Pan African Visions

Malawi: Covid19 cases boom as more tests are conducted

August 01, 2020

By James Mwala

People wash their hands as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus .Photo Amos Gumulira/AFP via Getty Images
People wash their hands as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus .Photo Amos Gumulira/AFP via Getty Images

Malawi has over the last few weeks been faced with a boom in its Covid19 cases, a situation government says is worrisome and poses a threat to the nation.

Malawi had its first case in April, but has now recorded about 4000 cases. Over 50 cases are now been registered daily.

So far, 109 people have died although 1,807 have recovered.

Latest statistics from the ministry of health show that there are now 2065 active cases.

However, more tests have been heavily conducted in the last two weeks. This followed the arrival of 38,000 tests kits, which cane into the country at a time when government admitted that the country was running short of supply and would not be testing more people.

So far, just 29, 599 tests have been conducted, figures that have sparked calls for an intensive testing exercise.

It is heavily believed that most transmissions occurred when Malawi was holding its fresh presidential poll in June, as campaign rallies still gathered larger crowds.

However, Covid19 measures were observed during polling, but it was not seemingly the case as celebrations came through about five days after polling.

So far, schools, sporting activities remains halted. Companies have also started undertaking measures such as developing shifts, conducting tests on workers, disinfecting working premises and making mandatory the wearing of masks,.

There was a failed lockdown when Peter Mutharika was president as civil society organizations argued that there were no enough cushioning measures as the economy was still ailing.

President Lazarus Chakwera has however, called on Malawians to exercise Covid91 measures and stated that his government is still engaging stakeholders on possible means to open up some industries.

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