BY BLAIR MHONE
Government through the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 has eased some of the restrictions put in place to combat the spread of the Corona virus.
The decision was announced Wednesday evening when the Taskforce held a press conference in Lilongwe.
The decision according to Co-chairperson of the Taskforce, Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, has come after the country has been gradually registering reduced positivity rates consistently in recent weeks.
She said: “On the pandemic in our country we are observing a decline in the number of new confirmed cases and admissions. The seven day moving average is below 5%. This is a positive development and I would like to encourage everyone to continue adhering to the preventive and containment measures so as to suppress further new infections.”
Some of the notable restrictions lifted are the capacity of passenger carrying vehicles and public gatherings as well as workplace limitations.
“Limitations on public transport carriage have been lifted to normal capacity of the vehicle but subject to observance of recommended general public health preventive measures, especially use of face masks, frequent washing of hands, use of sanitizers and frequent disinfection of the vehicle.
“Limitations on gatherings have been relaxed, with a provision to recommend vaccination certificates and offer Covid-19 vaccinations at the venue of event: 50% of the venue for indoor events with a maximum of 500 persons, 2000 persons for outdoor events, ” disclosed the minister.
On Covid-19 vaccinations, the minister disclosed that currently government has launched phase two of the Covid-19 Vaccination Express Programme with the aim of bringing the vaccines closer to the people.
“As of 15th February, a total of 1,901,977 vaccine doses have been administered in the country so far. Cumulatively 1,098,898 and 399,078 people have received the first dose and second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine respectively. 389,596 have received Johnson and Johnson, and 13,763 and 642 people have received first and second doses of Pfizer vaccine respectively and 789,316 people are fully vaccinated,” Kandodo Chiponda said.
The minister also said the administration of Pfizer vaccine to children aged from 12 years of age upwards is going on well in all districts across the country.
