All schools will not open on the 13th July 2020 as previously suggested

GOVERNMENT OF MALAWI

PRESS STATEMENT

COVID-19 SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 9

TH JULY 2020

In the past 24 hours, Malawi has registered 44 new COVID-19 cases, no new recoveries, and four new deaths. The new deaths are two each from Blantyre and Lilongwe. Let me convey my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. May their souls rest in peace.

Of the new cases, 37 are contacts of confirmed cases and seven are imported infections.

Of the locally transmitted infections, eight are healthcare workers (six from Mzuzu, and one each from Mchinji and Nsanje), 17 were reported from Blantyre, three from Zomba, two each from Dowa and Mchinji and one each from Chitipa, Karonga, Kasungu, Mulanje, Mwanza and Mulanje. Of the imported cases, three are from Lilongwe, and one each from Balaka, Chiradzuru, Machinga and Mzimba South.

Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 1986 cases including 29 deaths. Of these cases, 717 are imported infections and 1196 are locally transmitted while 73 are still under investigation. Cumulatively, 369 cases have now recovered bringing the total number of active cases to 1588. The average age of the cases is 34 years, the youngest case is aged 1 month, the oldest is 78 years and 67% are male. The country has so far conducted 18,814 COVID-19 tests in 39 COVID-19 testing sites.

Lastly, let me inform the public that because of the increased number of COVID-19 cases in our country, all schools will not open on the 13th July 2020 as previously suggested.

We will continue to monitor the trend of the pandemic in our country to determine when it is safe to open schools. The decision on whether to open schools is guided by a risk-based approach that is centred on safety of the students, their teachers, and the entire community.

Stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19!

Dr. John Phuka

Co-Chairperson – Presidential Taskforce