New restrictions to contain Covid-19
Government has issued new restrictions to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic following continued rise of cases in he country.
In the past 24 hours, the country has registered 83 new COVID-19 cases, six new recoveries,
and two new deaths. This brings the total number of confirmed infection in the country to 2069, with 31 deaths.
The Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 said in a statement signed by its co-chairperson John Phuka that Government has introduced new strategies to enhance the fight against the pandemic.
Reads part of the statement: “Government notes that due to the escalation of infections and deaths due to Covid-19, there is need to implement stricter measures to contain the spread of coronavirus in cities, towns, districts, municipalities and communities throughout Malawi.”
Among others, government has with immediate effect suspended entertainment gatherings, weddings and other social gatherings and imposed restrictions on religious and funeral gatherings.
Government has further suspended all mobile markets and banned street vending at all trading centres to avoid overcrowding of places.
Authorities have also been instructed to clean and fumigate markets every two weeks to disinfect them.
“Religious gatherings and meetings should be suspended except where they adhere to the following measures; congregants must wear masks, prayer services should not be held in confined spaces and church premises be regularly disinfected,” it reads.
Apart from the 83 new cases, authorities have also recorded six new recoveries.
Of the new cases, 78 are contacts of confirmed cases and five are imported infections. Of the locally transmitted infections, seven are healthcare workers (five from Mzuzu, and one each from Mzimba and Lilongwe.)
“Fifteen were reported from Mzuzu, 14 from Lilongwe, 14 from Blantyre, seven from Mzimba, five from Balaka, four from Mangochi, three from Kasungu, two each from Karonga, Mulanje, and Zomba, and one each from Mwanza and Nkhotakota.
“Of the imported cases, two are from Machinga, and one each from Balaka, Blantyre, and Lilongwe,” the statement reads.
Government has since urged all individuals to stay home, observe hygiene, practice social distancing and wear appropriate face masks at all times.
