MALAWI: Bishops in Malawi Call for Continued Adherence to Covid-19 Preventive Measures as Country is Hit by Second Wave
Some members of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi
Stella Zulu Kaferapanjira
The Episcopal Conference of Malawi, ECM, has expressed concern over increasing cases of Covid-19 and have called on the Catholic faithful and all people in the country to continue observing Covid-19 preventive measures.
In a statement released on the 8th of January 2021, the ECM has urged the clergy, the Religious and the Laity to strictly follow the Public Health Guidelines from Ministry of Health and the Bishops’ Conference Covid-19 directives.
“We the Catholic Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi have noted with great concern the rising positive cases of Coronavirus in the country. It is against this background that we wish to remind the clergy, Religious men and women and the Laity that Public Health Guidelines from the Ministry of Health and the ECM COVID-19 Precautionary measures issued on 13th March 2020 remain in force and must be strictly adhered to during all Church gatherings and funeral functions,” reads part of the statement.
This is due to the coming of the second wave of the Coronavirus which has seen the country recording high numbers of positive cases and the health sector has complained that isolation centers are running out of space. Due to this second wave, two priests and two nuns from St. Pius and Nsipe parishes in Blantyre Archdiocese and Dedza Diocese have tested positive to Coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Catholic media houses in the country, in collaboration with the Pastoral Commission, have been urged to continue broadcasting live Holy Masses and other relevant pastoral programs for spiritual nourishment of the faithful as public gatherings have been limited to not more than 100 people with observance to social distancing and wearing of masks.
In the statement, the bishops have also reinforced the caution by the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 that people should treat everyone they meet as a suspect.
“We reiterate the caution issued yesterday by the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 that ‘We should be careful and imagine that everyone else we meet is positive.” Continues the statement.
As on 7th January, 2021, Malawi recorded 274 new positive cases which has raised the total number of active cases to 1407 and total confirmed cases have reached 7611. 203 people have died due to coronavirus in the country.
