Chairperson for the Ministerial Special Committee on Covid-19, Japie Mhango, on Tuesday, confirmed three new cases of COVID-19 bringing the number in the country to eight.

Mhango made the announcement at a press briefing in Lilongwe.

According to the Minister, two cases have been registered in Blantyre while one in Chikwawa.

Mhango said: “One case in Blantyre is a 34 year old lady family contact of the first case that was registered on 3 April, 2000. The second case is a 28 year old lady who travelled from London, UK on 19 March, 2020.

“The person confirmed in Chikwawa is a 30 year old gentleman who travelled from South Africa on 16 March, 2020.”

Before confirming the cases, the Minister started by informing the nation that the 51 year old Malawian lady of Indian origin who had just recently returned from UK and was the 5th patient to test positive from covid-19, died in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

He said the deceased had “an underlining medical condition”.

“As a nation we grieve with the family of the deceased and urge you all to respect their privacy,” he lamented.

On March 20, president Mutharika declared a state of disaster in the country following the threat of the pandemic.