1.5 million Malawians could test positive of Covid 19 by the end of this year, warns Health Ministry

Director of Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Health, Doctor Andrew Likaka has said about 1.5 million Malawians could test positive of Covid 19 by the end of this year.

Likaka was speaking in Lilongwe on Monday during a meeting the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (Macra) organized for broadcasters.

According to Dr. Likaka, studies have found that transmission of Covid-19 can occur within 6 metres.

The ministry of health is therefore advising a physical distance of at least 4 meters.

Likaka explains that Lilongwe has more cases than reported because people are not willing to get tested.

“Alot of people in the city are not willing to be tested,” clarified Likaka, pointing out that Malawi’s caseload might swell to 1.5 million.

“Out of these, up to 50 thousand people might die, with about 30 thousand requiring critical medical care.”

Currently, only 17 cases are imported and the rest are from local transmission.

The Director then asked the broadcasters to work together with government in spreading the messages of how to effectively prevent the spread of the pandemic.

With one case registered in Mulanje on Monday, Malawi has now 57 cases of corona virus with 14 recoveries and 3 deaths.