Minister warns coronavirus could kill 50 000 in Malawi
Public enemy coronavirus could kill about 50 000 in Malawi and the killer virus could potentially infect 85 percent of the country’s population currently at 17.5 million if Covid-19 were to hit the country for a year, Minister of Health and Population Jappie Mhango has said.
The minister offered a grim prediction on Monday when he fronted the news conference in Lilongwe to update the nation of Covid-19 as chairperson of the Special Cabinet Committee of the virus pandemic.
He announced the country has recorded a fifth case of Covid-19 – a respiratory illness especially dangerous to older people and those with health problems.
Mhango said despite low statics of recorded cases of Covid-19, the trajectory of the pandemic will change – and dramatically for the worse – if people ease up on social distancing or relax with other precautions.
“If the disease was to hit the country for a year, 85 percent of people will be infected with Lilongwe being the hardest hit,” said Mhango.
“Over 85 percent or 16 million people will become infected over one year,” said the Minister of Health.
He said of those infected, “it is anticipated that 483 000 people will be hospitalised and 85 000 people will be in critical condition in need of critical care and up to 50 000 people could die directly from Covid-19.”
However, World Health Organisation bosses urged against “throwing around figures that there is no basis for”.
WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the epidemic poses a “very grave threat” to the entire globe.
He said: “To be honest, a virus is more powerful in creating political, economic and social upheaval than any terrorist attack.
“A virus can have more powerful consequences than any terrorist action.
“If the world doesn’t want to wake up and consider this enemy virus as Public Enemy number 1, I don’t think we will learn from our lessons.”
There are growing fears that the pandemic will cause major challenges for Malawi’s under-resourced health services.
President Peter Mutharika has not ruled out imposing a lockdown to confine all but essential workers to their homes.
Mutharika declared a state of disaster on March 23 to combat the virus. Schools are closed and the government says it is urging people to work from home and follow hand-washing and social-distancing guidelines.
All social gatherings of more than 100 people, such as funerals, church services and political rallies, have been banned.
Mutharika said government will continue monitoring and review situation as it unfolds warning that “more comprehensive measures may be imposed.”
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Statistics do not lie…between China, Italy, Germany, France, UK, USA and Spain some 900000 are infected with a death toll of 65000 (nearly a full old Kamuzu Stadium). This is a highly infectious virus and people should take and follow guidance given them. Based on movement and contact, it is possible for a single carrier to infect more people with those people infecting others.
The virus can survive for nearly a week on contaminated person, clothing or any surface such as products, trollies, car and bus seats. When contaminated hands are used to wipe the face, the virus finds its way via eyes, mouth or nose. Symptoms new dry cough, sore throat and high temperature (fever). It is worse for over 70’s and especially those with underlying medical conditions – diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, etc. It affects the respiratory system causing problems with breathing, hence the need for respirators within hospital ICU.
The problem for Malawi is preparation for huge numbers of sick people admissions to hospitals; medical equipment and staff. There have to be made available now before the trend starts to rise.
Keep Safe!
Tose ise tikulemba nakuwelenga pano pa nyasa times tili vindele vakufikapo!!!
Tizichila
Tizichila not kufa
Don’t trust the APM appointed ministerial Committee on Covid 19. It is too partisan, not working in the interest of the Nation.
A committee comprising Professionals would have been ideal. After failing to dupe the population with the ID Cards buying, the committee has resorted to scaring people so that they keep away from voter registration. The committee is having too many meetings, earning huge and obscene allowances in the process and strategising on how to rig the coming election.
Where is Mhango getting all the statistics?
We needed a Doctor to explain more to Us …i.e. Is that projection based on the fact that 1 million people are HIV positive in this country ….While in the West apart from Age underlying health conditions which have contributed to Corona Deaths include …Cardiovascular complications,hypertension ,diabetis,obesity ,cancer etc what are the likely underlying health conditions to contribute to high death rates ,is it malnutrition,hiv….How are the vulnerable groups going to be protected etc…Are vulnerable people aware and therefore taking precautionary measures etc
The most stupid Minister of today. His home the north has no testing centre. For the sake of money he is quite, he cant push for it because he fears for his job, Let me warn you. People have all along been asking you to improve the heath care system in the country, but you ignored all those calls because you and your friends go abroad when you fall sick. Now the borders have closed, take care once you and malume akowo fall sick you will dies here. We need good policies where water should now be free until the pandemic is over like what other equally poor countries are doing.Your interest is to amass funds for election campaign. Just wait it will soon bring one of you down and you will learn a bitter lesson. God is angry with injustice and oppression perpetrated buy with people in authority like you Mhango.
You can say that again my bro.
Critics everywhere…….bwanji amalawi osangokhala chete if u don’t wanna comment…..Sometimes you should be attentive to details…..”Were to hit for a YEAR” That’s what the Minister is saying.
The minister is, was and will remain an idiot (albeit on taxpayers roll)!
You are a worse idiot for commentBig without tangible contributions.. just stupid words
when are you providing hand sanitisers, masks, soaps to the poor? Testing equipment and ventilators in the health centers? Thanks for the figures BUT they have succeeded in bringing more anxiety and frustration to Malawians
kodi ndikaesa ati 20 ventilators zili kha ati ku mulanje/phalombe hospital.
aluona kuononga ndalama kugpeleka sanitizer.mukapeza ma sanitizer mmanyumba mwa mabwana.
what if we demamde the govt the chlorine sprays i places. munva.
AND AND AND ONCE ALL THIS IS OVER , EEEE MA NEW CARS, MA MANSIONS MMENE ZITATULUKILEMO.
OFCOIRSE AIDS MKATI
AMBUYE IDZANI
you stupid minister you are not God so just shut up your sticking mouth
I pray that Judge Kenyatta should be the first to die. He singlehandedly imported corona into Malawi with his careless ruling when Malawi wanted to apply strict measures on immigration.
This has got nothing to do with Judge Kenyatta you idiot. Was he the one who allowed the 8 confirmed people with corona virus? The answer is NO! So stop wasting time bickering about the Judge.
This self serving committee has seized the notion of cooking up figures knowing this will instil fear in the populace. It all smacks of vultures descending on a carrion.
This is madness. You have already planned to kill people and YOU just want to hide behind COVID-19. What is wrong with DPP
It is only in Malawi where people who project numbers in a worst scenario of a pandemic are called silly
Appointment of a ministerial Committee on Corona Virus was a deliberate move by DPP to scare Malawians into submission so that the proposed Presidential election is pushed to an indefinite period.
I think Malawi is under attack by Satanisits.
Idiots and counting! Look closely and you will notice them in that group…………It’s pathetic
May God Help Us
Minister, are you satanic, where do you get the figure 50,000? Are you dreaming, you think we can simply be fooled by your silly guess. To hell with your satanism.
USA,predicted their death toll could reach 240000.what is wrong with our own minister warning us that our death toll could reach 50k,if we don’t follow the precaution measures in place.
@Alex. USA is very satanic if you don’t know. Go there or do some research. USA is all about population control, and Malawi? I think you should be the first one to get the vaccine that France and USA are talking about.
It proves how foolish we have become in Malawi