Health Minister Khumbize Kandondo Chiponda has directed a rapid Covid-19 test and two-weeks long mandatory quarantine for at least 60 Indian technicians at Salima Sugar Factory in Salima district.
Chiponda, who is also the Co-chairperson for the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19, made the directive when she visited the company following social media claims 40 technicians, who recently arrived in the country, has tested positive for the virus.
During the visit, it was established that the 40 Indians produced Covid-19 negative certificates at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe and were allowed to proceed to Salima.
Upon arrival in the district, the company claimed to have placed them under highly monitored quarantine as a precaution.
Seven days later, a rapid test carried on them and 16 out of the 40 technicians tested positive.
“I would like to inform the public that 16 new imported cases were identified on 25th and 26th in Salima but have been reported today.
“These are workers at Salima Sugar Factory who were tested at Thavite Health Centre. The Salima District Health Office Rapid Response Team is on the ground at the factory conducting investigations including further screening and tracing of contacts and ensuring that quarantine and isolation measures are being adhered to ensure reduced risk of transmission. The public will be informed of any new developments,” said Chiponda.
Another PCR test was on Wednesday, April 28 on all Indians at the factory by ministry of health on Wednesday and results are expected this Friday.
She said samples will be sent to South Africa for sequencing so that they should know the variant from India or South Africa.
Earlier in the day, the company issued a statement claiming the 40 technicians arrived in the country after undergoing a Covid-19 test in India as per travel requirements.
“Last year we brought technicians under similar situations and we had some expected cases.
“We quarantined them and were cured. No one was exposed and it was well controlled to ensure safety of all,” reads the statement issued by the company’s management.
The company has since assured Malawians that it will do everything possible to ensure safety of its staff and the community within and outside sugar estate.
On Monday this week, Malawi banned travelers from India, Pakistan, Brazil, and Bangladesh from entering the country as a containment measure against the pandemic.
Chiponda said Taskforce made the decision after noting heavy traffic of travelers to and from the Indian sub-continent and neighboring countries and evidence of a COVID-19 positive case that arrived in the country from India in the past week.
“To guard against the threat of importation and spread of the new variant from the Indian sub-continent in the country, the Taskforce has therefore resolved to ban with immediate effect, all but essential arrivals and travel, such as Diplomatic and Medical Travel, of Nationals or Non-Nationals from these three South Eastern Asian Countries, namely, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, that have resided in these countries for at least the previous seven days. The same restriction is also extended to Brazil,” she said.
She said those undertaking essential travel to and from these countries, will be required to undergo mandatory institutional quarantine at designated hotel accommodation at their own cost on arrival into the country.
