Government confident on precautionary measures
The government, through the Ministry of Information, has said it believes in precautionary measures that are being put in place to curb the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.
This comes at a time the number of registered cases and deaths is rising.
Information Minister Gospel Kazako said Friday that the government was confident that it would prevail over the pandemic.
Kazako further said government officials were taking one step at a time.
“We are not afraid of anything. What you need to know is that we are at war and what we are doing is to make decisions that are lasting. We are a decisive government and to make a decision is a process.
“To declare a lockdown [for example], there are several consultations that the government has to make; so, as at now, you [have] heard the President declaring a state of natural disaster. That calls both for help and sends a message to Malawians on how serious the problem is in our country,” he said.
However, Kazako could not be drawn to comment on whether the government intended to close schools as some quarters have been suggesting.
“We will have a media briefing on the way forward shortly; so, we should be able to respond to that,” he said.
On Thursday night, members of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 announced that the number of Covid-19 cases in Malawi had reached 10,494 with 503 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 10 deaths recorded on the day.
This week, the country was stunned at the loss of two senior Cabinet ministers, Muhamad Sidik Mia and Local Government Minister Lingson Belekanyama.
On Wednesday and Thursday Covid-19 also claimed the lives of Bishop Charles Tsukuluza of Revival Life Ministries and Revered Dr Edward Chitsonga of Assemblies of God, respectively.
