Mzuni lecturer dies a of suspected coronavirus: Police to enforce Covid-19 rules
Mzuzu University (Mzuni) senior lecturer Dominic Gondwe from Forestry Department at has died of suspected coronavirus after gasping for breath as the virus pandemic has hit the campus, affecting 28 people.
Gondwe had been experiencing Covid-19 symptoms for at least a week but continued to work.
The university described Gondwe as “passionate and dedicated lecturer, and a great person.”
Malawi has been facing rising cases of Covid-19 as of late.
Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 co-chairperson John Phuka said Blantyre and Lilongwe continue being the pandemic’s hotspot as of the 212 locally transmitted new cases, 80 are from Blantyre, 46 from Lilongwe, 22 from Zomba, 19 from Mzimba North, 14 from Salima and 11 from Thyolo.
Phuka said the speed at which the virusis spreading is alarming and in this new wave the country is still experiencing local transmission of the disease, coupled with a number of imported cases.
“Sadly, the number of active cases has surpassed 1,000 mark within the past three weeks and the total number of those admitted is at a record high at 68.
“These figures might be under reported as there might be a lot of active cases within the communities. We have also observed an increase in the number of people infected within various institutions and this indicates the laxity of adherence to the preventive measures at personal and institutional level,” he said
Six of the cases from Kasungu are all health care workers, while three of the five from Mulanje are also health care workers.
Dowa registered three while one of the two cases from Mwanza is a health care worker. Nkhotakota registered two and one each from Mangochi and Ntchisi districts.
There were 15 imported infections — seven from Lilongwe, four from Blantyre, two Mwanza and one each from Rumphi and Zomba districts.
Of the active cases, 69 are currently admitted in eight hospitals — 28 in Blantyre at Queen Elizabeth Central, 33 in Lilongwe at Kamuzu Central and Bwaila , two at Mzuzu Central, two at Balaka, two at Zomba Central, one each in Thyolo at Malamulo Adventist Hospital and at Nkhotakota District Hospital.
Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 7,337 cases including 199 deaths since April last year and of these cases, 1,577 are imported infections and 5,760 are locally transmitted.
The 5 787 cases have now recovered, 134 were lost to follow-up, and 76 are still being investigated to ascertain their outcome.
Meanwhile, the Taskforce has involved the Ministry of Homeland Security so that law enforcing agencies such as police should be inspecting public gathering places to ensure that there is no gathering of more than 100 people.
Phuka reiterates need to adhere to all preventive measures of COVID-19 as taught by Ministry of Health to avoid these devastating outcomes.
“The chances of one recovering from COVID-19 increases when the disease is identified as early as possible, hence the need for prompt health seeking behaviour.
“I would like to encourage the public to promptly inform the health authorities by calling toll-free number 54747 (Airtel) or 929 (TNM) whenever one is experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms such as fever, cough, flu, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell and tiredness.This will help us to identify the disease in early stages so that appropriate care can be given immediately.”
Phuka stressed the need for people to religiously comply with Covid-19 precautionary measures, notably washing hands with soap regularly, applying hand sanitiser (where available), wearing face masks and social distancing.
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MHSRIEP
I was one of the people who were involved in establishment of Mzuzu university COMESUN and we advertised various vacancies for people to apply that time the chairman was Prof. Roan Nkomba and the vice chancellor was Dr. Chimwenje a lot of people applied but the time they were picked to start working at Mzuzu University we discovered that a lot of people who were picked were from southern region and central region and refused to take up their positions to work up north and during the Bingu Wamutharika’s regime he instituted the similar concern that MZUNI was employing only… Read more »
What you are saying cannot be verified
U r lying. I was interviewed for a post at mzuni but was told by one panelist that I did well but they were prioritizing northerners. I just said ok and returned home. Left everything to God
This is a lie. Atumbuka kuzikonda.
B4 corona virus people were not dying? There’s no corona ic a satanic every death corona gateaway
And while we are at it, can the government also tell us all the names, occupation, residence and number of people who have died from other sicknesses on the day this lecturer died and how many infections of those sicknesses were recorded during this time so that we are informed of the threat we are facing from these diseases as well.
THANK YOU.
Is Mzuni a community institution or a public one? it seems 99.8% of its staff are all Tumbukas, it is rare to find a lecturer from other regions apart from the north and everybody is just quiet about this extreme nepotistic scenario, it seems nepotism is on when it does not favour Tumbukas (according to Malawians), Otukwana tukwanani koma this is the bitter truth, and it hurts alot!
True. Mzuni smacks of nepotism big time. Anthu mpakana kumalankhula chitumbuka mkalasi eish. Delivering lessons in chi Hinya kkkiik. I will never employ anybody from Mzuni. Nyansi za university izi.
What about MUST, most of them are Lomwes’ what is your problem. People from Central or North hardly get employed at MUST so do not just point your finger at the Tumbukas.
Where did this truth meet with the news above?…. Thyolo?
The article is somehow about Mzuni + lecturer and I am also talking about the same, don’t you see the connection dude? in my case it is in a different angle but same subjects
When did u decide to start living in the north, u have been saying is dead north andforest, does it mean u want to be lviing in the forest now? i just dont understand southerners honestly
And check if MUST has more lomwes and why? bring that data, i can attest to it to that MUST has many Lomwez than any other tribe
Mr. Phuka please advise the Tonse Government on strict measures to be taken otherwise a Malawi tizitha pang’onopang’ono chonchi. Dont just give us statistics like these but come up with measures to curb the virus. Ngati zakukulirani, just resign and pave way for other able people to manage the Task Force.
Akachotsenso injunction ya covid ku court
The police are in the forefront of breaking the covid-19 rules. A number of traffic police are seen stopping vehicles without wearing masks and the same applies to other police. These guys should not be trusted because they are the most corrupt group of civil servants. They set up road blocks just to make money from road users especially trucks traveling at night. Do you really think they can enfrce covid-19 rules?
Ginimbi you are most primitive person in this country. I am a Lohmwe and proud of being Lohmwe. I do not see why you hate people because of their ethnic identity and region of origin. It is you hyenas are preaching heart speech in United country. You were the same guys blamed us at MUST that is for Lohmwe. Bad people stop this attitude. Preach unity.
Why do you act dumb, who says I hate Tumbukas? it is your greedy and nepotistic attitude of yours I hate, wakwithu style damn it!
Gvt is too slow to act
Sh*t just hit the fan & got real people.
The solution lies in the hands of the people. And it’s simply to comply with what the measures dictate
I only hope the Presidential Committee on Convid 19 knows about the injunction by HRDC and the directive from Silungwe.