By Draxon Maloya
Government of Malawi has announced that the confirmed cases of Covid-19 are still on the increase despite numerous interventions to combat the pandemic.
In a statement released on Monday indicates that while there is an increase in number of local transmission of the pandemic, still more imported cases are also being recorded so too are deaths.
Meanwhile, the latest statistics released so far still shows that men are still more vulnerable than women.
And here below is part of the press release issued by government in line with the current affairs in line with the pandemic.
GOVERNMENT OF MALAWI
PRESS STATEMENT
COVID-19 SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 20TH JULY 2020
In the past 24 hours, Malawi has registered 53 new COVID-19 cases, 27 new recoveries, and two new deaths. The new deaths are from Blantyre. Let me convey my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. May their souls rest in peace.
Of the new cases, 47 are locally transmitted infections and six are imported infections.
Of the locally transmitted infections, three are healthcare workers from Mangochi, 22 from Blantyre, four from Neno, three each from Mzimba South and Zomba, and two each Karonga, Lilongwe, Mwanza, and Rumphi, and one each from Chikwawa, Mchinji, Mzimba North, and Nkhata Bay.
The imported cases were identified at Mwanza border during routine screening: two each from Blantyre and Lilongwe, and one each from Balaka and Mzimba South.
Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 3,045 cases including 64 deaths. Of these cases, 909 are imported infections and 2,136 are locally transmitted. Cumulatively, 1,180 cases have now recovered bringing the total number of active cases to 1,801.
The average age of the cases is 35.7 years, the youngest case is aged 1 month, the oldest is 93 years and 65% are male. The country has so far conducted 24475 COVID-19 tests in 39COVID-19 testing sites.
Today our nation has exceeded the mark of 3,000 in COVID-19 confirmed cases, and yesterday we exceeded the mark 60 losses to death.
This shows that the disease continues to spread at an alarming speed and bringing misery through disease and untimely losses of life. This calls for togetherness in the fight and everyone needs totake COVID-19 seriously.
In this state, it is important to regard everyone you meet as a potential carrier of the disease as out of every 10 people infected with coronavirus 8 will not feel sick at all. It is also important to note that COVID-19 is often more severe in older people and/or those that have health conditions like lung or heart disease, diabetes (sugar disease) or hypertension (high blood pressure) or conditions that affect their immune system. If you are at high risk stay at home, practice preventive measures to minimize your risk of infection and if you are not at high risk, do your part to prevent the spread of coronavirus to those who are. Let us protect the vulnerable populations.
Therefore, this calls for enhanced preventive and containment measures that
- promote social distancing to keep ourselves and others safe,
- promote frequent hand washing with soap to keep our hands clean all the time,
- reduce spreading of the virus by wearing face masks and coughing appropriately,
- reduce spreading by strictly observing isolation and quarantine protocols,
- reduce the spreading by limiting unnecessary travel.
The spread of corona virus in our country could only be stopped if everyone of us takes part in the COVID-19 fight by practicing the preventive and containment measures.
Together we can stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19!
Dr John Phuka
Co-Chairperson – Presidential Taskforce