Results for his test came out Tuesday evening June 30, 2020.

Mbendera, who recently traveled to Lilongwe, said he decided to take the test after suffering mild symptoms of COVID-19 on his way back.

“I was feeling light headed, backache and tired then I decided to test for Malaria.

“After the result came out negative then I decided to get tested for COVID-19 and I got the results last evening which were positive,” said Mbendera.

The DHO, who has since gone into self-isolation, has appealed to his colleagues at the district health facility and all his social contacts to get tested for presence of corona virus.

“I was in contact with several people and as such they should take heed of this medical advice. I was also recently desk officer at the Nkhata Bay district tally center in the fresh presidential elections, despite that I was wearing a mask during that period am asking all those I got in contact with to get a test too,” he said.

As of July 1, 2020 the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHiM) in the ministry of health had disclosed there were 581 local infections.

In a statement signed by chairperson for the presidential task-force on COVID-19 Dr. John Phuka the total number of infections in the country has risen to 1265.

Out of the 1265 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of July 1 2020 in Malawi, 639 infections have been are imported while 581 have been locally transmitted. 16 people have died to the pandemic while 226 have recovered since the first reported case in April, 2020.

The Ministry of Health is currently investigating 45 suspected cases.