Nkhata Bay Parliamentarian Mwase Declares Covid-19 Positive Status

Mwase: Pray for me Mwase: Pray for me pic File Photo

Member of Parliament for Nkhata Bay North West, Julius Mwase, has become the first member of the Malawi Parliament to test positive to the Corona Virus.

The parliamentarian is being treated at Quen Elizabeth Central hospital in Blantyre.

Disclosure of his status comes at a time the pandemic has increased its local transmission in Malawi.

In a social media note to his fellow parliamentarians, Mwase writes:

“Pray for me. If I don’t make it, we shall meet in heaven. I love u all honorable MPs. Please handle this with care. Inu tinali ku (those of you we attended) caucus (together), please get tested. Don't delay”.

Chairperson of the business committee of parliament, Catherine Gotani-Hara has since issued a public statement signed for by all members of the committee confirming the development.

While the statement hints on a member who has been diagnosed Corona virus positive and is bedridden at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, it names no name but disclosing that relations for the said parliamentarians have since been quarantined.

“Following this development, Parliament is urging all Honourable Members, Staff and their close family relations to go for voluntary testing,” reads part of the statement.

In the statement, the committee discloses that it has since met co-chairperson of the Presidential Task-force on COVID-19, Dr. John Phuka, to look at how the situation can be addressed.

Parliament has since advised MPs and staff to adhere to Covid-19 preventive measures publicized by the ministry of health and those disseminated by parliament to help curb further spread of the virus.

Malawi has registered 129 new COVID-19 cases as of close of business on Monday. There were also two new deaths bringing the national tally to 19 since April 2 when the first case was diagnosed.

Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 1,742 cases including the 19 deaths, 317 recoveries and 1406 active cases.

So far, 16,807 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in 39 Covid-19 testing sites.

“This is the highest number of cases that Malawi has registered. This calls upon everyone to take Covid-19 seriously.

“Therefore, let me join His Excellency The State President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera in calling upon each one of us to join the fight against COVID-19 to ensure that we protect each other and our loved ones,” says Dr. Phuka in his latest update commentary.

It is largely believed that the recent campaign for the fresh presidential election is responsible for the upsurge in local transmissions. Others blame it on cases that were imported into Malawi.

 

 

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