* Health Secretary Matt Hancock said to be very worried about South African strain
* Malawi registers four new COVID-19 related deaths on Thursday
* There were 274 new COVID-19 cases and four new recoveries
* This brings total number of active cases to 1,407
By Duncan Mlanjira
ENGLAND has imposed a travel ban on 12 southern African countries including Malawi to prevent the spread of the new strain of COVID-19 that is coming from South Africa.
Thursday’s situation report
A report by The Sun online news says non British nationals will not be allowed to the UK from Malawi, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Angola, Seychelles and Mauritius.
This also applies to travellers who may have passed through these nations in the last 10 days.
Situation in South Africa
The report quotes UK Heath Secretary Matt Hancock as saying he was “very worried” about the new variant from South Africa.
Brits and residents will be allowed home but will have to self-isolate for ten days when they arrive.
The report also says Israel has been removed from the UK’s safe list even though this is unrelated to the new variant.
Zambia’s report
Under new lockdown rules in England, people are barred from travelling abroad unless absolutely necessary for work.
Meanwhile, in the past 24 hours of Thursday Malawi has registered four new COVID-19 related deaths and 274 new cases, bringing the total number of active cases to 1,407.
Of the figures, just four are new recoveries and cumulatively, 5,791 cases have now recovered; 134 were lost to follow-up and 76 are still being investigated to ascertain their outcome.
And 236 of the new case are locally transmitted infections with Blantyre and Lilongwe being the second wave’s hotspots.
Lilongwe recorded 88; Blantyre 87; Zomba 19; Mzimba North six; five from Nkhotakota; four each from Mulanje and Mwanza; three each from Karonga and Chiradzulu; two each from Dowa; Mchinji, Neno, Nsanje, Ntcheu, and Phalombe and one each from Dedza, Kasungu, Mzimba South, Rumphi and Salima.
Of the new cases, 38 are imported infections — 10 destined for Blantyre; nine for Mangochi; three each for Lilongwe and Zomba; two each for Balaka and Thyolo and one each from Kasungu, Mulanje, Mzimba South, Mzimba North, Neno, Nsanje, Ntcheu, Rumphi, and Salima.
The new deaths are a 52-year-old male from Mchinji; a 29-year-old male from Nkhotakota; a 41-year-old male from Lilongwe and a 58-year-old male from Mzimba North.
Of the active cases, 73 cases are currently admitted in seven hospitals — 31 in Blantyre at Queen Elizabeth Central; 35 in Lilongwe (at Kamuzu Central, Bwaila and Partners in Hope); two at Mzuzu Central; two
at Balaka District; two at Zomba Central and two in Thyolo at Malamulo Adventist Hospital.
Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 7,611 cases including 203 deaths and of these cases, 1,616 are imported infections and 5,995 are locally transmitted.
Co-chairperson of the presidential taskforce on COVID-19, Dr. John Phuka continues to warn the public of the worrying increasing rate of the new cases as the country has registered a record high of 274 new cases within 24 hours.
Dr. Phuka
“We are also observing the increase in the number of people dying due to COVID-19 and an increase in admissions.
“Let me remind the public that the pathway for COVID-19 testing for anyone experiencing the symptoms and for all contacts of the confirmed cases is through the District Health Offices/District Hospitals.
“All contacts of the confirmed cases will be tested whether symptomatic or not.”
He said the COVID-19 testing services are also available at Central Hospitals for in patients or outpatients that have been picked up as suspects by the clinicians and also for those requiring COVID-19 testing for traveling purposes.
He reminds the public that the Central Hospitals does not provide walk-in services for COVID-19 testing apart from those requiring testing for travel.
“For those with symptoms, suspected cases and contacts the services are free of charge while COVID-19 testing services for travellers are at a fee.
“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,” Dr. Phuka said.
He encourages 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.
“We have observed that there is sometimes congestion with our toll free numbers 54747 and 929 and the public is encouraged to utilize the dedicated emergency numbers for the district health offices rapid response teams.
The numbers to call:
