People without face masks are seen at a market in Blantyre, Malawi, Sept. 17, 2020. For the past few days, Malawi has been registering few new cases of COVID-19 and deaths, somehow, the development has caused negligence in observing preventative measures among many people in the country. Experts in the country have advised people to remain vigilant as the pandemic remains a global health concern. (Photo by Joseph Mizere/Xinhua)
BLANTYRE, Malawi, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- For the past few days, Malawi has been registering few new cases of COVID-19 and deaths, somehow, the development has caused negligence in observing preventative measures among many people in the country.
Experts in the country have advised people to remain vigilant as the pandemic remains a global health concern.
Several visits into some markets in Blantyre city show that many people are ignoring some of COVID-19 precaution measures. For instance, at Limbe market in Blantyre, many traders were seen with no masks and most of them could not keep distance with their customers at all.
In an interview with Xinhua, one of the traders at Limbe market said that he is aware that the pandemic is still on, however, now that almost everyone is getting back to normal, he decided not to get busy with the masks and other measures.
"For the past months, I have been following all the measures carefully, but right now I feel like things are getting back to normal, almost everyone here has a similar feeling and we believe that the pandemic will be gone soon," he said.
The challenge of managing people who are not following preventive measures in public spaces is worrisome in many cities across Malawi and experts have warned that if the trend remains unchecked the virus can hit again.
Meanwhile, the Blantyre Health Office (DHO) and Blantyre City Council have embarked on several initiatives of trying to reverse the trend.
According to the Public Relations Officer for Blantyre City Council, Anthony Kasunda, the council has outlined several programs including mobile civic education to ensure that every Malawian is up to date with information about COVID-19.
"It's a great concern noting that some people are choosing to ignore the preventive measures, as the council we are doing everything possible to ensure that people continue following them up, as of now, the council is continuing doing civic education through the media and mobile public civic education," he said.
Similarly, DHO has raised a concern on the same, according to Gift Kawalazira, the DHO Director of Health and Social Services in Blantyre, the development is alarming and that the health office will not rest till the trend is reversed.
"Much as the numbers of the cases are being reduced every week, this does not mean that the fight is over. I would like to plead to every Malawian to remain careful during this time. Everyone should be reminded that the pandemic is real and it kills," he said.
Meanwhile the Blantyre City Council has been donating several personal protective items including masks to schools which have just been opened.
