* Brings total number of active cases to 2,067, up from 1,705 on Friday
* 80 of the active cases currently admitted in nine hospitals
* The highest ever recorded in the first wave was 192 on 11th July, 2020.
* Since January 1, the recovered cases had been at just 106
By Duncan Mlanjira
The number of new COVID-19 cases and the related deaths are spiraling at an alarming pace as in the past 24 hours, Malawi has registered another record high at 381 new cases, 12 new deaths and just seven new recoveries.
Coronavirus alert
This brings the total active cases at to 2,067 — up from 1,705 on Friday while the total deaths since the pandemic broke out in the country in April last year is at 220.
Also of note is that the figure of 381 new cases is a record high in the second wave. The highest ever recorded in the first wave was 192 on 11th July, 2020.
Nine of the new deaths are from Lilongwe (six males aged 44, 50, 54, 58, 59 and 70 years and two females aged 66 and 68 years); two from Blantyre (both males aged 57 and 60 years) and a 87-year-old female from Mzimba South.
Of the active cases, 80 are currently admitted in nine hospitals — 35 in Blantyre at Queen Elizabeth Central; 37 in Lilongwe at Kamuzu Central, Bwaila, Partners in Hope and Nkhoma Mission; three at Mzuzu Central; two at Balaka District, one at Zomba Central, one at Mchinji District and at Mulanje District.
Coronavirus alert
Of the new cases, 327 of the new cases are locally transmitted infections — 141 from Lilongwe; 132 from Blantyre; 10 from Nkhotakota; seven from Dedza; six each from Mulanje and Mangochi; five from Phalombe; three each from Balaka and Chikwawa.
There are also two each from Chiradzulu, Kasungu, Mwanza, Nsanje, Ntcheu and Zomba and one each from Mzimba South and Neno districts.
While 54 of the new cases are imported infections — eight from Blantyre; seven from Mzimba South; five each from Nkhata Bay and Salima; four from Thyolo, three each from Lilongwe and Zomba, two each from Mangochi, Mulanje, Nsanje and Rumphi and one each from Balaka, Chikwawa, Machinga, Nkhotakota, and Ntchisi districts.
Coronavirus alert
The rising new cases is indeed worrisome as going into December, the total number of active was slightly over 30 but after 24 hours on New Year’s Day, the total active cases were at 604 following an increase of new cases for that day at 101 that was accompanied by two related deaths.
January 2 registered 28 new cases, one death with total active cases at 626 and one death; Jan. 3 had 132 new, three deaths and 750 active; Jan. 4 had 91 new cases, one new death and 837 active with Jan. 5 having 175 new cases, three news deaths and 948 active cases.
The new cases dramatically rose on Wednesday (Jan. 6) at 227 with no new death, bringing total number of active cases to 1,141; Thursday had 274 new cases, four new deaths and 1,407 active while Friday had 314 new case, five deaths and 1,705 active.
Since January 1, the recovered cases had been at just 94.
Coronavirus alert
In his situation report, co-chairperson of the presidential taskforce on COVID-19, Dr. John Phuka said the admissions at 80 patients also are at the highest and that they also observed an increase in the number of people requiring COVID-19 testing because of having symptoms and or being contacts to the confirmed cases.
He reiterates strongly that as community transmission of infection is still being experiencing “it is important to regard everyone you meet as a potential carrier of the disease”.
“This is why it is important that all people who are infected are identified by testing, isolated, and — depending on the severity of their disease — receive medical care.
Coronavirus alert
“Even people confirmed to have COVID-19 but who do not have symptoms should be isolated to limit their contact with others. The choices that we make as individuals, families and communities will make the disease to spread further or to stop spreading.
“In as much as health care workers are doing a commendable job in this pandemic, we can ease their pressure of work and also save the limited resources if we all choose to strictly adhere to the preventive and containment measures.”
He warned that best time to act is now before the system gets overwhelmed.
He stressed that the preventive measures — observing physical distancing, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette including proper wearing of facemask and ensuring adequate ventilation when having activities indoor — are essential for reducing the spread of COVID-19.
“Everyone must continue taking steps to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 transmission. Further, it is important to avoid the ‘3 C’ settings where COVID-19 spreads most easily — crowds, close-contact settings and confined spaces.
“Watch your distance! Wash your hands! Wear your mask! Seek for care early upon development of symptoms of COVID-19.”
Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 8,306 cases and of these cases, 1,676 are imported infections and 6,630 are locally transmitted.
Cumulatively, 5,809 cases have now recovered, 134 were lost to follow-up, and 76 are still being investigated to ascertain their outcome.
On testing, in the past 24 hours, 2,258 COVID-19 tests were conducted, 138 of the new tests were through SARS-COV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic test while the rest were through RT-PCR.
Cumulatively, 94,601 tests, have been conducted in the country so far.
