The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services says it has enhanced restrictions on travellers coming from countries hardly hit by COVID-19.
This comes amid fears of COVID-19 third wave following reports of imported cases, plus those from India.
The Department’s Spokesperson, Joseph Chauwa said most of the people coming to Malawi are those who applied for visas some months ago.
“People that are coming to Malawi got their visas long before the ban was enforced.
But the Immigration Department has now put in place measures that will not allow people from the most affected countries to come into Malawi,” he said in an interview on Thursday.
Chauwa further said the department has already notified Airlines of the strict enforcement of the new restrictions.
Recently, Malawi has been allowing people coming from other countries including those hardly hit by a new COVID-19 variant, like India, to get into the country.
Even though Malawi is recording few COVID-19 cases, currently below 5 percent for over a month, recent foreign arrivals are posing a health hazard.
For instance, on May 18, 2021, the COVID-19 update indicates that the country recorded 15 new cases, seven of which are imported cases.
But Chauwa has assured people that the department is working with the Ministry of Health to ensure that there is no importation of the deadly COVID-19 variant from other countries.
