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Malawi Mandates Quarantine for Returnees from South Africa

Lameck Masina

   BLANTYRE - Malawi has introduced a mandatory quarantine on returnees
   from South Africa to control rising cases of COVID-19. Thousands of
   Malawians have returned from South Africa in recent weeks, and
   officials fear they could import the new, more contagious form of
   coronavirus.

   Malawi has seen a rapid increase of COVID-19 cases since the middle of
   December.

   The Public Health Institute of Malawi reports confirmed cases jumped
   from 116 on December 18 to 946 on January 5.

   Health authorities say they believe the rise is largely driven by
   Malawians who traveled to South Africa to look for work and escape
   poverty triggered by the pandemic.

   According to Malawi's immigration department, about 10,000 Malawians
   have returned from South Africa since the start of the pandemic, with
   others expected to return soon.

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