Overwhelmed by the number of returnees from South Africa and criticism over their handling, Malawi’s COVID-19 taskforce, has vowed to change its approach.

Addressing the press in Lilongwe on Thursday, Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 Co-chairperson Dr John Phuka said, the committee has taken a strong position in the fight against Coronavirus in order to stop further spread of the disease.

Among other measures put in place are institutional quarantine for those who need care, ensuring that there is strong prevention control from point of entry, community responsibility and that all those entering into the country be subjected to testing among others.

“We have put in place strategies for those coming from outside the country and how to take care of them depending on our situation. Those found positive will be quarantined at an institution,” he said.

Malawi’s COVID-19 cases jumped from 101 to 203 following 102 cases confirmed between 25 and 26 May, 2020.  The new confirmed cases are more than double of total cumulative cases.

This is the highest jump since the first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the country on 2nd April this year.

Dr Phuka said the new confirmed cases are 92 positive cases of the returnees from South Africa who arrived in the country recently, seven are truck drivers and three new cases confirmed in Lilongwe.

He said the results are of 13 buses that had 580 people.

“We have results of 475 out of 580 people and 92 of those tested positive. Different laboratories have verified those results,” he said.

Seventeen buses each carrying 45 people arrived in the country through Mwanza Border.