Malawi records spike in Covid-19 cases: Count jumps by 102 to 203

Malawi has registered 102 new cases of  Covid-19, the strands for coronavirus pandemic, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 203, the Presidential Taskforce has disclosed.

Dr John Phuka: Co-chair of the presidential task force

Co-chairperson of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Dr. John Phuka said  the cases were recorded on 25 and 26 May.

He said the 92 positive cases were registered  from those who just came into the country through the 13 buses that had 580 people from South African.

“We have results of 475 out of 580 people and 92 of those tested positive. Different laboratories have verified those results,” he said.

Seven positive cases have been confirmed from samples that were collected from truck drivers and other travelers at Mwanza border while three other positive cases have also been confirmed in Lilongwe- the hot spot for the virus pandemic.

The spike in the Covid-19 cases comes after over 400  Malawians who recently returned from South Africa — the continent’s hardest-hit country in the pandemic —  fled from a coronavirus quarantine site in Blantyre , sparking criticism of lax government measures and fears of a potential outbreak.

The incident came just a day after eight people who had tested positive for COVID-19 fled from an isolation center in Blantyre.

Phuka said the committee has put in place are institutional quarantine for those who need care, ensure that there is strong prevention control from point of entry, community responsibility and all those coming into the country be subjected to testing among others.

“We have put in place strategies for those coming from outside the country and how to take care of them depending on our situation. Those found positive will be quarantined at an institution,” he said.

A health rights activist Dorothy Ngoma told Nyasa Times that the escape of such a large number of potential virus carriers was extremely worrying and puts all of Malawi — which has 101 cases and four deaths so far — at even greater risk.

However, she added, it was not entirely unexpected, given the poor planning and management displayed by the government.

Coronavirus cases are increasing at an alarming rate all across Africa, with more than 5,000 confirmed on Thursday, the continent’s highest single-day spike to date.

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nachisale
nachisale
4 years ago

The whole world needs to learn from Malawi on how its treating the positive patients so that they can do the same to their patients. Malawi, you are not the map!!!!!!!! Teach the world please.

Malawi belong to the citizens

Do not blame judges.That was the job of government to put quarantine structures at Mwanza border far from local communities.Soldiers should guard them for 14 days.It was not the judge who left the borders open for the people from South Africa, Tanzania to enter Malawi.Ndikuganiza kopusa Kut mafigures akamakwera muziti ndivuto la judge.How can you put Malawians on lockdown without food and money.Anthu palockdown amangodya pafupi pafupi.So you mean the judges was supposed to give the food to the citizens.Kusaganiza bwino Kwa maministers athuwo results yake ndi imeneyi.Nanga anthu 7 atha wanso Kwa kameza aja ndivutonso lajudge.If the president is… Read more »

Mangochi Kabwafu
Mangochi Kabwafu
4 years ago

Only 3 deaths since discovered in Malawi and thousands deaths due to other illnesses during the same period.

Wiseup
Wiseup
4 years ago

3 deaths and all those at the beginning of this covid thingy. And word has it that they were suffering from other diseases which killed them and people are crying WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE!!! My question still remains how many people have been diagnosed and died from malaria during this period? With malaria within a week you can be gone. Ma high blood pressure ongobwerawa kungozindikira munthu wagwa infa yomweyo ndiye osanena. Ndiangati afapo infa zotere? And life was still going on. Anthu amene akuopa covid should bolt their doors and self quarantine osati kuti asokoneze life ya anzawo.… Read more »

Wiseup
Wiseup
4 years ago
Reply to  Wiseup

And just to add, if this was a pandemic, out of 18 million people we would not be talking of 400 people being infected in 2 months and most of these 400 recovered. With the campaign going on we would be at over 100 thousand already.

Rute
4 years ago

If we had lockdown, those returning from hotspots like South Africa would not have infected more. Thanks to the corrupt and rude judge Kenyatta Nyirenda, these people can walk free.

Stanley Ngalande
Stanley Ngalande
4 years ago
Reply to  Rute

If my memory serves me well, the lockdown was supposed to be up to May 9. Most of the returnees came after May 9. Your hatred for the judge is keeping you stressed. Let it go.

National CEO
National CEO
4 years ago
Reply to  Rute

Do you know that the number has jumped high because of those people who have been brought from RSA? My question is: If there is an emmergerncy where a man, his wife and a child are involved, and only two must be rescued, Who should be left? Common sense will tell you that you must rescue the man and the wife because they can have another child. So why did the government allow a few people from RSA to come and infect 18 million who are safe back home? it was better to protect those who are Malawi (those who… Read more »

Mangochi Kabwafu
Mangochi Kabwafu
4 years ago

Nanga si zisankho zikuyandikira. NYEKHWE is coming.

Galu #1
Galu #1
4 years ago

Corona virus is real ! Why is the government playing games !

Cashgate1
Cashgate1
4 years ago

I am interested to know, for those that have recovered from the Covid-19, What drug are we using to treat them? Seems we’ve registered a good number of recovery.

Mangochi Kabwafu
Mangochi Kabwafu
4 years ago
Reply to  Cashgate1

It’s more less like flu, comes and goes to the majority.

#NotMyPresident
#NotMyPresident
4 years ago

The wise and dynamic leadership of Adadi Petro Mutharika. Kaya TIONE NYEKHWE

lameki
4 years ago

aren’t you the same fools that were backing against government measures to curb this virus? osamayankhula zokhuta. mutukwanidwapo za ziii

Pewani
Pewani
4 years ago
Reply to  lameki

It seems Lameki thinks with his bottom or has poridge in his brain.

Ineyobasi
Ineyobasi
4 years ago
Reply to  lameki

Pita uko gwape iwe,president wanuyo sanawuzidwe zotseka ma border?chinthu cha chabechabe chija

Very Sad
4 years ago

Importing cases and letting them loose! Zofuna. You are in for trouble. Why can’t the government learn from the bad experience of other countries? We do not have facilities to take care of this. All we know is taking a begger’s bowl to WHO or UNICEF. Those so called donors give while laughing at us. Ndani wanzeru angamabereke ana kuti osamalira anawo akhale wina? You reduce us into laughing stocks.

lameki
4 years ago
Reply to  Very Sad

kumalawi ndikwao. u cant restrict citizens from returning home. where else are they supposed to go. You as a Malawian if you go out of the country does Malawi seize to be your home???? osamayankhula osaganiza

Ineyobasi
Ineyobasi
4 years ago
Reply to  lameki

Kodi gwape iwe sumamva eti?likanakhala boma la nzeru mesa likakonza malo woti afikukemo?kodi iwe ndichitsirudi eti?

Wawa
Wawa
4 years ago

Very sad development. The situation will get worse with political Rallies

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