Covid-19 recovery rate improves

GOVERNMENT has implored Zambians to heighten their Covid-19 adherence rate so that the country can surpass the 7.5 percent positivity rate recorded in the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health was in the process of introducing a rapid Covid-19 test kit that would be able to detect the virus within 15 to 20 minutes.

Giving a COVID-19 update yesterday, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Kennedy Malama, called for strict adherence to Covid-19 health guidelines so that Zambia could surpass the 7.5 percent positivity rate recorded in recent weeks.

Dr Malama said 73 new Covid-19 cases had been recorded out of 982 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, giving Zambia a positivity of 7.5 percent. He said that was a similar picture in the last two weeks.

“In the last 24 hours, Zambia recorded a total of 73 new COVID-19 cases. These were reported from 10 districts including; Lusaka, Kasama, Chinsali, Livingstone, Kalomo, Mazabuka, Mungwi, Monze, Kabwe and Nakonde,” Dr Malama said.

In other words, he said, Zambia recorded a lower positivity relatively of less than 10 percent now compared to the time the country would post around or above 20 per cent.

“This is a good sign and we should ensure that we don’t relent on this,” he stressed.

The Permanent Secretary said the cumulative number of cases in the country now stood at 13,539.

Meanwhile, National coordinator for Pathology and laboratory services at the ministry, Aaron Shibemba, said once a rapid Covid-19 kit was introduced the results would be accessed within 15 to 20 minutes. Dr Shibemba said the kit would also expedite testing for covid-19 in rural areas.

He however warned that Government would take stern action against people issuing fake COVID-19 Certificates. Dr Shibemba said the ministry would soon announce health centres where people could go and collect authentic certificates to be given by certified health officials for the sake of traveling purposes.