Doctor warns too early for schools to reopen in Malawi

June 21, 2020 Green Muheya - Nyasa Times 20 Comments

An epidemiologist Titus Divala has said proposition for schools to reopen was too early, saying Malawi is not yet at a point where classes can start amidst the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Epidemiologist Titus Divala: Too early to open schools

Divala, a member of the Society of Medical Doctors, said going ahead with reopening schools would be risking a surge in Covid-19 cases in some communities.

He was reacting to a statement from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) that it has reduced primary school knock-off period by an hour as one way of preventing the spread of virus pandemic.

Divala said the Ministry of Education should withdraw the statement and initiate consultations with epidemic experts immediately.

He said the “life threatening disease we have amidst us is bigger” and that reopening schools early would be putting a risk to pupils, their teachers, their families and communities, and the nations.

According to Divala, more time is needed to contain the outbreak as Covid-19 is likely to claim over 50 000 lives in the country, according to Kuunika modelling by the Ministry of Health.

By Saturday, the country had recorded  570 Covid 19 cases, including 11 deaths.

Divala stressed that it was too soon for schools to reopen and that it risked the rate of infection increasing as the evidence show the best weapon against Covid-19 is keeping people far apart and limiting movements.

He said Malawi need to take advantage of the slow Covid-19 transmission to strengthen the health system, not to fuel the spread.

Malawi planned a 21-day national lockdown from midnight April 18 to midnight May 9 as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of Covid-19. However, the lockdown announced by Minister of Health Jappie Mhango did not work out following an injunction obtained by two concerned citizens and some civil society groups.

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20 replies on “Doctor warns too early for schools to reopen in Malawi”

  1. The ministry should ensure all safety precautions are put in place at the time of reopening of schools to prevent a surge in new covid 19 cases in the country. Education is important and much more important is the life of the students, teachers and parents.

  2. Adivala muli pee mukudya ma allowance a COVID-19 muli. You thnink the school should stay closed until you eat all the money. Mwauponda Mawa pa 23 tikwilira mbuyanu

  3. Kuno ku South anayesela kutsegula ma school koma more effection soon after reopen tikunena pano.Samalani kumudzi.

  5. But it was ok for political parties to hold mass rallies for election campaign? What mixed priorities!!

  6. Malawi Cannot afford to Close the Borders of the Country as all essential and Not essential items are coming through the Borders and that’s is Big Disadvantage for Land Locked Countries as they Need to Make Money and Public Needs the Money also the Poor people can not Live without Food so it needs to open

    As far as Covid is concern for Schools it should NOT be opened as the Life of our Children is more important then Any thing Else

  7. Amthira kuwiri inu, zamavoti munati chiyani? Nanga lero za sukulu? Malawi popeza aliyense Ali ndi ufulu oyankhula.

  11. Divala,
    Stop confusing the nation in the name of epidemiologist. Let kids go back to school. As for this Corona, there is a second round in the making and who knows it has come to stay as the case is with malaria or flu depending on country. Instead of paralyzing institutions, let us be vigilant. Teach our kids a new way of living with corona instead of giving up in school as we are doing. In the end we will end up with an educated Corona survivors. We need people to think outside the box! ie every parent to purchase a mask for their child and send them to school
    Right now, Beijing is having a second wave of Corona but they have changed the way they are doing things. You can just hold on to the principle of not opening schools. Please please makolo, ma epidemiologist, let us reason better.
    Keep things rolling. Mwakoma nonse.

  13. corona is not a killer disease. Ana anu akuphunzira online. You r very selfish u the so called experts

  15. Zopusa. Schools shouldn’t have closed in the first place. Schools in some hard hit countries in Europe and elsewhere closed late in the pandemic and the majority have already opened despite still having high infections rates and deaths. For instance, schools have remained open for key workers kids in the UK though out the pandemic with no fatalities. Kungosokoneza ana masukulu basi. Open schools now.

  17. The lockdown was not as necessary as closing down the borders which has not been done to this day. The government is responsible.

    1. Ine anthu awa anditopetsa. Which probability calculations are you using. Models have failed all over the world. TAKE YOUR CALCULATOR, Tested 8 thousand active 750 death 11. CHECK MALARIA DEAHS WITHIN THE SAME PERIOD..

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