Nine more new covid-19 cases recorded
NINE cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Zambia in the last 24 hours from 307 tests conducted.
Health minister, Chitalu Chilufya said the 9 included three truck drivers and an Asian national who recently came into the country as a consultant for some works.
Dr Chilufya said others were contacts to already recorded cases, from Chawama, Kanyama, Chipata compounds from the ongoing community screening and targeted testing and 1 from the health care facility based surveillance.
He also said the 10-year-old Covid-19 patient from Kabwe had recovered after testing negative twice, bringing the total number of recoveries to 55.
Dr Chilufya said during the Covid-19 update yesterday that with new cases, the cumulative number of cases now stood at 106 cases, with three 3 deaths.
“The 9 cases include 3 truck drivers, one from Namibia, one from South Africa and 1 from Zimbabwe and an Asian national. Others were contacts to already recorded cases, from Chawama, Kanyama , Chipata compound, from the ongoing community screening and targeted testing and 1 from the health care facility based surveillance,” he said.
Dr Chilufya said there were 48 active cases in Zambia, 42 in Lusaka and 6 on the Copperbelt and that all were stable.
He also said a cumulative total of 1780 tests had been conducted countrywide.
And Dr Chilufya has rubbished assertions that resident doctors were being threatened over their demands that frontline health workers in the Covid-19 fight be provided with adequate personal protective equipment and incentives.
He said Government and the resident doctors through their association were enjoying a cordial relationship and ironing out issues professionally.
Dr Chilufya said health workers were being prioritised in the distribution of protective equipment.
Meanwhile, Dr Chilufya has advised citizens who suspect to have contracted Covid-19 not to rush to health facilities but call provided phone numbers for the response teams.
He said not all health facilities were designated as Covid-19 centres except for those selected were battle ready.
Dr Chilufya also said, in response to concerns why Zambia was not closing its borders despite still recording some imported cases of Covid-19 that Government was implementing well thought out measures which struck a balance between saving lives and livelihoods.