Type of Intervention: Executive Order
Sectors Involved: Civil Defence, Corrections / Justice, Education, Finance/Economy, Health, Immigration, Local Government, Military, Private Sector and Businesses, Police and Interior Affairs, Supply Chains, Tourism, Transportation
Level of Jurisdiction: National
Lead People/Agency: Government
Overview: Declaration of lockdown
Government declared a 21 Day Lockdown. It will initially be effective at midnight on Saturday, 18th April, 2020 and it will end on Saturday 9th May, 2020, at midnight.
This lockdown may be extended beyond 9th May as circumstances warrant.
The Minister has done so using powers vested in him under the Public Health Act. In his declaration of the lockdown, the Minister outlined specific measures that will be in force during the period of the lockdown. While we are on Lockdown, Government will continue taking actions that should save lives.
The actions include:
-Intensifying laboratory testing for Coronavirus. An additional testing -laboratory has been established at Mzuzu Central Hospital which now brings the number of testing laboratories in the country to four.
-Continuing with the recruitment of additional health personnel across the country. The government has, thus far, recruited 626 healthcare workers out of 2000.
-Deploying security personnel to provide border security patrols and mounting of roadblocks in strategic points countrywide.
-Providing Personnel Protective Equipment (PPEs) to health facilities in all the districts; and
-Conducting massive awareness campaigns to ensure that members of the public are well informed on Corona.
Full details here: https://mw.one.un.org/president-peter-mutharika-statement-on-covid-19-state-lockdown/
Other links: 1 2
Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group
Source of Evidence or Justification: National – government
Evidence/Justification: Evidence contributing to this decision was not clearly described in the announcement. However, the president referred to the high case fatality rates in the UK and USA as cautionary measures towards enforcement of more stringent measures in Malawi.