No Easter Covid-19 relief

The Ministry of Local Government has urged councils to ensure strict enforcement of Covid-19 prevention measures during Easter holidays.

In a notice signed by the ministry’s Principal Secretary Charles Makanga, the ministry has urged all district commissioners (DCs) and council chief executive officers (CEOs) not to grant permission for gatherings of more than 50 people.

The notice said the development will be a precautionary measure and ensure that people abide by the Covid-19 precautionary measures.

Reads the statement in part: “The Ministry of Local Government would like to remind all councils that the Public Health Corona Virus and Corona Virus Disease [Prevention, Containment and Management] Regulations of 2020 are still in force and should be used even during this Easter Season.

“The ministry further reminds all local authorities that while observing strict Covid-19 measures, all gatherings that exceed 50 persons are banned. Councils should ensure that they enforce this by not giving permit to such gatherings or festivities.”

In its Covid-19 situation update of March 20, the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 expressed worry that many people are relaxing on preventive measures more especially considering that the country is approaching the Easter holidays.

According to the update signed by co-chairperson of the task force Khumbize Chiponda, who is also Minister of Health, urged people to remain vigilant in following the prevention measures more especially during Easter.

“At this point, we need to sustain the gains made so far and ensure that we suppress the transmission even further by strictly adhering to the preventive and containment measures,” reads the update in part.

In an earlier interview with The Nation, University of Malawi’s College of Medicine epidemiologist Adamson Muula also warned against laxity during the Easter holidays.