Malawi flatten the coronavirus curve: Phuka cautions on valve masks

Malawi’s restrictions on social interactions to contain the coronavirus outbreak are working and have flattened the curve of new life-threatening  pandemic virus cases, co-chairperson of the presidential taskforce on Covid-19, Dr John Phuka said on Tuesday.

Phuka: There is a significant decrease in new cases and deaths

In his  situation report, Phuka said the country’s data suggests that there is steady reduction in the new cases and deaths and improvement continue in the recovery rate.

Phuka said as of Tuesday, September 1, the Covid-19 recovery rate  has surpassed the 60% mark.

In the past 24 hours, Malawi has registered 10 new cases, 260 new  recoveries and no new deaths.  All new cases are locally transmitted: six from Lilongwe and four from Blantyre.

Phuka said he sees a flattened curve with steady reduction in the new cases and deaths and continued improvement in the recovery rate.

Malawi has recorded 5,576 cases including 175 deaths and of these cases, 1,126 are imported infections and 4,450 are locally transmitted.

Cumulatively, 3,420 cases have now recovered bringing the total number of active cases to 1,981 and so far conducted 45,622 tests in 45 COVID-19 testing sites of which 117 tests have been done in the past 24 hours of Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, Phuka has cautioned on the need to note what type of masks are used to effectively protect oneself and others from the virus.

“We have seen a trend of masks with valves and let me inform the public that this type of mask is not recommended because the purpose of masks is to keep respiratory droplets from reaching others to aid with source control

“This is not achieved because masks with one-way valves or vents allow air to be exhaled through a hole in the material, which can result in expelled respiratory droplets that can reach others. This type of mask does not prevent the person wearing the mask from transmitting Covid-19 to others,”  he warned .

According to Phuka, masks can be used either for protection of healthy persons; worn to protect oneself when in contact with an infected individual or for source control when worn by an infected individual to prevent onward transmission.

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Khima
Khima
3 years ago

Dr. Phuka tisanamizanepo zinthu zingoyenda zokha izi…mwina ndi Mulungu chabe anangofuna kuti tisafike poopysa otherwise ma restrictions anu ali ndi negligible impact because they were never fully complied to…same crowded markets, depots, towns, buses, pubs….but anyway we thank God this are getting better and thanks to ur committee for the effort done.

Kagwele
Kagwele
3 years ago

Statistically different compared to what? Osamangotchula zinthu zomwesimukuzidziwa man.

iyamw
iyamw
3 years ago

So where is the graph Dr. Phuka and Nyasatimes Journalists? Please be evidence based and provides factual data with trends. On a related note, did Malawi Flatten the figure? How?. The headline or brief by Dr. Phuka could have indicated that Corona Virus FLATTENS its own graph, or that the warm weather Flattens Corona Virus graph. What interventions did Malawi Government seriously put in place when your predecessors were delibarately importing the virus from RSA, and that during the re-election, no measures were put in place, let alone followed by all parties including the Tonse Alliance during the campaign. Foolish!!… Read more »

zed
zed
3 years ago

just accept that you have run out of test kits and this is the best exit strategy.

Kemusi
Kemusi
3 years ago

how many tests have been conducted and is the figure statistically significant to say the curve has been flattened. What has Malawi done differently such that we are better than SA and some of our neighbours. These figures are lies. if we are not careful some of these things will haunt us.

Yalakwa 4
3 years ago

So. What happens when you die from coronavirus?

Post
Post
3 years ago
Reply to  Yalakwa 4

basi depending on your belief you either go to heaven or hell or just stop existing

Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light.
Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light.
3 years ago
Reply to  Post

It does not depend on what you believe, it depends on what is true!

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