In the past 24 hours, Malawi has registered 214 new COVID-19 cases, 220 new recoveries, nine new deaths. All new cases are locally transmitted: 85 from Lilongwe, 67 from Salima, 23 from Blantyre, six each from Mangochi and Mzimba North, five each from Chitipa and
Dowa, four from Phalombe, three from Nkhotakota, two each from Machinga, Mulanje, and Ntcheu, and one each from Balaka, Dedza, Mchinji, and Nsanje Districts. In the past 24
hours, nine new COVID-19 deaths have been registered: three from Lilongwe and one each
from Blantyre, Chitipa, Mzimba North, Thyolo, Ntcheu, and Zomba Districts. To the bereaved families, may you find peace, hope and love during these difficult times. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.
Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 30,742 cases including 1,013 deaths (Case Fatality Rate is at 3.3%). Of these cases, 2,027 are imported infections and 28,715 are locally transmitted. Cumulatively, 16,840 cases have now recovered, 134 were lost to follow-up, and 76 are still being investigated to ascertain their outcome. This brings the total number of active cases to 12,679. In the past 24 hours, 14 cases were hospitalised while nine were discharged. Currently, a total of 115 active cases are hospitalised: 29 in Lilongwe, 25 in Blantyre, 17 in Mzimba North, eight in Thyolo, five in Chitipa, four each in Ntcheu and Zomba, three each in Karonga, Mchinji, Salima, and Chiradzulu, two each in Dowa and Mulanje, and one each in Nkhata Bay, Mzimba South, Mangochi, Machinga, Balaka, Chikwawa, and NsanjeDistricts. On testing, in the past 24 hours, 1,299 COVID-19 tests were conducted. Of these, 302 tests were through SARS-COV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic test while the rest were through RT-PCR. The positive cases out of the total translates to a positivity rate of 16.5%. Cumulatively, 183,239 tests have been conducted in the country so far.
Let me emphasize that everyone is at risk of contracting COVID-19, but let me remind the
public that COVID-19 is often more severe in older people and/or those that have health
conditions like lung or heart disease, diabetes (sugar disease), hypertension (high BP), TB and HIV, asthma or conditions that affect their immune system. It has been observed that many people are not aware that they have these underlying conditions and only became aware while having COVID-19 infection and in most instances the condition becomes severe. It is important for everyone to routinely get screened for these underlying conditions. For those that have these chronic diseases, it is important ensure that the chronic condition you live with is under control; this means ensuring you are regularly taking medication for diabetes (sugar disease), hypertension (high BP), HIV, TB and asthma.
To effectively reduce and stop the coronavirus from spreading, there is need for a collective
effort to contain the pandemic by comprehensively following all the Covid-19 preventive and containment measures. The following preventive measures should be our daily routine regardless of status: frequent hand washing with soap, proper wearing of mask, avoiding over- crowded places, practicing cough and sneeze etiquette, staying home if you have flu like symptoms and decontaminating commonly touched surfaces.
Watch your distance! Wash your hands! Wear your mask! Seek care early upon development
of symptoms of COVID-19. Call toll free 929.
Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP
MINISTER OF HEALTH
CO-CHAIRPERSON – PRESIDENTIAL TASKFORCE