Sample tests show that Malawi has the existence of the Indian variant (Delta) and South African variant (Beta) in the country.

Minister of Health Khumbize Chiponda outlined that the first lot included samples from October 2020 to February 2021. “Among these, the most common was the Beta variant. The second lot of 539 samples is still being analysed in South Africa.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified four variants of concern, namely Alpha or B.1.1.7 first identified in the United Kingdom, Beta or B1.351 first identified in South Africa, Gamma or P1 first identified in Brazil and Delta or B.1617.2 first identified in India.

Meanwhile, the government has intensified screening at ports of entry and mandatory quarantine for those travelling from risky countries. On the other hand, Co-Chairperson of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid Dr Wilfred Chalamira Nkhoma said most of the samples with the variant of the virus first identified in India were from the samples collected at Salima Sugar Factory.