BLANTYRE, Malawi, June 4 -- Malawian government has lifted mandatory entry requirements for the country, effective from June 5 following the decline in COVID-19 cases both within Malawi and globally.

Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, who is also co-chairperson for the Presidential Taskforce on Coronavirus and Cholera, made the announcement in a statement dated June 1 but released Saturday, adding that the development also follows the declaration by World Health Organization (WHO) that COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency of international concern.

Chiponda said in her statement that individuals seeking entry into Malawi will no longer be required to present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a negative COVID-19 test result.

The statement, however, has stressed the continued importance of remaining vigilant in the ongoing battle against the virus, noting that the Ministry of Health will continue administering COVID-19 vaccination. It has further pointed out that outgoing travelers are now responsible for familiarizing themselves with and adhering to the entry requirements specified by their respective destination countries.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health, Malawi currently reports 35 active cases, with a cumulative total of 2,686 deaths, 88,650 confirmed cases, and 85,697 recoveries since the onset of the pandemic in the country in April 2020.

  - Xinhua