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Source: https://www.universityworldnews.com/...00713142530701
Reopening of universities deferred as COVID-19 cases mount
Joel Chirwa 13 July 2020
Malawi’s higher education sector will not reopen this week (13 July) despite earlier government recommendations that the country’s COVID-19 lockdown, in place since March 23, be lifted. The country is facing spiralling infection rates and death rates from the coronavirus.
By 30 June, the country had registered 1,224 cases with 14 deaths and 260 recoveries; by 7 July the number of infections was 1,942, and included 25 deaths.
There had been euphoria when a national taskforce on universities and colleges agreed with a presidential taskforce on COVID-19 recommendation to set 13 July as a possible date for reopening.
However, the principal secretary in the Ministry of Education, Justin Saudi, confirmed that universities, colleges and schools would remain shut and a new date for reopening would follow “after a careful analysis of the status of the pandemic”.
“All other communications confirming 13th July, 2020, [as the reopening date] without prior approval from government should be disregarded forthwith,” read his statement.
Pushback from health officials
The decision to keep institutions closed follows pushback from health officials. In a letter dated 6 July, written to Dr John Phuka, co-chairperson of the presidential taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Charles Mwansambo, chief of health services at the ministry of health, advised the government not to reopen schools, colleges and universities because of the risks involved...
Reopening of universities deferred as COVID-19 cases mount
Joel Chirwa 13 July 2020
Malawi’s higher education sector will not reopen this week (13 July) despite earlier government recommendations that the country’s COVID-19 lockdown, in place since March 23, be lifted. The country is facing spiralling infection rates and death rates from the coronavirus.
By 30 June, the country had registered 1,224 cases with 14 deaths and 260 recoveries; by 7 July the number of infections was 1,942, and included 25 deaths.
There had been euphoria when a national taskforce on universities and colleges agreed with a presidential taskforce on COVID-19 recommendation to set 13 July as a possible date for reopening.
However, the principal secretary in the Ministry of Education, Justin Saudi, confirmed that universities, colleges and schools would remain shut and a new date for reopening would follow “after a careful analysis of the status of the pandemic”.
“All other communications confirming 13th July, 2020, [as the reopening date] without prior approval from government should be disregarded forthwith,” read his statement.
Pushback from health officials
The decision to keep institutions closed follows pushback from health officials. In a letter dated 6 July, written to Dr John Phuka, co-chairperson of the presidential taskforce on COVID-19, Dr Charles Mwansambo, chief of health services at the ministry of health, advised the government not to reopen schools, colleges and universities because of the risks involved...