Minister Mhango prescribes Malawi lockdown measures
Minister of Health, Jappies Mhango, chairing he Special Cabinet Committee on Coronavirus (Covid-19) has outlined a range of new tough measures to ensure enforcement of the lockdown effective at midnight on Saturday, including restricting the movement of people in order to minimize the spread of the virus.
Mhango told a news conference on Thursday that
that he decalred a lockdown in exercise of the powers under Rule 11 of the Public Health (Corona Virus Prevention, Containment and Management) Rules 2020.
He said in light of the lockdown declaration all drinking joints, cultural festivals and weddings are banned during the 21-days lockdown up to May 9 2020.
Meetings of more than 10 people will be prohibited and that hotels will have room services only.
He also said religious gatherings will be allowed with not more than 10 people.
On funerals, the Minister of Health said people should follow all funeral arrangements as provided with not more than 50 people present who will also be observing social distancing.
“In this case, observation of Covid-19 sanitary and hygienic measures is a requirement at all funerals. Funeral ceremonies shall be conducted in the shortest time possible,” said Mhango.
The minister said the public transport – minibuses, tricycles, taxis, bicycles and motorcycles and taxis – will only be allowed primarily to offer services to essential services staff and cater for emergencies from 5am to 9.am in the mornings, and from 4pm to 7pm in the evenings.
“No public transport vehicle shall be allowed to loiter or linger around for passengers outside these hours,” said Mhango.
The minister said air transport services remain suspended with the exception of supplies for essential goods and services and returning passengers.
In all cases, air transport services shall be offered with prior arrangements with the Minister.
Locomotive passenger transport shall be allowed to operate between Liwonde and Nayuchi only.
However, locomotive goods transport shall continue operating without any restrictions but shall follow Covid-19 sanitary and hygienic measures.
Water transport services will only operate between Nkhatabay and Likoma.
Construction works are suspended except under the following conditions:
- A camp is provided at the construction site for construction workers so that the workers are isolated from the public during the lockdown;
- Where a camp is not provided for on site, transport is provided for workers to travel from a camp to the construction site; or
- The works involve the operation of a single operator machine or plant at the construction site.
The minister said harvesting of crops will be allowed within prescribed hours and with strict observance of sanitary and hygienic conditions.
Grazing of livestock is also allowed within prescribed hours and with strict observance of sanitary and hygienic conditions.
Maize mills will also be operating within prescribed hours and with strict observance of sanitary and hygienic conditions.
Mhango said marketing of agricultural products including tobacco auction floors will go on as normal.
The minister said the lockdown measures shall be enforced by Malawi Defence Force, the police and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services shall be deployed to ensure strict compliance.
He also said the Local Councils remain empowered under the Public Health Act to commence civil and criminal proceedings in order to enforce the measures prescribed under these Rules.
Malawi has, so far, 16 confirmed cases of coronavirus, mostly from individuals who arrived in the country from India, United Kingdom and elsewhere. Two deaths associated with COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, have been registered to date.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Whats the situation with home made masks in Malawi? Am sure funds can be raised to hire “tailors” throughout malawi to make home made masks for the public.
Malawians should sacrifice because COVID19 is a matter of live and death. One can survive on water even for two weeks but in two weeks COVID19 may claim millions of lives. If Malawians want to be safe, do not postpone or delay actions. Lengthy debates may not be helpful at this moment. In Uganda we have left Govt to direct us and we know that, hard as it it is ,, it is for our own good.. 21 more days of lock up ends on 5th may and I know we shall all be alive. We have had 55 cases,, about a dozen have been discharged and there has so far been no death. MALAWI MUST ACT NOW .
The no of cases in Malawi is very small at present and it could be easy to prevent the virus spreading if contact tracing and testing and isolating was done efficiently.
Does Malawi have the resources to do that if so thats what the Hon Minister should be concentrating on.
A Malawi atopa nanu anthu inu. Nzeru mulibe, nzeru zanu ndi zakuba basi.
they got a nerve to put a flag on their desks. dude we know you are in Mw!!!! do ypu think this necessary???
this is more than rubbish how can a full man make these restrictions nonsense when he is fully aware that we malawian depends on hand to month eish God please come
Malawi govt full of imbeciles.
jahova will fire you all.
Uli phwii kudya ndalama za covid.
Malawi government must support people with food during lockdown as we proceed to save our country from the pandemic.And this is a fact for our people they live in poverty they must not be just cereblating to lock it.
aa kkkkkkk ndiaesa potulutsa ndondomeko 52 pa dzana litali lija ndi vuto aligwetsa usiku wa dzana uja ma measures awowa akanatulukila limodzi?
kugula mbeleko mimba isanacitike.
takambani!!! we are a laughing stock. inetu mau anga ndomwe aja. GAMR IYI NDI YAIKULU ,OSE MABWANA ATHUWA ACEPA NAZO KUTALI.
anangozolowera posing kuti asankhidwa, busy kutibela ndalama, kumapanga ma personal bysiness, ma nyumba, kugula ma truck kukwela tiasikana, azikazi aeni, basi.,kudya kumangofufuma zimimba eeee
kupanga long term plans anta sangazithe.
ngsti mchacha angakoze plan yanji ya dera let alone dziko,beni phili showbiz man.
Beni uve unakapanga ku ma ofesi a ku lilongwe local govt, you will live to regret this error mark my word.
People will only understand when they start dying. Remember how long it took for people to start abstaining and using condoms. We had funerals everyday and on every corner, that’s how Malawians learn. Let this be Mr minister, you lot have tried your part.Tikayamba kufa azibusa will support the initiative, so will community leaders and the opposition but for now this message will fall on def ears
ine pheeee…kuwelengela masiku atsala ku 150. Nde mwati mayi Ansah satsegulanso registration??… Hehehe Nthawi…..?????
Yakwana!!!
Osamapusa anthu a dpp. Why are you running away from voting? You are fools. If we die, what is your problem? Idiots……do you even care when you still our money???? Tell your stupid president to leave us alone. His home is in america. Not here.
How will you vote when you are sick???or the country is busy burying its loved ones? Please remember how bad our health systems is.
Kkkkkkkkkk defend the witch party!
Nonsense
So its only restrictions without any assistance from government? Ingonenani mufuna kutipha ndi njala, some homes are headed by children they depend on daily ganyu. Mtundu wanga uwonongeka chifukwa cha ndale osati COVID
anthu 6 from.one family anafa ndi atatu seriously ill ku ncheu mu mid january. 2020
atadya zakudya za cilendo to curb njala.
kuja cimulilenji anakapeleka ma
k150 pin ndi ma
k50 pin kuja.
ndiye panopa titani
Do these people not review their guidelines? So I wish to visit a grocery store even I wish to use a taxi I cannot if I was able to I would remain at the grocery store beyond the closing time of 2pm until 4pm to find a minibus or taxi.
What about Banks no mention this essential service are they going to work regular hours.
Government has had enough time to plan they consult no one and bring this crap and hurt the venuable people of Malawi,
mpungwepungee.mmene zimacitikila ku Mw kuno, kuli ma guidelines oyendetsela boma???
no wonder we still ising constitution yopanga atssmunda ya 1948.
mutafusa omwe analipo pokoza izi akuuzani kuti sitimazidziwa. thats how stupid we are.
we we were busy kusintha mbendera ,ka cigamba kacabecabe than considering issues of our daily living.
Myopic thinking creatures
And how will people collect their salaries this month end?
Chinyezi mbafa
Rubbish
Kkkkkkkkk
Kkk trying waters it wl backfire
Waters yomweyo basi
Rushed to close schools instead of airports and borders and yet from the statistics so far,COVID 19 has been imported to this country. Failure to close airports and borders much earlier was done to accommodate importation of SA lawyers to represent MEC, now after they have realised that had failed, now closed borders and airports. This government is fulll of crooks who doesn’t wish Malawians well but self interest. GOD is watching.
Iwe uli na suzgo chomene. Was it wrong for government to protect our kids. Must you find fault in everything?
we shall lock in the ministers if not careful. guys we need to fasten our belts tightl. akutionerers. toooooo much immunity to our officials. kunuapulidwa kuzalhalapo