* Record-high 314 new cases
* Blantyre alone registers 121
* Just 13 new recoveries
* 67 cases currently admitted in 8 hospitals
* 308 of the new cases are local transmissions
* It’s not over, until it’s over
* Wear your mask, wash your hands, observe physical distance
* Protect yourself, protect those around us
By Duncan Mlanjira
The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is hitting the country hard as from 1,257 tests done in the past 24 hours of Friday, there was a record high figure of 314 new cases while there were five new COVID-19 related deaths.
Coronavirus alert
There were just 13 new recoveries and of the new cases, 308 of them are locally transmitted infections with Blantyre having the largest figure of 121.
Zomba has 62; Lilongwe 56; Mzimba North 25; six from Phalombe; five each from Machinga and Mulanje; four each from Mangochi and Neno.
Mchinji and Nkhotakota has three new cases each two each from Balaka, Chiradzulu, Karonga, Mzimba South, Ntcheu and Ntchisi while there are one each from Mwanza and Nsanje districts.
Six of the new cases are imported infections — three from Blantyre, two from Mwanza, and one from Machinga districts.
Three of the new deaths are from Blantyre (58-year-old male, 52-year-old male and 83-year-old female) two from Lilongwe (80-year-old female and 66-year-old male).
This brings the total number of active cases to 1,705 and of the active cases, 67 cases are currently admitted in eight hospitals — 27 in Blantyre at Queen Elizabeth Central; 30 in Lilongwe at Kamuzu Central, Bwaila, Partners in Hope and Nkhoma Mission, three at Mzuzu Central, five at Balaka District, one at Zomba Central and in Thyolo at Malamulo Adventist.
Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 7,925 cases including 208 deaths and of these cases, 1,622 are imported infections and 6,303 are locally transmitted.
Cumulatively, 5,802 cases have now recovered, 134 were lost to follow-up, and 76 are still being investigated to ascertain their outcome.
On the testing, from the 1,257 tests conducted, 322 of the new tests were through SARS-COV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic test while the rest were through RT-PCR and cumulatively, 92,335 tests have been conducted in the country so far.
In his situation report, co-chairperson of the presidential taskforce on COVID-19, Dr. John Phuka said sadly, the active cases has nearly reached 8,000 and are predominated by local transmission (75%).
“The number we are observing may be an underestimate as others may be shunning testing to avoid the associated stigma that has been observed against those that have been diagnosed with COVID-19, their contacts, their families, those that have recovered from the disease and those that have lost their loved ones.
“This is worrisome as it may compromise the efforts to suppress the disease in our country as some people may not follow all preventive and containment measures — self-isolation and quarantine getting tested for COVID-19 as contacts and disclosing the cause of death of their loved ones.”
He urged the public to fight stigma by supporting each other as everyone may need that support at some point as everybody is at risk of being infected by COVID-19.
“It is possible to safely support families with COVID-19 patients as well as supporting those who have lost their loved ones due to COVID-19 while implementing the COVID-19 preventive measures.
“This support will provide psychosocial therapy to those affected. It is important to help those affected to stay connected to their loved one.
“Phone calls or messaging can provide comfort during the period they are under isolation or mourning their loved ones.”
For those exposed, Dr. Phuka said it is important to seek health care as they may transmit the disease to others without their knowledge.
“Do not be afraid of stigma. If you feel stressed during this period, please seek psychosocial support by calling your nearest facility or by calling 54747 (Airtel) or 929 (TNM).
Watch your distance! Wash your hands! Wear your mask! Seek for care early upon development of symptoms of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, as of Friday, January 8, reported COVID-19 related deaths across Africa reached 70,550 while confirmed case are at 2,950,007 with total recoveries at 2,414,305 from 55 African countries reached.
South Africa has the most reported cases — 1,170,590 with 31,809 people dead from the disease.
Malawi is on 31 on this list
Other most-affected countries are Morocco (448,678), Tunisia (152,254), Egypt (146,809), Ethiopia (127,227), and Libya (103,515) as according to Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University using statistics from the World Health Organization and other international institutions as well national and regional public health departments.
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