In the past 24 hours, Malawi has registered five new COVID-19 cases, 32 new recoveries and
no new deaths. All new cases are locally transmitted: three from Blantyre, and one each from Chitipa and Mzimba North Districts. Please take note on the changes to the new cases and test cumulative counts and this is due to delayed reporting, five cases and 76 tests have been added to the respective counts. These cases are from Blantyre Districts. No new deaths were registered
in the past 24 hours.
Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 34,031 cases including 1,147 deaths (Case Fatality Rate is at 3.37%). Of these cases, 2,139 are imported infections and 31,892 are locally transmitted. Cumulatively, 31,953 cases have now recovered (recovery rate of 93.9%) and 134 were lost to follow-up. This brings the total number of active cases to 797. In the past 24 hours, there were three new admissions in the treatment units while no cases were discharged. Currently, a total of nine active cases are hospitalised: six in Blantyre, two in Mzimba North and one in Lilongwe Districts. On testing, in the past 24 hours, 372 COVID-19 tests were conducted. Of these, 104 tests were through SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic test while the rest were through RT-PCR. The positive cases out of the total (past 24 hours) translates to a positivity rate of 1.3% while a weekly positivity rate (seven days moving average) is at 2%. Cumulatively, 230,668 tests have been conducted in the country so far. On COVID-19 vaccination, cumulatively 281,049 doses have been administered in the country with 3,607 being administered in the past 24 hours.
As we celebrate World Immunization Week which is scheduled in the last week of April every year– a week set aside with an aim of promoting the use of vaccines in protecting people of all ages against various diseases, let me emphasize the importance of immunization that saves millions of lives every year and is widely recognized as one of the world’s most successful health interventions. The theme for this year is “Vaccines bring us closer” which calls for greater engagement on the issues of immunization as we promote the importance of vaccination in bringing people together, improve trust, health and wellbeing of the population. The theme is very important this time around when we have newer vaccines for protection against COVID-19 disease.
Let me remind everyone that apart from the COVID-19 vaccinations that the country has rolled out we are still administering the other routine vaccinations that offer protection against other diseases like pneumonia and diarrhoea. Let me encourage parents and guardians to ensure that children under the age of 2 years have received their vaccines according to the immunization schedule so as to protect them from Vaccine Preventable Diseases.
As we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic let me remind everyone that the COVID-19 vaccine helps to reduce deaths, risk of hospitalization and severe disease from COVID-19. It is important to know that getting vaccinated is one of the steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. We must adhere to the other measures namely; appropriate wearing of masks, hand washing and social distancing so as to reduce the chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others. The combination of adherence to the preventive measures and vaccination will help us contain the pandemic.
Please take note that the vaccination exercise is still in progress in all Government and CHAM facilities and let me appeal to those aged 18 years and above to utilize this opportunity to get vaccinated. The public is further informed that we still have adequate stocks of the vaccine in the country
No one is safe until everyone else is safe. Get Vaccinated. Protect yourself. Protect your loved ones. Protect everyone. Call toll free 929.