Malawi Prisons Service (PS) has with immediate effect suspended relational visits from prisons across the country due to the surge of Covid-19 cases.

In a press statement, Malawi Prisons spokesperson Chimwemwe Shaba said the decision was reached in order to prevent and manage further spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Be informed that the Chief Commissioner of Prisons has amended the Standing Orders for the Malawi Prisons Service on the Prevention and Management of Covid-19,” reads the statement.

The statement continued; “Considering that there are some confirmed cases within our formations, among other measures, The Chief Commissioner of Prisons has ordered the suspension of prisoner’s relational visits with immediate effect.”

So far Chichiri, Nkhata Bay and Mzimba prisons have registered covid-19 cases.

Meanwhile, the country has a total of 3149 confirmed cases with 1822 active cases, 1256 people have recovered from the disease and 71 people have succumbed to the disease.