How is Malawi coping with steep rise in Covid-19?

Malawi is setting up field hospitals to cope with Covid-19 as the country is facing a resurgence of the virus.

President Lazarus Chakwera lost two Cabinet ministers to the disease at the start of the year. He has said the health system is facing a quite desperate situation.

The head of the presidential committee on Covid-19 Dr John Phuka told BBC’s Newsday the disease was spread a lot during the festive season.

“We have had a rise in number of severe cases as well as significant mortality occurring as well,” he said.

Attempts by the coronavirus taskforce to enforce more restrictions have been met with court injunctions.

There are more cases requiring admission prompting the need for more resources.

The president last month appealed for support to deal with the pandemic.

There are 25,884 confirmed cases of the virus including 779 deaths, according to the health ministry.