Malawi moves to seal off borders, ban gathering of over 100 people to control new Covid strain
Malawi government through the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 has announced the sealing of the country’s borders and a gathering of over 100 people
in an unprecedented move to disrupt the chains of infection of coronavirus pandemic.
Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, who is also co-chair of the task force, announced the measures in Lilongwe on Tuesday, saying the sealing of borders is among a string of tough actions by government to fight the rising cases of the virus pandemic which are being imported.
She said there was a rise in the total number of active cases, from 40 to 210 in less than two weeks and just within a day on Tuesday the country had registered 46 cases, saying it is “cause for alarm” since the new strain of the virus spreads fast.
“Being the festive season, more people are expected to come into the country and people will also be holding large gatherings,” noted Chiponda.
She said borders will only be open for “essential services”.
Chiponda said the country would allow entry of deported Malawians from mainly South Africa and those who went out for business.
The minister said the government needed to disrupt the chains of infection and imposed a restriction of gatherings for 100 people including football matches, religious gatherings such as crossover events scheduled for December 31 as well as weddings and funerals.
“We have to limit not only large events and social contact, but also the movement of people,” Chiponda said.
The minister said the virus was spreading “quickly and aggressively”, both in Malawi and across the borders.
She said the borders will be closed “for the next two weeks and public gathering should not exceed more than 100 people.”
Chiponda, who was accompanied by the task force co-chair Dr John Phuka and Minister of information Gospel Kazako, also confirmed that Minister of Labour Ken Kandodo, who is member of the task force, has tested positive to Covid-19 and is receiving treatment at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.
She, however, said his condition is stable.
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Why he complained if he knew that he cannot exceed the required number? Why did he hired a stadium? He didn’t intend to have zoom is forced by circumstances and he didyprophecy of saw this coming.
Lol. Why didn’t Bushiri see is his own extradition agreement? Bushiri is a businessman primarily, and is able to prey on the ignorant. I don’t know if he has committed crimes, but he’s the proverbial camel that won’t pass through the eye of the needle. His main objective is profit, and he has become successful in this. Does he want to help his fellow man? If you pay enough, maybe.
The Presidential Task force had gone on leave or was sleeping on duty under the false impression that Covid 19 was long gone. All of a sudden one Minister has been admitted because of Covid 19 and the task office is in a state of confusion. Closing the border for two weeks yet giving in to Mini Bus drivers demands to have the normal carrying capacity. Whose dumb idea was that to reverse the carrying restrictions over the phone so as to punder to the demands of the Mini bus drivers. If such dangerous decisons could be met over the… Read more »
Ah ah what about Bushiri’s cross over? Mwadyetsa phwisi?
Inu, crossover anthu 100 okha nde adyapo chani bushiri?
you are foolish we do not hold cross overs to milk peoples money,
that is why we are not shaken.
WE ARE DOING IT ON ZOOM IN MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
It’s bushiri the MBAVA/FUGITIVE who is foolish, with a few brainwashed thick followers of course.
The issue of public gathering restricted to 100 people per gathering was long imposed and I wonder, when was it removed to be reimposed this time? If it was not removed since it’s first imposition, then all gatherings including congregations in our churches have been desregarding the rule. How do you expect the people to adhere to it this time around? Malawi’s deep rooted culture is lack of follow ups- the worst enemy.
Google
Is this border crossing affecting also people who are to exit the country ?I have a visa for visiting another country for 3 months, how would this affect me?
Simple ask Mr President, to digress a bit every selected minister mudzitipatsa profile yake.. The education they have, the experience they have etc
Aaaaaaaaa 👀
This new virus siyosewela nayo you need to put restrictions and fine any gatherings otherwise you won’t be able to contain it
Your handlers akuuzani kuti it spreads fast so you are following the narrative. When are we as Africans going to come up with our own analysis of the situations on the ground and based on facts and outcomes make informed decisions. We wait for a European to tell us what is happening to us and yet we have well learned medical personnel in this country and on this continent. Very pathetic. This is what brought Aids and Ebola to us because our doctors are failing in their job. White man just comes and tells us there is this outbreak, please… Read more »
Mwapanga poti Wanu wadwala? Zitsilu za anthu. osangoti matenda analinawo kale. za ziii. Tsitsani mafuta . Thats what you told us before you bribed your Tumbuka Judges!!!
ushira koma moshedwa iwe chavula in mask
You’re a disgrace….You seem not to understand and follow what is happening and how it’s happening.
How dare would you say our doctors and the Malawian authority doesn’t think and verify whether Aids or Covid19 is true? Do you know in epidemiology that 1 case is a big public health concern? Do you take 46 cases ( tested positive) in a day out of 18 million as no big issue?
You must be sick and ndiwe chitin chopanda kanthu mkati.
Kkkkk Oh please!! Read and research my friend, read and research. Is it not true that doctors do what whitey tells them “We are sick here therefore you are sick there. Please lock down 😉 kkkkk”. If our doctors were serious, they would research and do an assessment of what ever outbreaks whitey says are there and based on their findings, tell the populace that we have done our own and what we have discovered is abcde and based on that this is the way to go. They should not just be copying what murica and europe are doing. We… Read more »
Hard and painful to say, but azunguwa are largely the ones capable of scientific breakthroughs and with the finances. One of their vaccines has all but eradicated polio, isn’t it? Ife zathu ndi zitsamba ndi nyanga basi. Akakhala ma sukulu, akutiphunzitsa ndi azungu omwewo with best schools/universities in the world. Painful but true.
I LIKE you Independent think tank .
i also believe this virus issue is a BIG SCAM to FORCE PEOPLE TO VACCINATE.
OUR home grown virologists are just PWII following blindly
BRO moreover if these guys were concerned about our deaths they should have already produced a MALARIAL VACCINE because this has killed many and is still killing many over a long time
They have been testing in anti malarial vaccine (in Kenya and elsewhere). There’s simply a culture of taking in Africa, and expectation that other countries should provide.
Because Africa consistently fails to invest in science. Very few African countries have the capacity or are willingness to invest the money in such investigations. Whilst countries outside Africa are directing resources into improving the lives of others, Africa still has the standing of a complaining beggar, wasting his own money on whores and alcohol and saying how everyone else is not helping him. Tired of this record. Africa has to stop being a selfish and self obsessed continent.