In the past 24 hours, Malawi has registered 675 new COVID-19 cases, 794 new recoveries and 29 new deaths. Of the new cases, 671 cases are locally transmitted: 190 from Blantyre, 91 from Lilongwe, 54 from Zomba, 37 each from Dedza and Mzimba North, 28 from Chikwawa, 27 from Mulanje, 22 from Mzimba South, 21 from Karonga, 19 from Mangochi, 18 from Mchinji, 17 from Rumphi, 13 each from Chiradzulu and Dowa, 12 each from Nkhotakota and Salima, 11 from Kasungu, seven from Nsanje, six each from Balaka, Machinga, Nkhata Bay, and Ntchisi, five from Ntcheu, four from Chitipa, and three each from Neno, Phalombe, and Thyolo Districts while four cases are imported: two from Lilongwe and one each from Mangochi and Mzimba South Districts.
29 new deaths were registered in the past 24 hours; seven from Lilongwe, five from Blantyre, two each from Dowa, Chiradzulu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, and Machinga, and one each from Mangochi, Mzimba South, Balaka, Dedza, Phalombe, Rumphi, and Ntchisi Districts.
To the families that have lost their loved ones during this pandemic, may you find peace, hope and love during this difficult time. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.
Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 54,178 cases including 1,729 deaths (Case Fatality Rate is at 3.19%). Of these cases, 2,590 are imported infections and 51,588 are locally transmitted.
Cumulatively, 39,841 cases have now recovered (recovery rate of 73.5%) and 232 were lost to follow-up. This brings the total number of active cases to 12,376. In the past 24 hours, there were 73 new admissions in the treatment units while 50 cases were discharged.
Currently, a total of 400 active cases are currently hospitalised: 101 in Blantyre, 89 in Lilongwe, 32 in Zomba, 21 in Mzimba North, 18 in Karonga, 14 in Mchinji, 13 in Mulanje, 11 in Chiradzulu, eight in Kasungu, seven each in Mzimba South and Ntcheu, six each in Salima, Dowa, Balaka,Thyolo, Nkhotakota, Rumphi, and Ntchisi, five each in Mangochi, Nkhata Bay, Neno, Dedza, and Chikwawa, four each in Phalombe and Machinga, two in Chitipa, and one each in Mwanza and Nsanje Districts.
On testing, in the past 24 hours, 2,949 COVID-19 tests were conducted. Of these, 1,989 tests were through SARS-CoV-2t Antigen Rapid Diagnostic test while the rest were through RT-PCR.
The positive cases out of the total number tested (past 24 hours) translates to a positivity rate of 22.9% while a weekly positivity rate (seven days moving average) is at 22.1%.
Cumulatively, 347,411 tests have been conducted in the country so far. On COVID-19 vaccination, cumulatively 456,126 and 142,178 people have received the first dose and second dose respectively.
Over the past 24 hours 363 people received the first dose and 183 the second dose. A total of 598,408 vaccine doses has been administered in the country so far.
We are making good progress on the COVID-19 vaccination in the country as over 456,126 and 142,178 people have received the first dose and second dose respectively.
The Government is working tirelessly to ensure continuous availability of COVID-19 vaccine in the country. I would like to thank those that made a good decision to get vaccinated; this is commendable as we are collectively fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
It has to be noted that the COVID-19 vaccine helps in reducing the risk of developing severe disease when one contracts COVID-19 and also reduces the risk of hospitalization and deaths due to COVID-19.
Apart from the AstraZeneca vaccine which we are currently using we will be rolling out another type of COVID-19 vaccine from next week and this is Johnson and Johnson COVID19 vaccine.
It is single dose vaccine and it will be given to those that have not received any type of COVID-19 vaccine.
The public is further informed that the consignment of J&J vaccine which was expected to arrive on Friday 6th August 2021 will instead come into the country on Saturday 7th August 2021.
