COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[3][4]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[5][6] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[7][5]

President Peter Mutharika confirmed the country's first three cases of coronavirus disease 2019 on 2 April. The three cases include a Malawian of Asian origin who travelled back from India, her relative and their housemaid.[8]

A fourth case was confirmed on 4 April which involved an individual who had recently returned from the UK.[9] A fifth case involved a woman who had returned from the UK and had been on quarantine some weeks earlier.[10] On 7 April, it was announced that she had passed on.[11] Malawi has identified three more cases making a total of 8. One is of a 34 year old who had immediate contact with the first case that was registered on 2 April, the second involved a 28 year old lady who traveled from the UK on 19 March whereas the third case was of a 30 year old gentleman who traveled to South Africa on 16 March.[12]

Despite there being no confirmed cases prior to April the 2nd, President Mutharika declared the coronavirus pandemic a national disaster. Some of the measures that were put in place included the banning of gatherings of more than 100 people in places such as churches, rallies, weddings and funerals. He also instructed that both public and private education institutions be closed from 23 March. He further urged the government to suspend the hosting of international meetings and banned public servants from attending regional and international meetings. He called upon returning residents and nationals coming from affected to subject themselves to self or institutional quarantine.[13]

It was only after the first four cases were identified in April that Mutharika instituted new measures which included the suspension of all formal meetings, gatherings and conferences. He further directed the Malawi Prison Services and Juvenile Centres to present a list of prisoners and juveniles who committed "petty offences" including those that have served a significant portion of their sentences for moderate crimes to the Minister of Homeland Security in order to decongest the overpopulation of the country's prisons.[14] Other measures have included the slashing of fuel prices as well as placing a waive on non-tourist levy to support the tourism industry including a waive of resident tax on all foreign doctors and medical personnel. The Treasury has been called upon to reduce the salaries of the President, Cabinet and deputy ministers by 10 percent for three months in order to direct the resources to fight against the coronavirus. The Malawi Revenue Authority were instructed to open up a voluntary tax compliance window for a period of six months so as to allow taxpayers with arrears to settle their tax obligations.[15] Mutharika called upon all offices to work in shifts except those working in essential services in order to mitigate the congestion in the workplaces.[14] On 14 April, President Mutharika announced a 21-day lockdown starting Saturday 18 April at midnight.[16] However, on 17 April, the Malawi High Court temporarily barred the government from implementing the 21-day lockdown following a petition by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition.[17] The argument made by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition was that more consultation was needed to prevent harm to the poorest and most vulnerable of society.[18]

• COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
• COVID-19 pandemic by country and territory