Following further measures in prevention of the spread of the corona virus in Malawi, the Minister of Health Jappie Mhango, announced a 21 day lock down, effective from the midnight of 18^th April to the midnight of 9^th May 2020.

Under the Public Health Act (Cap 34:01 of the Laws of Malawi), the Minister of Health may make rules to regulate the response, where there is a pandemic or epidemic, as outlined in Section 31. The Minister has therefore made the following rules, in line with the lock down.

1. The lockdown shall apply to all districts of Malawi.
2. The following persons shall be exempted from the application

of the lockdown measures

1. Enforcement officer as defined under the Public Health (Corona Virus Prevention, Containment and Management) Rules 2020
2. A person with a permit to supply essential services as provided under Part 1 of the Schedule to the Public Health (Corona Virus Prevention, Containment and Management) Rules 2020
3. During the lockdown, persons providing essential services as listed under Part 1 of the Schedule to the Public Health (Corona Virus Prevention, Containment and Management) Rules 2020 shall be allowed to operate in accordance to the Rules and these measures.
4. All essential services shall be obtained within the locality of residence.
5. Councils shall identify and licence persons for supply of essential goods and services to locality markets and shops.
6. Any person desirous of getting an essential service out of his or her locality shall get a permit from the local government authority or any delegated person to issue such permits by the local government authority. In the same vein, any person desirous of getting an essential service out of his or her  district of residence shall get a permit from the Chief Executive Officer or District Commissioner of the local government authority.
7. Except for enforcement officers, no person shall be allowed to leave their homes unless they are listed under Rule 11(3)(a)(i)

of the Public Health (Corona Virus Prevention, Containment and Management) Rules 2020.

8. All central markets shall be closed. Notwithstanding the generality of the preceding measure, local markets within localities shall remain open from 5:00 am to 6:00 pm on any day.
9. Local government authorities shall designate areas as localities for purposes of implementing these measures.
10. During the lockdown all non-essential businesses orservices will be suspended pursuant to these measures and Regulation 13(2) of the Business Licensing Regulations. For purposes of these measures, essential goods and services are

those listed in Part 1 and 2 of the Schedule to the Public Health (Corona Virus Prevention, Containment and Management) Rules 2020. Notwithstanding the listed services under the Schedule to the Rules, filling stations shall be treated as an essential service under these measures.

11. The persons to perform an essential service or supply essential goods shall be given a permit by the District Commissioner or the Chief Executive Officer of the Council of the area.
12. A person performing an essential service may be

screened by an enforcement officer as defined in the Public Health (Corona Virus Prevention, Containment and Management) Rules.

13. Any person who breaches these measures commits an offence and shall be liable to a fine as prescribed under the Public Health Act.