In the past 24 hours, Malawi has registered 203new COVID-19 cases, 337newrecoveries,eight new deaths.
All new cases are locally transmitted: 76 from Lilongwe, 48 from Blantyre, 24 from Salima, 11 from Mzimba North, six from Mangochi, five each from Ntcheu and Zomba, four from Ntchisi, three each from Karonga, Kasungu, and Machinga, two each from Chiradzulu, Mchinji, Mwanza, Neno, Nkhata Bay, and Thyolo, and one each from Chikwawa, Likoma, and Rumphi Districts.
In the past 24 hours, eight new COVID-19 deaths have been registered: five from Blantyre, and one each from Dowa, Chitipa, and Rumphi District.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 29,837cases including 984 deaths (Case Fatality Rate is at 3.3%). Of these cases, 2,022are imported infections and27,815are locally transmitted.
Cumulatively, 15,568cases have now recovered, 134were lost to follow-up, and 76are still being investigated to ascertain their outcome.
This brings the total number of active cases to 12,985. In the past 24 hours, 10 cases were hospitalised while 11 were discharged.
Currently, a total of 131 active cases are hospitalised: 37 in Lilongwe, 26 in Blantyre, 20 in Mzimba North, nine in Thyolo, six each in Zomba and Karonga, four in Ntcheu, three each in Mchinji, Chitipa, Salima, and Chiradzulu, two each in Rumphi and Mulanje, and one each in Nkhata Bay, Mangochi, Dowa, Machinga, Balaka, Chikwawa, and Nsanje Districts.
On testing, in the past 24 hours,1,361COVID-19 testswere conducted. Of these, 369tests 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 14.9%. Cumulatively, 176,148tests have been conducted in the country so far.
As communicated yesterday,the Presidential Task Force has directed that all schools should re-open on 22ndFebruary 2021.
To ensure that the risk of transmission is minimized in the schools,there are a number of measures that need to be adhered to.
Let me emphasize that all schools should plan and implement COVID-19 preventive measures to ensure that the schools are safe such as screening of both students and teachers, adhering to the physical distancing and ensure that all lodging and classroom facilities are not congested . In addition the following have to be strictly observed;
Sick students, teachers and other staff should not come to school and for boarding schools, they should ensure that they have dedicated rooms to be used as isolation rooms in case they have Suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Schools should enforce regular hand washing with clean water and soap, alcohol rub/hand sanitizer or chlorine solution Frequent cleaning and disinfection of the most touched surfaces and objects at the school
Schools should provide water, sanitation and waste management facilities and follow environmental cleaning and decontamination procedures
Proper wearing of mask and dispose of them safely
Practicing cough and sneeze etiquette
Staggering approach to be used in classrooms, libraries and in eating areas to reduce congestion
Frequent health education sessions to the learners on the prevention COVID-19
Monitor school attendance to track student and staff absence and compare against usual absenteeism patterns at the school. Alert local health authorities about large increases in student and staff absenteeism due to respiratory illnesses.Watch your distance! Wash your hands! Wear your mask! Seek for care early upon development of symptoms of COVID-19. Call toll free 929.