Schools and nurseries in Malawi and Rwanda have been shut on Monday due to the surge in coronavirus cases.

According to Africa News, While Rwanda only closed schools in the capital, Kigali, the education minister said schools in other regions could also be closed pending further confirmations in rising case numbers. The new school closures follow hot on the heels of schools having just reopened in November after eight months of having been shut.

Malawi, meanwhile, said it would shut schools for at least 15 days. It had reported no new cases for almost two months but has seen a sudden resurgence. Africa News reports that of  some 300 deaths since the pandemic started last year, a third had been reported in  in the past 16 days.

Zambia, meanwhile, has yet again postponed schools reopening until February.

Africa has reported over 3.1 million cases and more than 76 000 deaths since the pandemic began.

Umm Muhammed Umar