In the past 24 hours, Malawi has registered five new COVID-19 cases, 19 new recoveries and
no new deaths. All new cases are locally transmitted: two each from Blantyre and Lilongwe, and one each from Balaka Districts. Please take note that 16 new imported cases that were identified in Salima on 25th and 26th April 2021 have been added to the cumulative number of cases. No new deaths were registered in the past 24 hours.
Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 34,052 cases including 1,147 deaths (Case Fatality Rate is at 3.37%). Of these cases, 2,155 are imported infections and 31,897 are locally transmitted. Cumulatively, 31,972 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 799. In the past 24 hours, there was no new admission in the treatment units while one case was discharged. Currently, a total of eight active cases are hospitalised: five in Blantyre, two in Mzimba North and one in Lilongwe. On testing, in the past 24 hours, 338 COVID-19 tests were conducted. Of these, 140tests 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 1.5%
while a weekly positivity rate (seven days moving average) is at 2.7%. Cumulatively, 231,473tests have been conducted in the country so far. On COVID-19 vaccination, cumulatively 285,824 doses have been administered in the country with 4,775 being administered in the past 24 hours.
I would like to inform the public that 16 new imported cases that were identified on 25th and 26th in Salima but have been reported today. These are workers at Salima Sugar Factory who were tested at Thavite Health Centre. The Salima District Health Office Rapid Response Team is on the ground at the factory conducting investigations including further screening and tracing of contacts and ensuring that quarantine and isolation measures are being adhered to ensure reduced risk of transmission. The public will be informed of any new developments.
The Presidential Taskforce had received a request for a waiver of the 250 as the number
allowed for outdoor activities as Gazetted on the 23rd of April 2021 in the COVID-19
Prevention, Containment and Management Rules. The request was to increase the number of spectators for the football match involving Nyasa Big Bullets and Wanderers. I would like to communicate to you all that the Presidential Task Force has not granted a waiver and the
figure of 250 still stands and I would like to inform the responsible officers to ensure that this is adhered to.
Let me emphasize that COVID-19 is preventable and we can effectively reduce and stop thespread of the virus. This calls for a collective effort to contain the pandemic by
comprehensively following all the preventive and containment measures. The following
preventive measures should be our daily routine: frequent hand washing with soap and water, proper wearing of mask, avoiding over-crowded places, practicing cough and sneeze etiquette, staying home if one has flu like symptoms and decontaminating commonly touched surfaces.
No one is safe until everyone else is safe. Get Vaccinated. Protect yourself. Protect your loved ones. Protect everyone. Call toll free 929.
Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP
MINISTER OF HEALTH
CO-CHAIRPERSON – PRESIDENTIAL TASKFORCE