Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera over the weekend announced plans to reopen the country's schools following a months-long closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The president said schools may reopen in early September but with strict health guidelines in efforts to prevent a worsening of the health situation in the country.

Malawi's schools were ordered shut on 20 March before the country registered its first three cases of COVID-19, on April 2.

As of Monday, the country had reported 5,072 infections and 161 deaths.

"It is because of their organization that we are now able to set some benchmarks for the restoration of social order and the recovery of the economy. For instance, in the education cluster of the taskforce, guidelines have already been developed on what schools need to do to reopen safely," VAO quotes President Chakwera,

Media reports indicate that the president's decision came after his meeting with educations experts, who feel the continued closure of schools was jeopardizing the future of the country's students.

President Chakwera also expressed confidence that the country was making strides in the fight against COVID-19.

"Although the number of those who have been found with the virus has now passed 5,000, only 5% have gotten sick enough to need hospitalization. Even among the 389 health workers, who have contracted the virus, we have lost only one and the rest are in recovery," he said.