Mutharika lays out Malawi ‘response plan’ on Coronavirus: Bans gatherings of 100 people, schools closing
Malawi government has declared Covid-19, the coronavirus pandemic a national disaster and and has banned gatherings of more than 100 people as the disease continues to spread around the world and more countries in Africa are confirming positive cases.
President Peter Mutharika in a national address, monitored on taxpayer-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), announced sweeping measures on Friday in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
He said restricting of public gatherings to less than 100 people applies to weddings, funerals, church, congregations, political rallies, government meetings.
The President said the national security apparatus has been ordered into action to enforce the restrictions.
Malawi’s neighbours Zambia and Tanzania have recorded two and one case, respectively, with World Health Organisation (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus urging African countries to prepare for the worst of Covid-19 as cases increase on the continent, but Malawi is yet to confirm a case.
Mutharika urged the public to remain calm, saying hospitals can support patients by relieving the symptons while their bodies fight the infection naturally.
“As we take every precaution, we must maintain our hope because according to health experts, 97 percent of patients infected by the coronavirus get well after medical interventions,” he said.
The Malawi leader is also urging citizens to exercise caution in social interactions and dispelled two myths that black people are immune to Covid-19 and that the warm climate of Africa is protective against the virus.
Mutharika said people should take preventative measures like washing of hands often with soap and water; stopping handshakes and maintaining social distance with people.
“My government, the light of technical guidance from the World Health Organisation, is implementing activities in preparation of the coronavirus outbreak. The aim of these activities is to prevent coronavirus from being transmitted in Malawi and also to prepare the country to handle any case should a coronavirus case be diagonised,” said President Mutharika.
He said among many interventions, government has development a response plan with K15 billion budget ($20m), saying his administraion has provided K2.5 billion as immediate fundig towards the ‘Response Plan’ and is appealing for more support from the private sector and international commitment.
The President said government has suspended hosting of international meetings and banned public servants for attending both regional and international meetings being hosted by affected countries.
The ban has been extended to sports.
He also announced that all schools, colleges should be closed by Monday March 23 2020.
Mutharika announced ban foreign nationasl fro countries highly affected by coronavirus such as China and Italy.
“Returning residents and nationals from coronavirus affected countries will be subjected to self or institutional quarantine,” he said.
Mutharika said coronavirus should not be politicised and asked Malawians to pull in one direction to contain it.
“Spiritually, I call upon all Malawians of different denominations and faith to turn to God in times of fear and uncertainty as we do in times of joy and celebration,” he said.
The pandemic, with 66 000 confirmed deaths, has disrupted travel, business, industries social events and livelihoods globally.
Professor Adamson Muula, an epidemiologist from the University of Malawi’s College of Medicine, says there are a lot of basic preventive measures to learn before the novel virus reaches Malawi.
He explains: “The speed of spread of any other infectious disease varies according to many factors. Direct contact between people is one of the way scoronavirus is transmitted.
“So, for sure, close contact, handshakes, kissing and being close to people who are coughing or sneezing will spread the virus,” he says.
Society of Medical Doctors in Malawi chairperson Amos Nyaka, who is also an ophthalmologist at Kamuzu Central Hospital says the country has enough capacity to detect suspected cases and that there are about seven facilities set aside for quarantine.
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The country need to lock its boarders completely lock..and needs to ban any trips apart from to essential emergency jobs…and trips to shops..one trip per week by one person..we need to implement measure implemented by italy or North Korea.. but not too late. Before anybody die..all the other countries were slow..the disease started from china it comes via air travel to mai seal the airport
. No chinese national ahas an emergency issue to travel to malawi. Completely no. Business ..jobs must stop..better live poor for 50 years than die rich in few weeks. Completely close the boarders..stop the working..clothes none essential jobs and places..apart from escom..waterboarding.. petrol stations..hospitals..and factories which makes goods for survival. Noone should go one out. Make it simple. Look the country.anything like church..wedding…big funeral will give u the virus and u will die quicker than any country because the country has the worst facilities and the lowest doctor to patient ratio in the word that why we cant even detect people who die from it..its not pneumonia it’s not chinfine..its a deadly virus.a government of representative should be put in place
President should be stood down as he has no mandate after the cancelled election date.letw fight the disaster first ..a committee should include proffessional and logistical supplies and security forces..and not stupid politician.the response should be science based and from models of other countries..politician should go in quarantine too not to leave their house as their r old and unhealthy and in general will seek to profit from the disease.
Is the decision guided by science or politics? Old man, can you just gracefully vacate for a more competent government to take over?
Idiot. Why stopping students from writing/finishing their exams? What are you responding to? No cases yet you close schools. Australia for instance has over a thousand cases and 7 deaths yet schools are still going on. Just trying to run away from elections, WALEMBA M’MADZI.
how about the jam packed hospital wards ,childrens wardd, or you dont know i mean you pitala that its chaos in the flooded ward with 3 to 5 children in one bed?
STUPID IDIOTS ARE the medical staff who pretend that one child in a bed protocol when the biggies come for a visit. Asatana inu.. you need to show this man how our kids are sardined on our wards,so he can undersyand that we need rejuvination ,revamp the swamp, otherwise the ministry will keep the all test kits for corona virus to their biggies and families as noone among them will go to India for treatment. they are mak8ng themselves cossy, eatin and drinking mercilessly.
mark my word. it will one day come.
they used to tell us the country has no HIV drugs for its citizens ,a consignment ment 4 Malawi ended up in a different county, then came some sort of equal to the drug, few had ot and died, bcoz meds were late to reach tha patients.
then came the proper real tabs, they kept it ,used to treat theor ministers etc. kanani tikuululeni
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Good now all politicians and their families will go to hospitals in Malawi and get a first hand look at the sorry state of health care in Malawi
The hospitals themselves are overcrowded, how about the markets in cities and small towns, how about the markets along M1, how about your security detail??, how about factory and farm workers etc etc???
Nkhani yabwino bwana president.Tiyeni tithandizane PA za Corona virus.God bless.Amen.
Devils in the oppositions have their evil plans halted by Corona-virus. ConCourt judges should now realise that their judgement has been exposed as defined by corruption and evil.
Phweeeeeeee 🦆
kodi tili ndi ma cases angati so far? ma test kits akupezeka kuti?
strategy yutinji koma
copy and paste from South Africa’s response plan in every way…shame on you. kukanika kubwera ndi your own response plan. Gulu lokhoza mayeso through kuonera.
Don’t write foolishness here we are talking of life in danger and the whole world is at stake – ok what is your response plan in your family if at all you have one, share it with us and we see whether you are wise or a foolish dung. Angoni from which clan are you???? please don’t bring shame to our humble and respectiful tribe – All Ngonis by nature know how to respect elders??? Angoni from the Devil kapena…. tell us please?????
its 11,000 deaths at the moment and not 66,000
Which hospitals? Hospitals are overclouded, no medicine, no proper sanitation. Our president is a joke. At least you will not come to South Africa if Covid 19 catches you because they have enough for their citizen.
Foolish political decision.
There is no confirmed case and this guy is closing schools and universities.
For what?
State of disaster? When there is not even one case???
Nanunso musaonetse umbuli wanu poyela do you know what preventive measures means?? If you don’t know how critical the situation is globally then just keep quiet with your ignorance. Look only a foolish person like you can like your comment but alas!!!! not even a dog can support it. So you want someone to suffer then we close???? please don’t be so stupid!!!! people are dying in countries which are very rich and you say we should wait???? Mbuzi sorry to say so. but I don’t like you comment it’s EVIL.
Am not a fan of Mutharika but I support this decision. Our school are so clouded and our health facilities are do poor. It would be very difficult to contain this pandemic if left unchecked. Bravo Mutharika
@Chifundo Ganizani mukufuna munthu kapena anthu afe kaye then that decision should enforced?
Kupewa kumaposa kuchiza.
It’s a good move BUT political. He is trying to stand in the way of the campaign and elections so he can stay in State house for as long as it is possible. People, open your eyes and see. The reasons are genuine but he is riding on the issue to work to his advantage.
True, DPP and Peter Muthalika are hiding behind Corona Virus issue, no case has been found in Malawi, but he start by banning Political Rallies instead of closing our Borders first.
His decision is too political. He fears MCP /UTM Alliance not the Corona Virus.
He is afraid of rallies! Lol! Anyway, you can run but you cant hide behind Covid 19 Mr President. See you after the virus, and take care as you almost 90 years put you at great threat from this virus, most of your age mates dont survive it.
In short, this old, greedy corrupt fool of a president will die of this disease
This is the only time I have seen this old senile man acting so quickly to address an issue in our country……..it seems to me that he has taken advantage of the coronavirus to hang on to power and stop the forth coming elections.
What he does not know is that in the next two weeks viable therapies to treat coved 19 will be approved by the US and WHO. Trials of several already existing medicines started last week here in the US and another trial started this week in the UK.
One of the therapies that is making a big difference in patients according to the US President is chloroquine, yes chloroquine the malaria drug.
So if APM thinks that he will use covid 19 to run away from the upcoming elections, then he is making a big mistake becoz his relief will be short lived…..
Trump wished it happens the way you say but chloroquine hasn’t scientifically been approved. Dr Fucci has also flatly denied in Trump’s face that there is no guarantee that chloroquine will be the drug.
Nyasa you have to fact check has not been 66,000 deaths world wide considerably lower at 10,000 similar to a normal flu season.
Covid-19 is affecting and killing those with other healthailments most cases are mild
Where are these facilities
Apa wachita bwino,muletse ndenge zonse zolowa mudzikomo ndizomwe zingabweretse coronavirus please international flights all should be cancelled only those that Will bring medicine.South Africa waited for too long to use these drastic measures.Close borders and military personnel should man them ,Do that tomorrow please don’t wait for the first Case coz once one case is announced then it start to spread like wildfire.It starts with one case then it spread.close borders please please please. People should not be panic.All the best.
pamenepo zipani 20 kutumiza ma members awiri awiri basi pamenepo meeting imeneyo yalephereka. koma kongiresi kaya ndindani anayiveka chikopa cha fisi kkkkkk. Ndiye ulendo uno ndi mkulu mwalumikizana nayeyu adzakukumbani kuti PAKAPANDA INE SIMUKATHERA PA #2 KKKKKKKKK
That’s what everyone was expecting from the head of state and government. Do not politicize this announcement because this Coronavirus is dangerous and we need to suspend all gatherings as advised by the APM government.
Next elections 2024. koma ndiye ma alliance Obaba Ochakwera angowayambira mutsoka. Chilima zake pamenepo zikuyenda. akungopephera kuti bola tisaponyenso mavoti
This is the time when you know leadership! It is about how do you reach out to the masses and deliver your health and hygiene messages in a clear and decisive manner. We need to use whatever opportunities we have to inform, educate and sensitive people about all preventive measures. Media institutions should not wait for adverts, No, you need to deliver and pass messages forthwith! It’s a game of proactivity! I wish we had mayors in our cities as we use to have in 1970’s or 80’s before DPP gripped our nerves. Now our mayors are shying from the fact that they are front liners in reaching out to masses in our cities etc. For instance, demonstrating handwashing in public places. Importantly, enforcing the same in all shopping centers, offices etc. That only happens where governments are functional and objective. But I am sure it’s not too late, after reading this message please do something!
Akuopa HRDC pa 25 pano
Copy and paste. Akanapanga dzulo koma aanthu asasonkhane ku institute. kkkkk ambwana awa Ndi slow learner
Akuthawa chisankho uyu..
Akuwona ngati corona yamuwobola
What about work places like factories where more than 100 people gather?
As much as I dont like this guy as a leader BUT this is indeed the time for the country to pull in one direction so that we can defeat this thing. Forming of the committee was not enough but to soeak to the nation was very important. Malawi first. Malawians first.
If the govt wasn’t this corrupt, and indeed if APM himself wasn’t a very corrupt dude, our health facilities would have been far better equipped to handle the oncoming calamity. Hell, APM has just announced a bloated cabinet which is bound to consume lots of our taxes. And he’s all set to spend K600M of our taxes on South African lawyers so he can hold on to power. I for one will never give APM a pass. He’s a crooked fellow with shifty eyes.
did I hear him correctly……ati people can get help from hospitals? which hospitals, the ones which are overclouded with no medicines because of ur so called government!!!
Did you say “overclouded” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
You are such an idiot. You obviously understood what M’mwaaaa was trying to say.
Well overdue
Bodza.. There not even one case here.. Ndiye overdue wachokela pati? Nthawi zina muzingowelenga otherwise you could write s… D comments
Sibweni people around are dying so we should be idiots and wait until we start dying. Kuganiza kobwerera mbuyo
Useless speech. If we had to plunder by now Malawi could be trouble. President wanji ongokhala chete mpaka nthenda ifike mudziko zosayenda izi. Nthawi yanu yatha baba
Nanunso! He put a committee in place which was monitoring the situation before making a decision even though we have not registered any case. Don’t politicise this. I guess any president of your dream would not have made a decision before entry into this zone.
Awuzeni ndithu achitsilu wa.akingoganiza zokalowa state house basi
How can we register a case when we have not conducted a single test? APM does not care in the least about Malawians. For him the presidency is all about prestige and the trappings of power. Just look at the pathetic conditions of our Govt hospitals. He would rather spend our taxes on a bloated campaign cabinet and paying exorbitant fees to South African lawyers. It is just as well that he only has a few months left to wreck havoc on this country. He is worse than Bakili…
This is a non partisan comment, i like it
I think u are the one who is useless
Follow the news and don’t act like a Child. A committee was formed to investigate the issue. And why are u politicising a normal issue like this one? Im not a DPP fan myself but u can agree deep down your heart that the man is not wrong and isnt doing this for his party.
Maunits a manyi awa opanda mzeru how can you talk nonse pagulu ngati pamenepa don’t you know kuti zinthu zafika pobvuta kwambili ndipo dziko lonse la pansi lagwedezeka?? Ngati mwasowa chonena why can’t you just keep quiet. Talembani mfundo zoti zipindulire dziko osati zobweretsa udani apa – ngati chochita mulibe kagoneni mudzikalota zopusa zanuzo!!!!!!!