in the number of cases, new hospital admissions and deaths was expected over the months of September, October and November as part of normal cyclical pattern for Malawi and neighbouring countries.

He said: “Cases are expected to start rising again for South Africa in November and for Malawi in December and [may] get worse in January and February 2022 and deaths are also expected to rise due to the rises in hospitalisations.”

Phim daily reports further show the decline of new Covid-19 cases and admissions in the country.

The report showed that from October 1 to 16, the country recorded 10 Covid-19 deaths and 23 people were admitted to the country’s Covid-19 treatments units. During the same period last month, 74 people died while 120 were admitted to the treatment units, representing 86.4 and 80.3 percent decreases, respectively.

Between August 1 and 16, the country recorded 348 deaths while during the same period in July, 117 deaths were recorded.

The statistics further show that this year, 41 people died of Covid-19 in June, 439 in July, 542 in August and 105 in September.

The third wave recorded the highest number of deaths in a single day on July 26 when 33 people died. The highest cases were recorded on July 22 when 952 new cases were registered.

In an interview on Sunday, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences professor in epidemiology Adamson Muula said the data shows that the peak of the third wave ended several weeks ago.

He said the statistics are also an indication that the country is out of severe danger.

However, Muula cautioned Malawians against relaxing on observation of Covid-19 preventative measures such as washing hands with soap regularly and wearing of face masks, saying the country may experience another wave.

He said: “But you never say never with Covid-19. We know a lot just as we don’t know a lot. If we go with history of this pandemic, we will likely have a breather to perhaps sometime next year. We can’t relax though.”

Malawi University of Science and Technology Academy of Medical Sciences head of biological sciences Dr Gama Bandawe said Covid-19 deaths have declined because transmission has drastically reduced.

He urged Malawians not to relax on preventive measures as the country may experience the fourth wave because coronavirus is seasonal.

Bandawe said: “The waves depend on human behaviour either when the weather is cold or at the end of the year when everybody travels to their homes as they get together in public transport. We have a lot of things working to our advantage now, it is hot, and there is no much travel.”

In the face of the improving situation and easing of restrictions by the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, the Office of the President and Cabinet has asked all civil servants who were working from home to start reporting for duty.

A circular dated October 13 2021, signed by Secretary to the President and Cabinet Zanga-Zanga Chikhosi, among others, urges all public servants reporting for duties to continue properly wearing face masks.

The circular further states that the revised measures will remain in force until further communication is made by the Office of the President and Cabinet.

As of Saturday, Malawi had recorded 61 712 Covid-19 cases and registered 2 292 deaths.

So far, the country has fully vaccinated 518 477 people with 626, 943 having taken the single dose of AstraZaneca vaccine and 265 901 having taken both jabs. So far, about 252 576 people have taken the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine.