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Malawi registers zero Covid-19 cases, deaths

Data from the Public Health Institute of Malawi (Phim) on Sunday showed that the country recorded zero new cases of Covid-19 and zero deaths related to the pandemic amid a steady decline in cases.

But yesterday, there were eight new Covid-19 cases and zero deaths, according to Phim data.

A nurse gets vaccinated to stay safe from Covid-19

The last time Malawi recorded the trend of zero new cases and zero deaths was between October 3 and December 9 last year.

But the country almost recorded a similar trend on May 2 this year when only one new case was reported and no admission or death was registered.

In an interview yesterday, Malawi University of Science and Technology microbiologist Gama Bandawe said the situation on Sunday was an expected normal pattern.

He said: “We have seen that coronaviruses are seasonal and depend on human behaviour which is usually dictated by time of the day, but also the weather and this means our behaviour is currently helping us to reduce the number of cases.

“In December and January when people start to travel, we may expect a new wave. So, as a country, we need to start planning and preparing for the future when the global pattern starts to show up.”

In a separate interview yesterday, Kamuzu University of Health and Sciences professor of public health and epidemiology Adamson Muula said the current situation is a package of many factors, including preventive measures.

He said: “What we are seeing now is a result of following preventive measures, use of vaccines, the weather and other factors that may not be scientifically explained.

“With respect to the third wave, from the trend in the past two or three weeks, we could say that as a country, we are out of danger.”

Muula said from research presented by the Ministry of Health, it is estimated that over half of the country’s adult population was infected at some point, meaning that another wave that may come in is unlikely to be as severe as people may have gotten immunity.

However, he said that this does not mean people should shun getting vaccinated for once one gets vaccinated in such a situation, evidence has shown that protection is even higher.

As of Sunday, Malawi had 2 098 Covid-19 active cases and five admitted Covid-19 patients in treatment units.

Meanwhile, 535 108 people have been fully vaccinated with 278 818 people having received the first and second doses while 257 290 have taken the single full dose of Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

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