Nkhoma has implored the citizenry to be vigilant and observe preventive measures saying, “people should know that globally there is still some COVID activity going on.

He said, “in the last 28 days there has been a four percent increase in the number of cases but a great reduction in the number of deaths,” explained Nkhoma.

Nkhoma has told Zodiak Online that from June to December last year, the country had recorded 526 new cases such that cases were being recorded every month but there was no admission or death.

He added in the first three weeks, Malawi has recorded 14 cases all from Nsanje district with no admission or death so far.

According to Nkhoma, eight of 15 confirmed cases are health workers.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 Co- Chairperson, says the Nsanje case is an alert to the communities that the disease is still around.

He stressed that, “The recommended preventive measures should still be observed. So immunization is one of the preventative measures which as a Taskforce we are promoting,” said Nkhoma.

He was however quick to say, “We have not come to a stage where we can change the guidelines at the moment.

“The 14 cases recorded in Nsanje are consistent with the trend that is living us in level one of epidemic. We are still good in terms of the numbers and the projections,” said Nkhoma.

He said vaccination, hand washing and wearing masks can make a difference in curbing the further spread of the disease.

He said Nsanje District Health Office is employing targeted interventions to make sure populations around the cases in question are being taken care of adding that monitoring is going on.

A health expert, Sandra Mapemba, has described the resurfacing of the disease as not surprising.

“It’s the rainy season where people are likely to get flu and COVID is a virus. The same rules apply, we still need hygiene measures, hand washing and masks to prevent it from spreading further.

“Those who have it should inform other people so that they should take precautions.

Mapemba added, “Obviously we want people to go for vaccines. The more the number of people who are vaccinated the less it is likely it is going to spread at a dangerous level.”

She further implored the government to ensure the health workers have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s) emphasizing the high risk.

In 2021, COVID-19 claimed the lives of Sidik Mia and Lingson Berekanyama who were Ministers of Transport and Local Government respectively.